TM100
Level 1 (10 points)

Q: Wireless keyboard won't connect

Apple wireless keyboard (2009)

Mac Pro 5,1

Lion 10.7.5

 

Apple wireless keyboard won't connect after changing batteries. It is listed as a paired device under Bluetooth preferences but using the 'Connect' option fails. The keyboard does not go to discovery mode.

 

I'm answering my own question because there seems to be a lot of voodoo around the problem. The following worked for me after trying a lot of different stuff.

 

  1. Go to System Preferences -> Bluetooth. Delete the keyboard from the list of devices by pressing the '-' button.
    Alternatively you can delete the plist file but it shouldn't be necessary if the keyboard is the only problem. Deleting this file means restarting all other bluetooth devices to force them to reconnect. The plist file is in /Library/Preferences and is called com.apple.Bluetooth.plist. 
  2. Take the batteries out of the keyboard and reinsert them - don't power on the keyboard yet. This puts the keyboard in discovery mode the next time it's switched on. 
  3. In Bluetooth Preferences press the '+' button to add a new device.
  4. When the Bluetooth Setup Assistant is displayed hold down the power button on the keyboard and don't release it! The keyboard should now appear in the list of devices. 
  5. Press 'Continue' - remember to keep pressing the keyboard power button while hitting 'Continue'. You should get an 8 digit passcode from the setup assistant. 
  6. Now release the keyboard power button and enter the passcode. 
  7. Press return - the keyboard is now paired.
  8. Go to back to Bluetooth preferences and select the keyboard in the device list. 
  9. Press the gear icon and select 'Update Services'. Without this last step you may have to reconnect the keyboard from the Bluetooth menu after every startup. 

 

Hope that helps.

Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.5), Apple Wireless Keyboard (2009)

Posted on May 27, 2013 2:57 PM

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TM100

Q: Wireless keyboard won't connect

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  • by admkate,

    admkate admkate Mar 17, 2014 1:54 PM in response to TM100
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 17, 2014 1:54 PM in response to TM100

    Thank you, thank you, thank you! Worked even in Mavericks with the absense of a "+" button, by turning bluetooth off, then holding the KB power button while turning mac's bt back on.

  • by GAdkb,

    GAdkb GAdkb Mar 18, 2014 3:46 PM in response to Halfmoonh4
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 18, 2014 3:46 PM in response to Halfmoonh4

    same problem. don't see the gear icon or 'update services' - right now I have to redo this every startup or sleep mode. very annoying.

  • by makloklin,

    makloklin makloklin Mar 20, 2014 11:32 AM in response to TM100
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 20, 2014 11:32 AM in response to TM100

    This was driving me nuts. Why is there nothing in the Apple documentation about holding down the power button??? Bless you…

  • by h2vh,

    h2vh h2vh Mar 23, 2014 4:10 AM in response to makloklin
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 23, 2014 4:10 AM in response to makloklin

    "Why is there nothing in the Apple documentation about holding down the power button???"

    - couldn't agree more!: Ran into same problem today (I have used the hardware for almost three years) and was about ready to discard the keyboard, when I got the idea to test it against my wife's iPad - no problems at all!

     

    I 'googled' the problem and found this article:

     

    http://davemeehan.com/technology/how-to-reset-an-apple-wireless-bluetooth-keyboa rd-mouse-or-trackpad

     

    Worked instantly!

  • by HappyLittleSpider,

    HappyLittleSpider HappyLittleSpider Mar 27, 2014 10:06 AM in response to TM100
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 27, 2014 10:06 AM in response to TM100

    THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! 

  • by steve2000,

    steve2000 steve2000 Mar 27, 2014 6:02 PM in response to TM100
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 27, 2014 6:02 PM in response to TM100

    Repeated failures until I went out to my DRIVEWAY, faraway from all bluetooth and wireless phone signals. There it succeeded on the first try. Amazed.

     

    Clearly the Apple BT Keyboard was developed in a lab, not in a 2014 home.

  • by candyspace,

    candyspace candyspace Apr 8, 2014 2:10 AM in response to TM100
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 8, 2014 2:10 AM in response to TM100

    TM100 - thanks for that key piece of info I have never heard mentioned before - hold the power button whilst pairing!

