The basic connection process

An Apple Keyboard connects to your Mac through Bluetooth, which means the keyboard and Mac need to find and recognize each other before they can talk. The process takes about two minutes and you only do it once — after that, the keyboard reconnects automatically when you turn it on near your Mac.

Start with the keyboard powered on. If it's a newer Magic Keyboard, press the power button on the back until you see a green light. On older wireless keyboards, flip the power switch on the bottom. Then go to your Mac's System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions), click Bluetooth, and wait for your keyboard to appear in the list of available devices.

When you see your keyboard's name in that list, click it. Your Mac will ask you to type a four-digit code on the keyboard to confirm the pairing — this is a security step to make sure you're connecting the right device. Type those numbers and press Enter. The keyboard should now show as "Connected" in your Bluetooth settings.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Apple Keyboard must be powered on and in pairing mode before your Mac can see it in Bluetooth settings.
  • You pair a keyboard only once by selecting it from the Bluetooth list and typing a four-digit confirmation code.
  • After pairing, the keyboard reconnects automatically whenever it's powered on and within range of your Mac.
  • If your keyboard doesn't appear in the Bluetooth list, restart both devices and try again, or check that the battery isn't dead.

Where to find Bluetooth settings on your Mac

The location of Bluetooth settings depends on which version of macOS you're running. On macOS Ventura and newer, click the Apple menu in the top-left corner, select System Settings, then click Bluetooth in the sidebar. On older Macs running Big Sur or earlier, go to System Preferences instead of System Settings, but the Bluetooth option is in the same place.

Once you're in Bluetooth settings, you'll see a list of devices your Mac already knows about, and below that, a section showing available devices that aren't yet paired. Your keyboard will appear in the available section the moment you turn it on and it enters pairing mode. If you don't see it after 10 seconds, make sure the keyboard's power switch is actually on — it's straightforward to miss.

What to do if your keyboard doesn't appear

If your keyboard isn't showing up in the Bluetooth list, the most common reason is that the battery is dead or nearly dead. Plug a Magic Keyboard into power with a USB-C cable and wait 30 seconds, then check Bluetooth settings again. For older wireless keyboards with replaceable batteries, open the battery compartment on the back and swap in fresh batteries.

If the battery is fine, restart both devices. Turn off the keyboard, wait five seconds, and turn it back on. Then restart your Mac by clicking the Apple menu and selecting Restart. After your Mac boots back up, open Bluetooth settings and look for the keyboard again. This clears out any stuck connections and usually solves the problem.

If the keyboard still doesn't appear, try "forgetting" any previous pairing. In Bluetooth settings, find the keyboard's name if it's listed, click the X or information icon next to it, and select Remove or Forget. Then turn the keyboard off and back on, and try pairing from scratch.

Typing the confirmation code

After you click your keyboard's name in the Bluetooth list, your Mac will display a four-digit code on the screen and ask you to type it on the keyboard to confirm the pairing. This code is unique to that moment and that pairing — it's not a password you'll need again. Type the four numbers exactly as shown, then press Enter or Return.

The keyboard will beep or show a light when the code is accepted, and the connection is complete. If you type the wrong number, your Mac will ask you to try again. You have about 30 seconds to enter the code before the pairing attempt times out, so you don't need to rush, but you do need to do it fairly quickly.

Reconnecting after the keyboard goes to sleep

Once your keyboard is paired, it will reconnect to your Mac automatically whenever you turn it on, as long as your Mac's Bluetooth is still on. You don't have to pair it again. When you press a key on the keyboard after it's been off, it wakes up, connects to your Mac, and is ready to use within a second or two.

If your keyboard isn't responding after you turn it on, check that Bluetooth is still enabled on your Mac. Click the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar at the top of the screen — if it shows a Bluetooth symbol with a line through it, Bluetooth is off. Click it and select Turn Bluetooth On. Then try pressing a key on the keyboard again.

Troubleshooting a keyboard that was paired before

If you're trying to connect a keyboard that was previously paired with a different Mac, you may need to remove it from that old Mac's Bluetooth settings first. This is especially true if the keyboard is still in range of the old Mac — it might try to reconnect there instead of pairing with your new one.

Go to the old Mac's Bluetooth settings, find the keyboard, and click the X or information icon to remove it. Then move to the new Mac, open its Bluetooth settings, and pair the keyboard as you normally would. After that, the keyboard will prefer to connect to the new Mac when both are nearby.

What happens after pairing is complete

Once your keyboard is paired and connected, you can start typing when ready. Your Mac will remember this keyboard even after you shut down, so the next time you turn on the keyboard, it will reconnect without any action from you. The pairing stays in place until you manually remove the keyboard from Bluetooth settings.

If you want to use the same keyboard with a different Mac later, you don't have to unpair it from the first one — you can pair it with multiple Macs. However, the keyboard can only be connected to one Mac at a time. If you turn on the keyboard while both Macs are nearby, it will connect to whichever one it was most recently paired with.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to pair my keyboard every time I use it?

No. You pair it once, and after that it reconnects automatically whenever you turn it on. Pairing is a one-time setup step. If your keyboard keeps asking you to pair it, the battery is probably dead or the Bluetooth connection was interrupted — try restarting both devices.

Can I use the same Apple Keyboard with two different Macs?

Yes, you can pair one keyboard with multiple Macs. However, it can only be actively connected to one Mac at a time. If both Macs are on and nearby, the keyboard will connect to the one it was most recently used with. To switch, just turn the keyboard off and back on near the other Mac.

What if I see my keyboard in Bluetooth settings but it says "Not Connected"?

Click on the keyboard's name to try connecting it again. If it still won't connect, the battery may be low even though the keyboard powers on. Plug it in to charge for a few minutes, then try again. If that doesn't work, remove the keyboard from Bluetooth settings and pair it from scratch.

Why does my keyboard keep disconnecting?

Interference from other wireless devices, a low battery, or a Mac that's gone to sleep can all cause disconnections. Try moving the keyboard closer to your Mac, replacing the batteries if it uses them, or checking that your Mac's Bluetooth is still on. If disconnections happen frequently, restart both devices.

Can I pair an Apple Keyboard with a non-Apple computer?

Apple Keyboards use standard Bluetooth, so they can pair with Windows PCs, Linux machines, and other devices that support Bluetooth keyboards. The pairing process is similar — put the keyboard in pairing mode and select it from the other device's Bluetooth settings. However, some Mac-specific keys may not work on non-Apple computers.