kellyllek

Q: Apple Keyboard won't pair with new Windows 8.1 update

I just updated to Windows 8.1 on my PC last night. I made sure my IOGear bluetooth dongle has the latest driver. Windows Bluetooth settings see the keyboard but when I click "Pair" it soon says "That didn't work" and gives me an option to try again. It fails everytime.

 

I've checked for more updates and restarted a few times too.

 

I've been using the Apple keyboard happily with Windows 8.0 for at least a year.

 

Please advise; I thought there'd be  many with this issue with the new W8.1 update but I can't find anyone else discussing it.

 

On a side note I put my keybard serial number into the Apple support system and it says "The serial number entered in this request is not valid."    Not sure why; I guess it's just no longer supported?

Apple keyboard, Windows 8, Windows 8.1

Posted on Oct 20, 2013 9:23 AM

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Q: Apple Keyboard won't pair with new Windows 8.1 update

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  • by Barry Hemphill,

    Barry Hemphill Barry Hemphill Oct 20, 2013 11:23 AM in response to kellyllek
    Level 8 (38,037 points)
    Peripherals
    Oct 20, 2013 11:23 AM in response to kellyllek

    On a side note I put my keybard serial number into the Apple support system and it says "The serial number entered in this request is not valid."    Not sure why; I guess it's just no longer supported?

     

    Apple does not maintain a database of peripheral devices.

     

    The Windows thing would be best explored with Microsoft.  As you might guess, not many people run Windows and post on this site.

     

    Barry

  • by kellyllek,

    kellyllek kellyllek Oct 20, 2013 11:55 AM in response to Barry Hemphill
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iOS Apps
    Oct 20, 2013 11:55 AM in response to Barry Hemphill

    I'm exploring a number of avenues. This is one of them. This is Apple's support forum, and the issue is with an Apple keyboard.

  • by Barry Hemphill,

    Barry Hemphill Barry Hemphill Oct 20, 2013 12:44 PM in response to kellyllek
    Level 8 (38,037 points)
    Peripherals
    Oct 20, 2013 12:44 PM in response to kellyllek

    In the interest of accuracy, the Apple branded KB has nothing to do with Microsoft software.  Your post indicated the problem began when you installed the latest Windows release.

     

    Barry

  • by kellyllek,

    kellyllek kellyllek Oct 20, 2013 1:42 PM in response to Barry Hemphill
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iOS Apps
    Oct 20, 2013 1:42 PM in response to Barry Hemphill

    For real? Golly gee, never thought of that!

  • by Ronind,

    Ronind Ronind Oct 25, 2013 2:45 PM in response to kellyllek
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 25, 2013 2:45 PM in response to kellyllek

    I'm having the same problem on my Mac mini, the trackpad is fine but cannot get the keyboard to work. Most of the time it's not detected and on the odd occasion when it has it won't pair. Nothing I have tried has fixed it. Need a new boot camp ASAP :(

  • by RichiePoo,

    RichiePoo RichiePoo Nov 18, 2013 12:43 AM in response to kellyllek
    Level 1 (6 points)
    Nov 18, 2013 12:43 AM in response to kellyllek

    Having the same problem on a fresh Windows 8.1 Pro install on a brand new late 2013 MacBook Pro.  The pairing screen will show my keyboard is available to pair, then when I actually try to connect, it says "That didn't work.  Please make sure your device is discoverable."

  • by Tim Decca,

    Tim Decca Tim Decca Apr 1, 2014 3:11 AM in response to kellyllek
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 1, 2014 3:11 AM in response to kellyllek

    Facing the exact dame problem. Keyboard shows nicely in devices list and seems ready to pair. When pairing in progress it suddenly cancels with an error message 'device no longer listening'. Kind of annoying when this is your only keyboard in place. Screen keyboard will work fine for login, but not for typing of any other kind. Hope someone will come up with a solution soon!

