How to Connect an Apple Keyboard to Your Mac

The basic steps to pair your Apple keyboard

To connect an Apple keyboard to your Mac, turn on Bluetooth on both devices, then hold down the power button on the keyboard until the LED light blinks white. Your Mac will detect it in the Bluetooth menu, and you click "Connect" to finish pairing. The whole process takes about a minute.

Which keyboard you own matters slightly — wireless keyboards (like the Magic Keyboard or Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad) use Bluetooth, while older wired keyboards plug directly into a USB port. If you have a wired keyboard, you can skip the Bluetooth steps and just plug it in. Your Mac will recognize it immediately without any pairing needed.

Key Takeaways

Wireless Apple keyboards pair through Bluetooth by holding the power button until the LED blinks, then selecting the keyboard in your Mac's Bluetooth settings.
Wired Apple keyboards connect directly to a USB port and require no pairing or setup.
If your keyboard does not appear in Bluetooth settings, restart both the keyboard and your Mac, then try pairing again.
Once paired, your keyboard will reconnect automatically whenever both devices are turned on and in range.

Turning on Bluetooth on your Mac

Before your keyboard can find your Mac, Bluetooth needs to be on. Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner, then select "System Settings" (or "System Preferences" on older macOS versions). Look for "Bluetooth" in the left sidebar and click it. You should see a toggle switch at the top — make sure it is turned on.

Once Bluetooth is on, your Mac will start scanning for nearby devices. You will see a list of any keyboards, mice, or other devices already paired with your Mac, plus any new devices in range. Leave this window open while you prepare your keyboard.

Putting your Apple keyboard into pairing mode

Locate the power button on your keyboard. On the Magic Keyboard, it is a thin silver button on the right edge. On the Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad, the power button is on the bottom right. Press and hold this button for about three seconds until you see the LED light on the keyboard start blinking white. This white blinking means the keyboard is in pairing mode and looking for a Mac to connect to.

If the light does not blink, the keyboard may already be paired to another device or the battery may be low. Check that the keyboard has power — if it uses rechargeable batteries, plug it into a USB-C cable for a few minutes. If it uses replaceable batteries, make sure they are installed correctly and not dead.

Selecting your keyboard in Bluetooth settings

While your keyboard is blinking, look at the Bluetooth window on your Mac. Your keyboard should appear in the list of available devices within a few seconds. It will show the model name — for example, "Magic Keyboard" or "Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad." Click on it to select it.

After you click the keyboard name, your Mac will attempt to pair with it. A small window may appear asking you to confirm the pairing. If it does, click "Connect" or "Pair." The LED light on your keyboard will stop blinking and stay on solid, which means the pairing is complete. Your keyboard is now ready to use.

What to do if your keyboard does not appear

If your keyboard is not showing up in the Bluetooth list, first check that it is actually in pairing mode — the LED should be blinking white. If the light is off or solid, press and hold the power button again. Also make sure your Mac's Bluetooth is still on; sometimes it turns off if you restart your computer.

If the keyboard still does not appear after 30 seconds, turn the keyboard off completely by holding the power button for five seconds until the light goes out. Wait 10 seconds, then turn it back on and hold the power button again until it blinks. At the same time, restart your Mac's Bluetooth by clicking the Bluetooth icon in System Settings and toggling it off, then back on. Try pairing again.

If you have paired this keyboard to another Mac or iPad before, it may still be connected to that device. Turn off Bluetooth on the other device, or unpair the keyboard from it first. A keyboard can only connect to one device at a time, so it needs to be fully disconnected from anything else before it will pair with your Mac.

Reconnecting after the first pairing

Once your keyboard is paired, you do not have to repeat this process every time you use it. When you turn on your keyboard and your Mac is nearby with Bluetooth on, they will reconnect automatically. The keyboard will remember your Mac and your Mac will remember the keyboard.

If your keyboard does not reconnect automatically, make sure Bluetooth is turned on in your Mac's System Settings. If it still does not work, turn the keyboard off and back on, or restart your Mac. You should not need to pair it again unless you reset the keyboard to factory settings or pair it with a different Mac.

Connecting a wired Apple keyboard

If you have an older wired Apple keyboard with a USB cable, the process is much simpler — there is no pairing involved. Plug the USB cable into any available USB port on your Mac. Your Mac will recognize the keyboard immediately and you can start typing right away. No settings or Bluetooth menu needed.

Wired keyboards do not need batteries or charging, and they will not disconnect unless you physically unplug them. If you have a newer Mac with only USB-C ports, you may need a USB-A to USB-C adapter to connect an older keyboard with a standard USB connector.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use an Apple keyboard with a non-Apple computer?

Yes, Apple keyboards work with Windows PCs and Linux computers that have Bluetooth. The pairing process is similar — put the keyboard in pairing mode and select it from the computer's Bluetooth settings. Some keys may not work exactly the same way (like the Command key), but typing and basic functions will work fine.

Why does my keyboard keep disconnecting?

Disconnections usually happen because the battery is low, Bluetooth is turned off on your Mac, or the keyboard is too far away from your Mac (more than 30 feet). Try charging the keyboard, making sure Bluetooth is on, and moving closer to your Mac. If disconnections keep happening, unpair the keyboard and pair it again from scratch.

Can I pair one keyboard to multiple Macs?

A keyboard can only be connected to one device at a time, but you can pair it to multiple Macs. To switch between Macs, turn off Bluetooth on the Mac you are leaving, then turn on Bluetooth on the Mac you want to use. The keyboard will reconnect to whichever Mac is nearby and has Bluetooth on.

What if I forgot the pairing and want to start over?

To reset your keyboard and remove all pairings, hold down the power button for 10 seconds until the LED blinks amber, then release. The keyboard is now unpaired from all devices. Follow the pairing steps above to connect it to your Mac again as if it were brand new.

Do I need to charge my wireless Apple keyboard?

Yes, wireless Apple keyboards have rechargeable batteries built in. Newer models use USB-C charging cables and typically last several weeks per charge. Older models may use replaceable AA or AAA batteries. Check your keyboard's manual to see which type you have and how often it needs charging.

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