You are currently browsing comments. If you would like to return to the full story, you can read the full entry here: “How to Reset an Apple Wireless Bluetooth Keyboard, Mouse or Trackpad (Troubleshooting Pairing and Other Common Problems)”.
Travelling Through Life
You are currently browsing comments. If you would like to return to the full story, you can read the full entry here: “How to Reset an Apple Wireless Bluetooth Keyboard, Mouse or Trackpad (Troubleshooting Pairing and Other Common Problems)”.
Thank you! My keyboard on my laptop was having issues and I then could not pair my keyboard. This was a huge help today!!!!
Thanks for writing such a helpful article – extremely useful.
Resetting the Bluetooth module and restarting, then holding down the power button (I wasn’t taking any chances) finally allowed my Apple Wireless Keyboard to pair. Which is odd, because it didn’t pair on another Mac as well. Regardless, thanks!
Oh, and by the way, there is a “Factory reset all connected Apple devices” item under that Debug menu. So technically, there is a way to reset them. However, all it does that I can tell is un-pair and reset the name of anything currently connected. Which doesn’t help if you can’t connect.
Thank you so much for the post we were pulling our hair out and the holding down the power is the key for sure.
Dave, after many searches for how to pair an Apple wireless keyboard for solutions which were no help at all—I found your website. Your informative discussion and easy to follow step-by-step instructions worked perfectly! Thank you.
Thank you so very much. Goodness gracias, you saved me from a mental breakdown.
Ha! Your instructions at the end, to reset the bluetooth device list and controller, TOTALLY WORKED! I was sure my trackpad was bricked, but now it’s working again like normal. Thank you!
More props to you Dave! I can’t believe Apple doesn’t have this info on their official site.
Thanks, your article helped me a lot. I appreciate your publishing this article.
Worked like a charm!!! you have to persevere with it – but the press and hold is the only thing that works!! Why is it not mentioned on any apple forum!?!?
Thank you for your help:)
I have found that 99% of the time, there is another previously paired device that has connected immediately after turning on the keyboard. The solution is 1) to turn OFF all other pairable devices in the area or 2), if you have a laptop, physically carry the laptop and keyboard together away from other devices. When the Apple bluetooth keyboard can only see the desired computer available for pairing, it becomes very easy. It’s nearly impossible to force the apple keyboard to UNPAIR from a device by using the power button or batteries because the previously paired device receives priority. The release of the pairing has to occur from the computer, not from the keyboard. (BTW, I just did this and am now using the keyboard that would not pair previously.)
Thanks very much for the helpful information. I have an iMac 2014 model with the bluetooth keyboard. It stopped working yesterday around the same time my iMac gave a message that my USB external data stick was ejected – although it was still in situ.
I’ve tried all of these fixes and it will allow me to pair and for my apple keyboard to type the pass key. However, after this, when I type on the keyboard, it won’t display any characters. Very weird and frustrating.
I’d appreciate any ideas anyone has. I bought a wired usb keyboard and am reticent to adjust USB settings in case there’s an issue with this and I lose that connectivity with the wired keyboard and mouse.
In my case issue occurred after old batteried died out. Replaced with new batteries however, then it would not pair up as it usually does when changing.
From this point I had a hard time figuring out how exactly to make the keyboard discoverable – so nothing was found and I could not enter login credentials to do more.
Holding the power button did not work. It was only when at the login screen – after clicking my user that I accidiently tried to tab random keys on the keyboard that discovery mode was triggered ( blinking green diode). From this point my Mac Mini was able to spot the keyboard and I could pair it up.
Just my experience in case this approach could be helpful to anybody.
Thanks! Worked exactly as described. I appreciate your putting this together.
WORKED!!!
Just purchased a Mac mini. I ordered the mouse & keyboard from Amazon – – the older ones that use AA batteries, which I actually prefer to the new rechargeable ones. So I figured I would set up the mini using the mouse & keyboard from my Mac… No problem with the mouse BUT no keyboard connect. Your wonderful article reminded me that the keyboard is still paired to the Mac in the next room . Boy do I feel dumb!!
Oh man. THANK YOU for this post. Holding the power button did the trick for me. Saved me from hours of frustration.
That worked! Key was to keep the button pressed when pairing
Thanks 🙂 I am now typing on the paired keyboard!
Ok, let’s see if anyone has any ideas here…my wireless Mac keyboard stopped working – well 6 keys stopped working. Called Apple to troubleshoot. They had me turn the computer off. Then I had to put in my password to get back into the computer when turned back on. Only I can’t because the keys I need for my password are among the ones that no longer work. Friend gave me loaner keyboard – but it’s wireless, so no way to sync to computer. Is my only option to buy a $$ Mac plug in keyboard?
Borrow a USB keyboard from a friend, they all work the same, doesn’t need to be Apple.