New Apple Keyboard Not Working

[schwine1]

A new Apple Magic Keyboard (without the numeric keypad) is not working with my Mac Mini (Late 2014 with OSX El Capitan 10.11.6).
I thought this keyboard might be plug and play but this one in my case is not.

Nothing happens when I try to identify the keyboard using this pathway:
apple icon - system preferences - keyboard - change keyboard type.

The "show Keyboard, Emoij, & symbol Viewers in menu bar" is check-marked but the virtual keyboard doesn't work either.
I'll tried all the usb inputs on the back of the Mac Mini but none of them respond to this Apple keyboard.

Lastly, rebooting the computer did not help either.
Currently, I'm using a Logitech keyboard that is plug and play and works well without any issues.

However, I wanted to use this Apple keyboard because I like the styling of it.
Thanks for any additional tips on how to get the Apple Magic Keyboard to work with the Mac Mini.

 

[DeltaMac]

Your Magic Keyboard is wireless, and connects with Bluetooth, and I didn't see you mention that at all.
(The USB to Lightning cable is used to charge the internal battery, but is not needed for normal use after the initial pairing setup.)
Does your keyboard appear in the Bluetooth menu, under Devices?
If not, did you try the pairing setup?

Use the Lightning to USB cable that came with your keyboard.
Plug the Lightning end into the Lightning port on your keyboard, and the USB end into a USB port on your Mac.
Slide the keyboard on/off switch to on (so you see green on the switch).
Your keyboard will pair automatically with your Mac.
After the keyboard is paired, you can disconnect the cable and use your keyboard wirelessly.

If that doesn't work, delete any devices from that bluetooth menu, and try the pairing again.

 

[schwine1]

I didn't know about the on/off switch, thanks. The keyboard works now.
Yes, the keyboard now appears in the Bluetooth menu.

As a side note, what happens when internal battery in the keyboard wears out and can no longer be recharged?
In theory, can the Apple magic keyboard still work in such a case when connected with the Lightning to USB cable?

 

[DeltaMac]

Yes, you can used the keyboard "wired"

The battery should go a month or so before you need to recharge - so not a "recharge every day" kind of battery exercise. I have even seen reports that the keyboard will usually go more than 2 months between charges.
So, you might only need to recharge 5 or 6 times a year. Using a really limited estimated lifespan of 300 charge cycles, you might see a battery last 50 years or so before the battery "wears out". I think "old age" will kill it long before the battery wears out through use.

 

[schwine1]

Originally I wanted a wired Apple keyboard but Apple no longer makes one. A client specialist at the Apple Store told me that their wireless Magic keyboard can stay connected with the USB cable indefinately. This practice, however, will wear out the battery a bit quicker but they tell me that I can still use the Magic keyboard as a "wired" keyboard after the battery wears out. Given that, I prefer to keep the keyboard connected with the USB cable and essentially use it as a "wired" keyboard as a preference.

 

[Kaida]

i wonder if plugging in makes it usb or still wireless just with charging..
I had problem trying to get into boot menu with wireless keyboard so i have always been using wired kb.

 

[Boyd01]

I had problem trying to get into boot menu with wireless keyboard so i have always been using wired kb.

I saw another post about this exact issue, and several people claimed that the Apple Bluetooth keyboard did, in fact, become a USB keyboard when plugged into the Mac.

 

[Che Castro]

if you use the wireless keyboard with a cable (Bluetooth off) ,does the safe boot command work? or the other command+R