How to Connect Your Logitech MX Keys Keyboard to a Mac

The basic steps to pair your MX Keys with your Mac

Turn on your MX Keys keyboard by sliding the power switch on the back to the on position. On your Mac, go to System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions), then click Bluetooth. Make sure Bluetooth is turned on. Press and hold the pairing button on the bottom of the MX Keys for three seconds until the light on top starts blinking — this puts the keyboard into pairing mode. Your Mac should detect it within a few seconds and show "Logitech MX Keys" in the Bluetooth list. Click it to connect.

Once you click the keyboard name, your Mac will ask you to confirm the pairing. You may see a code on your screen and be asked to type it on the keyboard to verify — this is normal and adds a layer of security. Type the code and press Enter. The keyboard should now show as "Connected" in your Bluetooth settings, and the blinking light will stop.

Key Takeaways

The power switch on the back of the MX Keys must be in the on position before your Mac can detect it.
Hold the pairing button on the bottom for three seconds to enter pairing mode, which makes the keyboard visible to your Mac.
Go to System Settings > Bluetooth on your Mac and select the MX Keys from the list to complete the connection.
If a code appears on your screen, type it on the keyboard to confirm the pairing — this is a security step, not an error.

What to do if your Mac does not see the keyboard

First, check that Bluetooth is actually on in your Mac's System Settings. A common mistake is assuming it is on when it is not. Also make sure the MX Keys power switch is in the on position and that the battery is not completely dead — if the keyboard has not been used in months, it may need to charge for a few minutes before it will respond.

If the keyboard still does not appear, try restarting the pairing process. Turn the MX Keys off, wait five seconds, turn it back on, and hold the pairing button again for three seconds. If your Mac still does not detect it after a minute, restart your Mac and try once more. Sometimes a fresh start clears out temporary Bluetooth confusion.

Connecting a second device to the same keyboard

The MX Keys can pair with up to three devices at once — your Mac, an iPad, a phone, or any combination. To add a second device, press and hold the pairing button again for three seconds. Your Mac will stay connected, but the keyboard enters pairing mode so a new device can find it. Go to that device's Bluetooth settings and select the MX Keys from the list.

Once paired, you can switch between devices by pressing one of the three numbered buttons at the top of the keyboard (usually labeled 1, 2, and 3). Each button corresponds to one paired device. Press the button for the device you want to use, and the keyboard will switch its connection to that device. The light on top will briefly flash to show the switch happened.

Fixing a connection that keeps dropping

If the keyboard connects but then disconnects randomly, the first step is to check the battery level. Open System Settings > Bluetooth, find the MX Keys in the list, and look for the battery percentage shown next to it. If the battery is below 20 percent, charge the keyboard using the USB-C cable that came with it. A low battery can cause the connection to become unstable.

If the battery is fine, try removing and re-pairing the keyboard. In System Settings > Bluetooth, click the X or "Remove" button next to the MX Keys to forget it completely. Then repeat the pairing steps from the beginning. This clears out any corrupted pairing information and usually solves the problem. If the keyboard still drops connection after re-pairing, the issue may be interference from other wireless devices — try moving your Mac and keyboard away from other Bluetooth devices, routers, or microwave ovens.

Understanding the lights and buttons on your MX Keys

The light on top of the keyboard serves as a status indicator. When it blinks, the keyboard is in pairing mode and waiting to connect to a device. When it is solid or off, the keyboard is either connected or in sleep mode. The light will also blink briefly when you press one of the numbered buttons to switch between paired devices.

The three numbered buttons (1, 2, 3) at the top left let you switch between your three paired devices. The pairing button is on the bottom of the keyboard and looks like a small circle or dot — you press and hold it, not click it. The power switch is a physical slider on the back, not a button. Make sure you are using the right control for what you are trying to do, because pressing a numbered button when you meant to hold the pairing button will just switch devices instead of entering pairing mode.

Why your Mac might ask for a pairing code

When you first pair the MX Keys with your Mac, your screen may show a six-digit code and ask you to type it on the keyboard. This is a security feature called passkey confirmation, and it proves that you physically have the keyboard and are not just connecting to a random device in range. Type the code exactly as shown, then press Enter on the keyboard.

This step only happens during the initial pairing, not every time you turn the keyboard on. Once the pairing is confirmed, your Mac will remember the keyboard and reconnect automatically when both are powered on and in range. If you see this code screen and do not have the keyboard in front of you, cancel the pairing attempt and make sure you are trying to pair with your own device.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to pair the MX Keys every time I turn it on?

No. Once you pair the keyboard with your Mac, they remember each other. When you turn the keyboard back on, it will reconnect automatically as long as Bluetooth is on and the keyboard is in range. You only go through the pairing steps once, the first time you connect.

Can I use the MX Keys with multiple Macs at the same time?

The keyboard can be paired with up to three devices, but it can only actively connect to one at a time. You can pair it with two different Macs and switch between them using the numbered buttons, but you cannot type on both simultaneously. To switch, press the button for the Mac you want to use.

What should I do if the keyboard is paired but not typing?

First, make sure the keyboard is actually connected — check System Settings > Bluetooth and look for "Connected" next to the MX Keys. If it shows "Connected" but keys are not working, try clicking in a text field on your Mac to make sure the Mac is focused on the right window. If that does not work, disconnect and reconnect the keyboard by removing it from Bluetooth settings and pairing it again.

How do I know if the MX Keys battery is low?

Open System Settings > Bluetooth and look at the battery percentage shown next to the MX Keys in the list. The keyboard will also show a low battery warning on your Mac's screen when the battery drops below 5 percent. Charge it using the USB-C cable included in the box — a full charge takes about two hours.

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