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Apple Wireless Keyboard won't pair

ryannel2003

ryannel2003

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Jan 30, 2005
1,815
388
Greenville, NC
So I just bought a used White Apple Wireless Keyboard off eBay. Get it in the mail today and I've been attempting to pair it to my iMac G4 and MacBook Pro for the last hour. The keyboard is recognized in the setup of both computers, but when I go to enter the 8 digit key to connect it doesn't recognize the keyboard and says the pairing attempt was unsuccessful. Any ideas as to what is going on? I turned off Bluetooth, rebooted the machine, etc. and nothing has worked. The iMac has a Belkin USB Bluetooth dongle running OS X 10.4.11. I have a Mighty Mouse paired to it with no issues whatsoever.
 
In your Bluetooth Preferences when you add the device, turn off the security code deal before you add the device.

You have to do that from inside System Preferences>Bluetooth, not from the app that you can run to add the device. Just make sure it's off, then add the device. Should pair right away.
 
I don't see the option to do that from the Bluetooth menu. The only time I see that as an option is when I'm using the Bluetooth device app to try and pair the keyboard.
 
I'll post back when I get home. I assumed it was in a specific place, but now that I've tried it here myself at work on my Mac I can't find it.
 
OK. I was wrong. It is in the Bluetooth Setup Assistant. Sorry about that.

Setup as Any Device and the option will appear.

Bluetooth Setup Assistant 3.png Bluetooth Setup Assistant 2.png Bluetooth Setup Assistant.png
 
Yeah same thing happened to me with a speaker, just turn off the passcode and it will work fine
 
So I just tried pairing using no passcode and it still doesn't recognize the keyboard. When I select the option it takes me to the next screen and after about 20 seconds or so it says the keyboard is paired. However, the system never actually pairs with the keyboard. It still doesn't show up in my preferences or my list of paired devices. The whole time the green light on the bottom is just blinking over and over again and after 2 minutes or so it stops.

I'm at a loss.
 
I've got a Belkin adapter as well. I'm wondering if it can only handle one device at a time. I have a Magic Mouse paired and tried to pair a speaker to my Mac and it worked intermittently. At one point Bluetooth disappeared altogether and after a reboot I had to re-pair my Magic Mouse.
 
Last edited:
Hmmm I never thought of that. I can't get it to pair with my MacBook Pro either but in Yosemite I don't have an option to deselect the passcode. I'm going to disconnect my wireless MM tonight and see if the keyboard will pair.
 
i used to use a belkin adapter with my g4 imac years ago and it would pair with my apple bluetooth mouse and keyboard at the same time. i had the first generation keyboard.
 
A good tip for future reference when dealing with wonky keyboards and other Bluetooth peripherals is to remove the batteries and attempt to turn them on and then reinsert the batteries. This resets the internal hardware and may allow you to connect it properly.
 
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