Magic keyboard is driving me crazy - Normal behavior?

[steve gee]

I got my new imac a couple of months ago. But the magic keyboard that came with it is a POS. It is constantly jumping back into parts of what Ive written previously and I cant seem to do anything about it.

Is this normal behavior because it completely ruins having and using the imac?

Thanks for any info.

 

[usagora]

I'm not sure what you mean by "jumping back into parts of what Ive written previously". Do you mean the blinking cursor (indicating where the next character you type will appear) moves by itself (as if you had clicked there)?

 

[steve gee]

I'm not sure what you mean by "jumping back into parts of what Ive written previously". Do you mean the blinking cursor (indicating where the next character you type will appear) moves by itself (as if you had clicked there)?

The cursor moves into a previous written line - which messes up that line. Then I notice it happened and I have to correct it.

This happens a lot.

 

[Graham Caracas]

Have you tried it on another machine? Tried another keyboard on your machine? Is the keyboard or bluetooth doing this? Keyboards can be exchanged for new ones.

 

[usagora]

Several suggestions:

1. To be sure it's actually the keyboard causing the problem, buy a cheap, basic USB wired keyboard, turn off the Magic Keyboard, and use the USB keyboard for a while to see if the same problem happens or if it stops. It's a good idea to have a wired keyboard around at all times anyway in case your main keyboard ever stops working.

2. Restart your Mac

3. Completely unpair the Magic Keyboard (turn off the Magic Keyboard, then go to System Preferences > Bluetooth > the hover your mouse over the Magic Keyboard and click the X at the right. Then re-pair it as if you would a brand new BT keyboard.

 

[DeltaMac]

Maybe you have a sticking key, such as the Up arrow (maybe the left arrow, as well).You can test for sticking keys in the Keyboard Viewer. (System Preferences/Keyboard/Input Sources tab, then check the box "Show Input Menu in Menu Bar"
Go to the top menu, click on the icon, then choose Show Keyboard Viewer. )
You can type on each letter of your keyboard, sticking or slow keys (or not working at all) are usually easy to spot.

 

[rpmurray]

Bluetooth is a bag of hurt. Have you tried turning off bluetooth and just using the keyboard as a wired keyboard (just leave the charging cable plugged in)? It may not even be the keyboard if you're using the (horrid) bluetooth Apple magic mouse.

I use a wired mouse with three, honest to god, actual buttons (none of this scroll wheel garbage for me), and the magic keyboard is always attached by cable. I try to stay away from bluetooth because it's always been a bit miss and no hit with me.

 

[Honza1]

No, it is not normal and it is either Bluetooth or bad keyboard. Suggestions above should be helpful. Either way, I would be at Apple store asking for replacement or fix by now.

 

[usagora]

Bluetooth is a bag of hurt. Have you tried turning off bluetooth and just using the keyboard as a wired keyboard (just leave the charging cable plugged in)? It may not even be the keyboard if you're using the (horrid) bluetooth Apple magic mouse.

I use a wired mouse with three, honest to god, actual buttons (none of this scroll wheel garbage for me), and the magic keyboard is always attached by cable. I try to stay away from bluetooth because it's always been a bit miss and no hit with me.

That's odd. I rarely have BT issues on any of my Macs. I've used Magic Keyboards and Magic Mice exclusively for as long as they've been out.

 

[Fishrrman]

OP wrote:
"I got my new imac a couple of months ago. But the magic keyboard that came with it is a POS."

There are many, many 3rd-party keyboards out there, both wired and wireless.
Time to start shopping for one.

(I haven't used an Apple keyboard or mouse since the "ADB days"...)

 

[rpmurray]

That's odd. I rarely have BT issues on any of my Macs. I've used Magic Keyboards and Magic Mice exclusively for as long as they've been out.

It may just be because I have all this other electronic equipment nearby and may be getting a lot of EMI. It's almost as if Apple tests these things in a clean room with no other electronics within 100 feet.

 

[PlayUltimate]

FWIW, for my iMac, I use an old Apple wired keyboard with an Apple wireless mouse. Personally don't see the need for a wireless keyboard with a desktop.

 

[usagora]

It may just be because I have all this other electronic equipment nearby and may be getting a lot of EMI. It's almost as if Apple tests these things in a clean room with no other electronics within 100 feet.

I'm not sure what kind of electronic equipment you're referring to, but I've got quite a few other electronic devices (including both modem and router) within 3-5 feet of my iMac.

 

[kohlson]

I've had similar behavior in the past, the result of a Magic Mouse accidentally getting switched on at the bottom of a backpack bag. So you might check the BT controls and see if only expected devices are connected.

Apple BT works well - I regularly works with 2 different machines, next to each other with their own Apple KBD and mouse. Lots of other BT accessories around. No issues. If you KBD continues to give troubles, I would log a service complaint with Apple. Most likely they will replace it.

 

[Feek]

Bluetooth is a bag of hurt

I’ve been using the BT magic keyboard and trackpad for years with no hurt whatsoever. I wouldn’t describe it as a bag of hurt.

 

[JayMysterio]

I’ve been using the BT magic keyboard and trackpad for years with no hurt whatsoever. I wouldn’t describe it as a bag of hurt.

That always falls under one's personal experience. I on the other hand would say that some of Apple's BT ( especially with the Mac mini & now my own magic keyboard with iMac ) is a great big bag of hurt. Some just have better luck with some things than other people do. 🤷‍♀️