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How do I pair my Apple wireless bluetooth keyboard with my iPad?I tried and tried, but I can't seem to get the hang of typing with any sort of speed on my iPad. I love the thing, and it's great for class notes, etc, but I need to be able to type quickly too. So I bought an Apple Wireless (bluetooth) keyboard. How do I pair the two? I can definitely relate to what you're talking about. In fact, I'm typing in this blog entry on my iPad courtesy of the slick Apple bluetooth / wireless keyboard and it is a rocking' setup, especially when you can touch type as I can. The keyboard is really nice, a bit "clicky" but has a nice keystroke feel so if you're a fast typer, you'll probably be even faster with this! Which leads to the dilemma of how the heck you pair the two up. The iPad doesn't have System Preferences like your Mac might. Or does it? :-) What you need to do is go to Settings on your iPad. Once you tap on that, look on the left side for "General", because that's where the Bluetooth settings can be found: ![]() Tap on it and notice that part way down the first screen is "Bluetooth": ![]() If you're like me, you probably have that set to "off" because you aren't yet using a bluetooth device. You need to turn it on (obviously!) so tap on it. ![]() Okay, once you turn on bluetooth it'll start searching for devices. At this point, push the button on the right top corner of the keyboard. A tiny green light will come on for a second or two to indicate it's been seen. Give it a few seconds -- or more -- and you should see this: ![]() My keyboard already has a name because of when I paired it with my Mac Mini a few days ago, so it pops up as "taylor keyboard", as you can see here: ![]() A few more seconds and a window pops up asking you to type in a confirmation code so that the iPad and the keyboard know they're supposed to pair up: ![]() Do that and once you press Return it should instantly switch to being paired: ![]() Nice! Now you're good to go. If you ever want to unpair it, then tap on the keyboard in the Bluetooth screen in settings, then you'll see: ![]() Oh, and one tip. When you're using the wireless bluetooth keyboard with your iPad, if you want the on-screen keyboard to show up too, just push the "eject" button on the physical keyboard. Done with it? Push that button again. Easy! Glad I could help out. Now, if you're looking for more iPad help, you've found the right place, and if there are iPad questions that I haven't fielded, please don't hesitate to ask me!
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Apple iPad Help
(Article 9401,
Written by Dave Taylor)
Tagged: Apple iPad, apple wireless keyboard, Bluetooth keyboard, Bluetooth pairing, iPad bluetooth Previous: Can hackers exploit Google Analytics to break into my site? Next: I can't get my wireless keyboard to pair with my Apple iPad? Reader Comments To Date: 32Steve Stroh said, on April 25, 2010 10:23 AM:
Things must get interesting when you're using the keyboard within range of both the Mac Mini AND the iPad :-) Dan said, on April 25, 2010 1:05 PM:
If only there was some product that offered all the features of the iPad and had a real physical keyboard built in. Now THAT would be the product for me! Dave Taylor said, on April 25, 2010 9:31 PM:
... and if only I could leave the keyboard at home when I didn't need to create content but was just interested in consuming it, like on an airplane or otherwise in transit... :-) shambhu said, on April 26, 2010 7:17 AM:
Considering the awkwardness of the setup, is it just the ability to use the iPad as a color Kindle that makes it worth getting over or in addition to a laptop? Marty said, on April 27, 2010 11:06 AM:
Thanks. Was able to pair my keyboard and iPad. Have you figured out a way to allow the keyboard to send the shortcut key strokes on say Google Reader. J and K etc work better than the two finger scroll on the iPad. Or can the keyboard only be used where the on screen keyboard would pop up? Dan said, on May 1, 2010 7:18 PM:
Touche :-) Jack said, on June 9, 2010 5:50 AM:
Hi, thanks for your tip on the keyboard pairing, really helped. The only thing: I can't find the "Eject" key on the physical wireless Apple keyboard. Where is it? (So that the onscreen keyboard can work at the same time as when the iPad is paired with the physical keyboard... Thanks alot Dave Taylor said, on June 9, 2010 6:27 AM:
Jack, the eject key is the top right key on the wireless keyboard. Has a little triangle graphic on it. foss said, on July 8, 2010 11:51 AM:
Just a head's up that the original 2003 apple wireless bluetooth keyboard (A1016) won't pair with the ipad. Not supported. It won't do it, so don't waste your time. It will get close enough to tease you and make you think you can figure it out. Lynne said, on July 12, 2010 8:28 AM:
My wireless keyboard has worked for weeks with my iPad and now it just keeps searching, searching, searching for the connection. It never comes up with the code to enter. I tried new batteries, but that didn't work. Any ideas? Andy Shaw said, on July 20, 2010 3:45 AM:
I'm having the same problem as Lynne, July 12. Cheers, Andy Shaw Patrick DiDomenico said, on August 29, 2010 3:44 PM:
