My wireless keyboard won't pair. It had been working fine for months but just stopped working. Have tried a few things. Changed the batteries, rebooted the iMac, deleted the keyboard from the bluetooth settings and the rebooted again. Even tried another keyboard. They are recognized but will not pair. Any suggestions?
You may need a wired keyboard to carry out some of these steps. It's a good idea to keep a cheap wired keyboard and mouse or trackball as backups for a desktop Mac anyway, because Bluetooth isn't completely reliable.
Step 1
If the keyboard is already paired with another device, remove that pairing.
Step 2
Follow the instructions inthese support articles:
How to set up your Apple Wireless Keyboard
Apple Wireless Keyboard: Difficulty during pairing process
Bluetooth devices become unresponsive
Step 3
The keyboard should pair automatically when you restart the computer. You may have to press and hold the power button on the right side of an Apple keyboard until the LED starts flashing.
Step 4
Reset the System Management Controller.
Step 5
Back up all data.
Triple-click anywhere in the line below on this page to select it:
/Library/Preferences/com.apple.Bluetooth.plist
Right-click or control-click the line and select
Services ▹ Reveal
from the contextual menu.* A folder should open with an item selected. Move the selected item to the Trash. You may be prompted for your administrator login password. Restart.
*If you don't see the contextual menu item, copy the selected text to the Clipboard by pressing the key combinationcommand-C. In the Finder, select
Go ▹ Go to Folder...
from the menu bar and paste into the box that opens by pressing command-V. You won't see what you pasted because a line break is included. Press return.
Step 6
See these support articles:
Bluetooth keyboard may not pair during Setup Assistant
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth: Potential sources of wireless interference
Bluetooth: Unreliable wireless performance may occur when USB 3.0 external devices are close
Step 7
Make a "Genius" appointment at an Apple Store, or go to another authorized service provider.
You may need a wired keyboard to carry out some of these steps. It's a good idea to keep a cheap wired keyboard and mouse or trackball as backups for a desktop Mac anyway, because Bluetooth isn't completely reliable.
Step 1
If the keyboard is already paired with another device, remove that pairing.
Step 2
Follow the instructions inthese support articles:
How to set up your Apple Wireless Keyboard
Apple Wireless Keyboard: Difficulty during pairing process
Bluetooth devices become unresponsive
Step 3
The keyboard should pair automatically when you restart the computer. You may have to press and hold the power button on the right side of an Apple keyboard until the LED starts flashing.
Step 4
Reset the System Management Controller.
Step 5
Back up all data.
Triple-click anywhere in the line below on this page to select it:
/Library/Preferences/com.apple.Bluetooth.plist
Right-click or control-click the line and select
Services ▹ Reveal
from the contextual menu.* A folder should open with an item selected. Move the selected item to the Trash. You may be prompted for your administrator login password. Restart.
*If you don't see the contextual menu item, copy the selected text to the Clipboard by pressing the key combinationcommand-C. In the Finder, select
Go ▹ Go to Folder...
from the menu bar and paste into the box that opens by pressing command-V. You won't see what you pasted because a line break is included. Press return.
Step 6
See these support articles:
Bluetooth keyboard may not pair during Setup Assistant
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth: Potential sources of wireless interference
Bluetooth: Unreliable wireless performance may occur when USB 3.0 external devices are close
Step 7
Make a "Genius" appointment at an Apple Store, or go to another authorized service provider.
Thanks very much for the suggestions. Steps 1,2,4 and 6 didn't work or provided no additional info. Didn't try step 5. But step 3 did work eventually on the third try. I appreciate your help and Happy New Year.
Wonder if you could assist...
I have a non-functioning bluetooth keyboard, and despite following everything these forums and others have to offer, still can't get it to work.
So here's the full story...
Last June, we had a power cut and all bluetooth devices that I use for the Mac (magic mouse and keyboard) stopped working completely.
I went and and got myself the USB keyboard in order to do my work, and then got in touch with Apple Support. We went through the whole process of resetting ACLs and the home folder permissions. That did the trick for the mouse, and as I already had the USB keyboard, didn't bother with the wireless one.
This same scenario has happened 4-5 times now, and on each occasion I've had to go through the same procedure, to the point I now have a UPS (uninterrupted power supply) hooked to the Mac to ensure I don't suffer if there's a power cut. Anyway, I digress...
So the Mac still recognises the keyboard, up until you have to type in the key code for pairing, at which point the keyboard does nothing. Yet I can see it in the list, and it still recognises it as the old keyboard ('found kristianleach's keyboard 1).
Fast forward, and I'm now trying to sync it to the Apple TV making my life a fraction easier. Try as I might though, I can't get it unrecognised by the Mac- I've read that there will be a pairing issue if the keyboard was previously synched to another device. I've tried syncing it to the Mac in order to delete it, but get the non-responsive key code entry. Same thing happens when I try to sync it with Apple TV.
Is there any hope for this keyboard or is it destined for the bin?
Wireless keyboard won't pair
