Cannot pair Apple remote to MacBook Pro

I cannot pair my Apple remote to my MacBook Pro. I have reviewed all the help files I can find. Most of them are very old, but I have (1) checked the battery in the remote, (2) the remote works my Apple TV, (3) I have followed the directions to delink the remote from my Apple TV, (4) followed the directions to pair to my MBP, (5) rebooted my MBP, (6) gone to System Preferences to check some box in Privacy that isn't there anymore (apparently not since Majave), (7) insured that some plist file having to do with the remote is present (it is).

Nothing else is running on my MBP. MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2012) running MacOS Mojave 10.14.1

Help! I have a presentation soon where I need the remote.