Thank you so much for a very clear, helpful blog post. Very nicely done. The combination of the iPad and wireless keyboard is a huge productivity boost. Not sure what took me so long to get the keyboard. Anyway, thanks again. Jeffrey Austin White said, on December 4, 2010 7:24 PM:
I discovered an awesome laser projection keyboard that works with Android Phones. It is manufactured by Celluon and is called the CL850. The CL850 Bluetooth Keyboard driver is available on the Android Market for download just in time for the holidays. Laurel said, on January 23, 2011 6:30 PM:
this is the first thing I've typed on my new keypad. Thought I'd thank you first thing. I'm always nervious when setting up new Apple products. It's a real bone of contention for me that they don't include a manual - not even a single sheet of set up instructions. I don't care what their excuse is, it's just arrogance. I buy Apple because I love the beautiful simplicity of it, but that simplicty evaporates when I open the box and try to figure out how to get the thing running. Thank you for writing instructions that bring that simple beauty back. Lynn said, on January 26, 2011 12:52 PM:
I just bought the keyboard from Brookstore and mine just keeps searching devices. Nothing is coming up. Now what? Lynn S Vince Samios said, on January 28, 2011 9:28 AM:
I've got exactly the same problem as Lynn - found this by searching for keyboard pairing ipad. Claudio Lins said, on February 18, 2011 11:27 AM:
Dear Dave, I have successfully paired my wireless bluetooth keyboard with my IPad. However I have a problem. Whenever I type a bit more quickly it seems to get into trouble. It ceases typing for a time and I have to wait till I can type again - but then the problem repeats. OR a letter may begin to type repeatedly and without control, till the end of the line. OR the digital keyboard appears all of a sudden. Scrimshaw said, on March 7, 2011 7:41 PM:
I have the latest Aluminium Wireless Apple Keyboard, an ipad and a Macbook. I have successfully paired the keyboard with the ipad, but I haven't been able to pair it with my Macbook. Is it possible to pair it to both? If so, what do I have to do? Any help would be much appreciated Lorrie said, on March 18, 2011 11:30 PM:
I have an iPad and am having a hard time pairing me ZAGG mate keyboard with it. It just keeps searching. Help Paula Buckner said, on June 17, 2011 6:46 PM:
I, too, say thanks for clear-cut directions. Pairing the keyboard with my iMac was pretty seamless, but the iPad proved problematic. I took iPad into different room and they finally paired up; it was the first time the green "on" light on the keyboard blinked continuously at me, so I knew something was working as it should. Your "wait a few seconds or more' was particularly helpful. Mike said, on August 23, 2011 5:07 PM:
I already have a wireless keyboard for my iMac. Can I pair this one with my iPad too? In other words, can I pair one wireless keyboard with multiple devices? Dave Taylor said, on August 23, 2011 11:10 PM:
Mike, you can but not simultaneously. You need to unpaid it from one device, then pair it with the other. Want to switch back, you'll have to go through the same procedure. If you think about it, this makes sense: otherwise when you push a key, which device is supposed to receive it? Mike said, on August 24, 2011 7:15 AM:
Thanks Dave Christopher said, on September 6, 2011 7:21 AM:
Great, man!! I paired them in a blink! thanx!! terri said, on October 3, 2011 6:28 PM:
Cannot get it to pair up. Have Bluetooth turned on in iPad have the bluetooth Apple keybaord. It sees it but then it won't pair up Jewel said, on December 9, 2011 2:01 PM:
Hello, Hayley said, on January 31, 2012 3:26 PM:
Hi There Im so frustrated trying to pair my new wireless keyboard with my Ipad 2. It is one of those keyboards built into the case. It sees the device and the keyboard shows up but as far as I can get it putting in the code and pressing enter and it then comes up sying it is unable to pair and to make sure the device is turned on and in range which it is! can you help? Jim said, on April 10, 2012 10:24 PM:
Same problem as several above: My iMac BT KB is disconnected, but despite unchecking the "Discoverable" box it keeps getting reconnected. So I shut down the iMac after disco'ing the KB. Then I reboot The new iPad, turn on BT and . . . KB is not seen! I push the little button on upper right and the green light flashes and . . . it's still undiscovered! Why does my The new iPad not see the Apple Bluetooth Keyboard? They're blood brothers. MORRIS said, on July 13, 2012 2:01 AM:
I have a ipad 3 with a targus keyboard i tried pairing them but as soon as i turn on the ipad bluetooth the targus bluetooth shuts down. DeAnna said, on November 30, 2012 4:43 PM:
I purchased the Hype TM 506 blue tooth keyboard but can not locate the pairing code. Does anyone have it for iPad 3? Thank You Vicki said, on April 6, 2013 6:41 AM:
Well I did what you suggested and the ipad recognizes my new keyboard but just keeps search and doesn't want to "pair". Also haven't had the code pop up or wasn't asked for it. Also couldn't name the keyboard. Please help!!
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Remember that while the Bluetooth keyboard is in range and paired it will have control so the iPad keypad won't appear in situations when you normally expect it would.
Turn the bluetooth keyboard off when not need to return control back to the iPad keyboard.