Q: Wireless keyboard won't pair

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 in these 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.

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?