Wireless Keyboard Won't Connect

[nickyr]

Happy New Year everyone

I've been using an old Apple Wireless Keyboard (the mechanical type) for a couple of years and across various versions of Mac OS (including Monterey) on my 2017 27" iMac.

It works absolutely fine except that whenever I have to swap out the batteries I have to go through the rigmarole of re-connecting it to my iMac through Bluetooth.

Except for this last time. No matter what I've tried (SMC, PRAM, etc resets, starting in safe mode) it will not connect. My iMac sees it in Bluetooth Preferences (sometimes just its MAC address and sometimes as "Apple Wireless Keyboard") but it just will not connect. If I press its return / enter key while attempting to connect I get an "Invalid Pass Key" message. So obviously it's trying its darnedest but something is stopping it :-(

Any suggestions?

thanks, Nick

 

[chscag]

I have the same 27" 2017 iMac and both my battery wireless Apple keyboard and rechargeable Apple wireless keyboard connect as soon as I turn them on. I no longer have the battery unit but it always connected right away.

You might try clearing out all BT items from your iMac and try again. You also could be experiencing BT interference so make sure all other BT devices are out of range from your iMac.

 

[nickyr]

Hi chscag
thanks for the suggestions but still no success. I tried to connect the keyboard to my MBP but again no joy.
it's frustrating as it's obviously "seen" by my devices but just won't make that final connection.
oh well, back to using my "flat" non mechanical keyboard I guess :-(

 

[ferrarr]

This one?
File:Apple Wireless Keyboard (A1016).png - Wikimedia Commons

 

[nickyr]

yep, that's the one Bob

 

[hughvane]

MeToo - bluetooth connectivity. Erratic, and sometimes downright stubborn. The only fix I know is to reboot your iMac after powering down (unplugging) it completely and leaving it for several minutes, longer even. I don't know what that does, but it seems to work.

Another possible factor, related in a way to what chscag suggests, ie. to remove all the bluetooth items in the Preferences panel and then reinsert them. I have found that to work at times with devices that are intended for the Win environment, eg. b/t radio, b/t headphones.

 

[MacInWin]

Not just BT devices. Everything on that same band can interfere. That includes wireless home phones, some remotes, your neighbors stuff, just about anything that uses your 2.4Ghz WiFi band (home automation, doorbell cameras, security systems, etc.)

 

[nickyr]

I've tried evetrything. A search reveals others with the A1016 keyboard having the same problem since Monterey. Some suggest repeatedly entering 0000 works. Not for me.
Looks like my keyboard is a nice ornament from now on :-(