Apple makes keen keyboards: they work well, await really nice, and are designed to piece of work perfectly with your Mac. But every once in a while, something goes incorrect.

Mayhap you plug your keyboard in and nix happens. Peradventure your computer won't option upwards the Bluetooth signal from the board. Or perhaps pressing the keys doesn't exercise anything. Here's what to do when your Apple keyboard isn't working.

If Your Magic or Wireless Keyboard Isn't Working

We'll start with wireless keyboards, like the ones you'll use with an iMac, Mac mini, or Mac Studio, every bit there are a few more problems these can run into compared to their wired counterparts. No matter what'due south happening with your keyboard, try these steps first:

one. Make Sure Bluetooth Is Enabled and Working

Don't overlook the most obvious solutions when trying to set bug. Showtime, become to System Preferences > Bluetooth and make certain that you've got Bluetooth turned on.

The System Preferences console will tell you if your devices are continued, if they're depression on battery, or if there are any other errors.

If the preferences panel or your carte bar shows a Bluetooth icon with a jagged line through it (see the image below), that means Bluetooth is offline. Restart your Mac and see if that helps. If not, unplug all USB devices and restart once more.

bluetooth icons macos

See our guide to fixing Bluetooth on your Mac if this all the same doesn't resolve the outcome.

2. Brand Sure Your Keyboard Is On

If your iMac's Wireless or Magic Keyboard is non connecting, you should first cheque that it'due south really turned on:

  • On the latest Magic Keyboards, slide the switch on the dorsum border of the device and then that the green color becomes visible.
  • For older Apple tree Wireless Keyboards, printing the Power button on the right edge and you lot should run across the green LED calorie-free upward on the superlative.

Afterward your device is on, go back to the Bluetooth preferences panel and come across if it's connected. If your keyboard is searching for your computer but not connecting, Control-click on your keyboard in the list of devices and select Connect (if your device isn't listed, skip ahead to stride five beneath).

3. Check the Battery Level of Your Keyboard

If the batteries in your keyboard are getting depression, y'all may have some performance problems, or information technology can end your keyboard from connecting. Go to System Preferences > Bluetooth and you can encounter a small battery indicator below the listed—and connected—keyboard.

apple keyboard battery level

You can besides run into the bombardment level of any of your continued devices past clicking on the Bluetooth icon in the bill of fare bar and hovering over the device you're interested in. If the battery is low, you should replace or charge information technology.

4. Make Sure Mouse Keys and Slow Keys Are Turned Off

Some macOS accessibility features tin can interfere with normal keyboard operation. To check this, go to Arrangement Preferences > Accessibility and select Pointer Control > Mouse & Trackpad from the menu on the left.

Here, make certain that Enable Mouse Keys is unchecked nether Alternative Control Methods. This option allows yous to control the mouse using keyboard keys, resulting in a number of keys peradventure non working.

leave enable mouse keys unchecked

Next, click on Keyboard in the left sidebar, select Hardware, and make sure that Enable Wearisome Keys is besides unchecked. When enabled, this requires you to concord keys for longer to register as a press.

leave enable slow keys unchecked

5. Re-Pair Your Keyboard With Your Reckoner

If your Apple wireless keyboard is even so not working or not connecting, you can try to remove and re-pair it with your Mac.

In the Bluetooth preferences panel, make certain that Bluetooth is enabled. Mouse over your keyboard in the list of devices, and click on the Ten at the right side of the entry.

re-pair keyboard

A warning will appear, telling y'all that y'all may need to re-pair your device next fourth dimension y'all use it. Click Remove.

Now turn off your keyboard and turn it back on once more. The indicator light should start blinking. Open the Keyboard options in Organization Preferences and click on Set Bluetooth keyboard. Follow the instructions to pair your keyboard.

enter pair code bluetooth keyboard

If Your Mac USB Keyboard Is Not Working

If your Mac mini or iMac keyboard is not working, and it's connected via USB, complete the following steps to diagnose and solve the problem:

1. Endeavor a Different USB Port

Unplug your keyboard from the current USB port and endeavour another one. If it works, you can try it in the original port once more.

If it only works in one USB port, you may need to fix your computer's USB ports.

ii. Bank check the Organization Report

From the Apple carte (institute at the elevation-left of the screen), click Nearly This Mac. Then click the System Study button. Once the Organization Report window has opened, click on USB in the Hardware section of the left sidebar.

From here, you can run across what your estimator detects from your USB ports.

apple usb keyboard

If your computer has detected the keyboard, you lot'll see Apple Keyboard listed under 1 of the USB ports. If it'south non listed, try restarting your reckoner and resetting the SMC and PRAM. You simply need to do this on an Intel Mac—you don't need to reset SMC and PRAM on Apple Silicon Macs.

3. Turn Bluetooth Off

Go to System Preferences > Bluetooth and make certain that Bluetooth is off. If this solves the problem, it'south possible that your estimator is recognizing a Bluetooth keyboard and prioritizing it over your USB keyboard.

If you need to keep Bluetooth on, y'all tin can remove the keyboard from the list past clicking on the 10 on the correct side of the entry in your System Preferences > Bluetooth device list to remove it.

iv. Make Sure Mouse Keys and Slow Keys Are Turned Off

The aforementioned accessibility features we mentioned earlier tin can affect wired keyboards too. Go to System Preferences > Accessibility and select Mouse & Trackpad from the menu on the left. Make sure that Enable Mouse Keys is unchecked.

leave enable mouse keys unchecked

Click on Keyboard in the left sidebar and brand sure that Enable Slow Keys is unchecked under Hardware, too.

leave enable slow keys unchecked

5. Connect Your Keyboard Through an Extension Cord or USB Hub

Apple's USB keyboards come with a USB extension string that increases the achieve of the included USB cable. Attempt plugging your keyboard into 1 terminate of this cord with the other terminate going into your computer. If yous don't have a USB extension cord, you lot tin can also use a USB hub.

No i seems to know why this is so effective, just it ofttimes works!

Mac Keyboard Still Not Working? Know When to Admit Defeat

Equally with whatsoever troubleshooting endeavor, it's good to know when to admit defeat. If you try the solutions higher up and none of them piece of work, it might be fourth dimension to consult staff at your local Apple store (especially if the device is under warranty). Yous can as well effort searching for your specific problem online to find others who accept solved that issue.

Apple tree hardware is pretty reliable, but non totally foolproof. Y'all should always keep an eye out for early signs that your Mac has a trouble, then yous can fix it earlier it's too late.

5 Warning Signs Your Mac Has a Problem (And What to Do Virtually Them)

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