     

    This just helped with with a keyboard which wouldn't pair otherwise!

     

    Good work dude

  • by Hwy6AandM0,

    Hwy6AandM0 Hwy6AandM0 Apr 17, 2014 9:15 AM in response to TM100
    Level 1 (19 points)
    Desktops
    Apr 17, 2014 9:15 AM in response to TM100

    Took a couple of tries, but it worked.  Thanks for posting.

  • by Guy Hollister,

    Guy Hollister Guy Hollister Apr 22, 2014 3:57 PM in response to TM100
    Level 1 (33 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 22, 2014 3:57 PM in response to TM100

    Mavericks Fix - 10.9.2

     

    I am adding this update to this method as the fix for this problem is so old it was for a pre Mavericks OS.

     

    This is an additional solution that I have found to be a huge benefit to this problem.

     

    First

    Go to Bluetooth Preferences and delete every device no matter if they are working or not. Understand that if you are not working on a MacBookPro if you have no wired mouse and no wired keyboard... you aren't going to be able to move the cursor to turn things on etc... so you have to have a trackpad or Wired mouse available to you.

     

    Once you have removed other keyboards and devices like the Jambox Speaker that was connected to my MacBookPro... the Mac seems far more able to pair with your BlueTooth keyboard alot faster.

     

    Removing the batteries resets the keyboard and not powering it back on [and holding down] the power button on your BT keyboard is critical ... only do this once you go into the "Set Up Bluetooth Keyboard" menu > Keyboard > In System Preferences.

     

    I simppl could NOT connect my Keyboard AT ALL with the Jambox Speaker connected first. Removing that - I was able to connect the keyboard on the second try with removing the batteries from the keyboard and holding down the powerkey to get the blinking green light on the keyboard.

     

    TIP:- Lifting your keyboard up so the light is right next to the screen menu you are looking at means you can easily look at both ... to make sure its in the blinking pairing mode and the menu is seaching for your keyboard. Otherwise you have to keep looking down and back and it will drive you bonkers.

     

    Good luck...

    g

  • by traveler582,

    traveler582 traveler582 Apr 26, 2014 9:55 AM in response to TM100
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 26, 2014 9:55 AM in response to TM100

    THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!

    I spent over an hour and a half trying to figure out the issue and actually started looking on-line for a new keyboard!

    But then I noticed this keyboard suddenly worked on my other apple next to it, the connection jumped over, so now I knew it worked!

    Then I came upon your solution!

    And the first time it worked!!!

    Awesome!!

  • by macocarvajal,

    macocarvajal macocarvajal Apr 28, 2014 4:51 PM in response to TM100
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 28, 2014 4:51 PM in response to TM100

    Exellent explanation. It worked for me perfect. Incredible that you have to hold the ON button all through the procedure

  • by ehorovi4,

    ehorovi4 ehorovi4 May 4, 2014 11:30 AM in response to TM100
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 4, 2014 11:30 AM in response to TM100

    brilliant. thank you that worked!!

  • by PFJ30,

    PFJ30 PFJ30 Jun 3, 2014 4:13 AM in response to TM100
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Jun 3, 2014 4:13 AM in response to TM100

    Many thanks TM

     

    I had to modify your solution a tad:

     

    in step 3 I couldn't see a + sign anywhere

     

    Notwithstanding I carried on to 4 and keeping power button depressed attempted to Pair.  No success x 5

     

    I turned Bluetooth off and on and repeated 4 - success - the code appeared and I am typing this on the wireless keyboard.

     

    I have Mavericks on my MBP

     

    Message was edited by: PFJ30

  • by shossni,

    shossni shossni Jun 7, 2014 4:50 PM in response to TM100
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 7, 2014 4:50 PM in response to TM100

    Thank you!!! Worked like a charm

  • by brandonfromaustralia,

    brandonfromaustralia brandonfromaustralia Jun 8, 2014 2:04 AM in response to TM100
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 8, 2014 2:04 AM in response to TM100

    i did what your said but when i click pair it doesnt work and its says unable to pair do you have any suggestions

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