  • by Tim Decca,

    Tim Decca Tim Decca Apr 1, 2014 3:13 AM in response to Tim Decca
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 1, 2014 3:13 AM in response to Tim Decca

    BTW, this occurs on my late 2012 Mac mini with Windows 8.1 in bootcamp.

  • by Tim Decca,

    Tim Decca Tim Decca Apr 8, 2014 8:20 AM in response to kellyllek
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 8, 2014 8:20 AM in response to kellyllek

    Hi All,

     

    This is what did the trick for me:

     

    1. Pair/unpair Apple Wireless keyboard with all devices it's been paired with in the past inclusing Windows, Mac OSX and iPad(s) (important!);

    2. Remove wireless keyboards batteries for a couple of minutes;

    3. Pair the keyboard again in Mac OSX (I did this in 10.9);

    4. Rename the Wireless keyboard back to original name: "Apple Wireless Keyboard" (if you have changed the device name in the past);

    5. Connect a windows compatible keyboard (and if preferred mouse) to mac and boot to windows;

    6. Unpair all known devices in windows devices panel;

    7. Run all windows updates and reboot windows;

    8. Log in with the secundairy keyboard and add the wireless keyboard and other devices again.

     

    This time, in my case, it didn't jump to any connection error, and I was able to type the numbers asked by the devices pane.

     

    Hope it works for you guys aswel!

  • by Robert Tran,

    Robert Tran Robert Tran Apr 14, 2014 2:36 AM in response to kellyllek
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 14, 2014 2:36 AM in response to kellyllek

    Hi Guys,

     

    Try this if your still having problem pairing.

     

    1. Go to Control Panel, click on Device Manager

    2. Under Bluetooth, Right click on Apple Broadcom Bult-in Bluetooth

    3. Select Uninstall, Click ok

    4. It should update itself and you'll see Apple Wireless Keyboard under Bluetooth, otherwise go to Action, select Scan for hardware changes

    5. Now turn on your Apple Wireless Keyboard and try to pair it again. It should pair and install withouth a problem

     

    Good luck!!

  • by gregbernZA,

    gregbernZA gregbernZA Apr 14, 2014 4:33 AM in response to Robert Tran
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 14, 2014 4:33 AM in response to Robert Tran

    that didnt work me for unfortunately!! Keyboard still failes to pair

  • by Robert Tran,

    Robert Tran Robert Tran Apr 14, 2014 4:39 AM in response to gregbernZA
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 14, 2014 4:39 AM in response to gregbernZA

    Make sure you've updated everything using Windows update then reboot and have your keyboard switched off while doing the steps above

  • by Morbific,

    Morbific Morbific Jul 12, 2014 5:19 PM in response to kellyllek
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Notebooks
    Jul 12, 2014 5:19 PM in response to kellyllek

    I'm having this problem too.  No amount of uninstalling the BT drivers in control panel / device manager, restarting the keyboard, renaming the keyboard, re-installing the drivers has any effect.

     

    My guess is that the 8.1 update fundamentally broke something and we need a genuine Microsoft or Apple fix.  Which would mean one of those titans would need to acknowledge some kind of mistake.  For my money, I suspect MS broke it, but Apple will need to fix with a new boot camp release, which we can expect in 2016.


    What annoys me is that I've got a) a wasted investment in a keyboard I can't use, and b) cables now running across my desk.  This isn't the Just Works I'm expecting.  I'm wondering if there's a compelling business case here to return to W7 - spending hours on hours on hours of my time trying to debug this isn't how I want to spend my weekends.

  • by alvareo92,

    alvareo92 alvareo92 Jul 18, 2014 1:04 AM in response to kellyllek
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 18, 2014 1:04 AM in response to kellyllek

    Sigh, having this issue too, only on a freshly installed Windows 8.1. Keyboard pairs and works for about a minute and then switches off. Mouse pairs (according to my computer; no feedback on the mouse) but doesn't work.    

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