I would love a Wired Keyboard with Touch ID. I have a 24 inch iMac which has a Touch ID keyboard but I have always preferred wired -- no chance of running out of power or having blue tooth issues-- keyboards. I don't think such a thing exists and wonder if it will be made someday soon?
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Wired Keyboard with Touch ID
- Thread starter reeney
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Anything is possible... but this is pretty unlikely... Apple has discontinued all wired keyboards and mice... and with the TouchID requiring the Secure Enclave and the M1 processor, it's extremely unlikely that Apple will allow any other manufacturer to create such a device...
Are you sure you can't use the Magic Keyboard lightning to USB with bluetooth turned off? I don't have one to test with, but wondering if it might be possible.
My question too. Just bought a compact Magic Keyboard (MLA22LLA), and have read you can opt out of using blue tooth by just keeping the lightning cable connected. Essentially becomes a wired keyboard. But I can't identify if it's a Touch version or not (though don't use that feature).
Apple does not yet sell the TouchID keyboards separately from the new iMacs yet.
Ok thanks. It would be used with a Mac Mini M1. What confused me is at Apple's website, there are a few compact Magic Keyboard manuals listed but without model numbers, including this one:
That is in fact the manual for the TouchID compact keyboard, but they're not yet sold at retail in any of the available colors. Presumably eventually, but Apple has not explicitly said when.
The keyboards Apple currently sell at retail (basically just the silver/white compact keyboard and the keyboard with numeric keypad) do not have the TouchID feature. The Space Gray keyboard with numeric keypad was officially discontinued last month.
Either way, with or without TouchID, they will work on M1 machines. Interestingly, the TouchID feature does not work on Apple's Intel machines (though the rest of the keyboard will function as normal).
But, what you bought will not have the TouchID function. If you want one with TouchID, there are some available on eBay (basically people selling them off from their new iMacs).
If you connect your new keyboard to the Mac with the included Lightning cable, it'll function as a wired keyboard without needing Bluetooth on, if that's how you prefer it.