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Have you completed the setup of a *brand new Mac Mini with a *brand new wireless keyb

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I also had to dig out an old bondi blue power Mac G3 keyboard to complete the setup.
 
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748s said:
I had the same problem with 2011 Mac Mini server
Tried everything, pairing, unpairing etc etc.
Called Applecare, was told because I have a server I had to speak with "Enterprise".

"Enterprise" confirmed the servers won't pair with wireless keyboards until an account was created (catch22:mad:).
I had to use a usb keyboard, luckily still had one.
Once the Admin account was created I was able to pair the keyboard.

2011 Mac Mini servers will not auto pair to create an account.
"Enterprises" work around was to plug into the network with ethernet cable and set-up the new server remotely.
Great if you already have a network.
Click to expand...

Ran into exactly the same problem though I never got around to calling Apple Care. I just got tiered of screwing around with it and plugged in a USB keyboard I have. As you said BT paired after I created an account. Paring on the key board, and to a lesser extent the trackpad seemed to take much longer than it did on any of my other Macs.
 
I finally got it to work!! it took me >1hour.

1. Make sure your mouse and keyboard is not paired with anything else. (remove them from the bluetooth preference pane)

2. Reboot your mac mini. I'ts probably tired of waiting for you to get your ass together.


This solved my issue. Took me way too long.
 
When I set mine up a few weeks ago all went step by step for pairing as soon as I booted it up the first time. Using the apple keyboard and trackpad. Just have to keep my girlfriend from steeling my keyboard on her iPad while I'm on th computer. Lol.
 
Finally leaving Windows behind me and and I'm expecting delivery of a brand new Mini, wireless keyboard and magic mouse tomorrow.

Can we conclude that it IS possible to get this type of package up and running w/o any other hw?
 
It did work fine for me. Before it even gets to the main setup screen it ask you to set up your wireless mouse and keyboard. I wasn't sure when I bought it and when I asked the guy at the apple store he said they all will work out of the box with the wireless.
 
I had problems as I sold my mini and forgot to unpair before buying my new mini I just went to walmart bought a cheap USB keyboard openedit up and a few keys were already broken/stuck. Got to desktop opened settings and paired my Bluetooth keyboard returned broken walmart keyboard and got my money back.
 
Pairing Wireless Keyboard with Mac Mini

You have to first select "Forget This Device" in your Bluetooth settings in your iPad or iPhone in order to pair the keyboard with your Mac mini. It will then work.
 
these threads crack me up

They always start with the OP having "discovered" an issue which no one else has reported.

Then everyone jumps in and gives a variation of the old Steve Jobs quote "you are holding it wrong"

OP feels insulted and starts flaming back

Then a few more chime in with similar issues..... and OP feels vindicated

Meanwhile the truth lies somewhere in the middle or a non obvious place...

In the realm of non obvious, we have customers complain about this too especially in a home theater configuration.

The issues almost being a combination of the keyboard being much farther away from the computer than in a typical desktop config (bluetooth is short range) and frequently a wireless router that is not well behaved in it's broadcasts (bluetooth and wifi share 2.4Ghz)

The solution is usually get closer for the initial pairing or set a manual channel on your wifi router.

PS: I have no idea why the proximity is more sensitive during initial pairing than during actual use, but it is fairly consistent
 
Not sure I understand the wifi bit (I have a time capsule daisy chained with an airport express) but I am setting a mac mini server this weekend so if I have the wifi keyboard and trackpad near the machine, then I should be ok?
 
I don't have a MMS but a the cheap mini 2011. I had a sorta similar problem my new wireless keyboard paired just fine but my new magic mouse didn't. I think it has something to do with trying to pair both at the same time. My mouse finally paired after a few reboots.
 
sno1man said:
The issues almost being a combination of the keyboard being much farther away from the computer than in a typical desktop config (bluetooth is short range) and frequently a wireless router that is not well behaved in it's broadcasts (bluetooth and wifi share 2.4Ghz)

The solution is usually get closer for the initial pairing or set a manual channel on your wifi router.

PS: I have no idea why the proximity is more sensitive during initial pairing than during actual use, but it is fairly consistent
Click to expand...

But in reality it was neither of these.
 
Mine worked ...finally

I setup a base mac mini yesterday with only a new wireless KB and magic trackpad. For me I was trying to pair both at the same time. When I finally realized the graphic was for the trackpad and not the KB I got things rolling.

Powered off the KB, powered on the trackpad and it paired. Clicked continue, powered on the KB, selected language with the trackpad, and THEN it asked for the KB to pair by asking me to type in a sequence of characters.

So it appeared to me that the order mattered as I spent a fair amount of time trying to pair the KB initially - to no avail.

Perhaps if they simply put some text along with their basic graphics we all might not have been so frustrated trying to setup our new "toys".
 
I setup my base Mac Mini with a Keyboard and Trackpad. I had some issues initially, but I just had to power down and power back up the keyboard and then all sync'ed perfectly.
 
I set up a Mac Mini server last night. I don't have time to mess around with numerous re-boots and combinations of things on and off to get to the magic formula! From my experience there is no simple way to get the machine to pair up before set up. Classic catch 22 situation. The proximity that someone else mentioned did not matter, nor did pairing one device at a time. Although some people have found unpairing the keyboards (if they had previously been paired with iPads) and several re-boots eventually worked my keyboard and trackpad were brand new so it wasn't a facter. In the real world (with kids and other calls on your time), I borrowed a USB keyboard and mouse and completed the set up with those.

Finally once you are set up you can then pair your wireless keyboard and trackpad in System Preferences (press the Apple sign on the top left).
 
sno1man said:
They always start with the OP having "discovered" an issue which no one else has reported.

Then everyone jumps in and gives a variation of the old Steve Jobs quote "you are holding it wrong"

OP feels insulted and starts flaming back

Then a few more chime in with similar issues..... and OP feels vindicated

Meanwhile the truth lies somewhere in the middle or a non obvious place...

In the realm of non obvious, we have customers complain about this too especially in a home theater configuration.

The issues almost being a combination of the keyboard being much farther away from the computer than in a typical desktop config (bluetooth is short range) and frequently a wireless router that is not well behaved in it's broadcasts (bluetooth and wifi share 2.4Ghz)

The solution is usually get closer for the initial pairing or set a manual channel on your wifi router.

PS: I have no idea why the proximity is more sensitive during initial pairing than during actual use, but it is fairly consistent
Click to expand...

Yup exactly.

Good thing, people have spoken up that they got it to work. OP ran into a problem and convinced himself that everyone else must be experiencing the same thing.

I mean, I am not an Apple apologetic, but it just wouldn't make sense for Apple to advocate the sale of accessories that wouldn't work with the Mac Mini on set up.
 
I can confirm this situation.

First, if you buy a brand-new Apple wireless keyboard, you will have no problems setting it up with a new Mac Mini or iMac. I've recently done this for someone.

On the other hand, however, if you use an Apple wireless keyboard that was previously used (paired to another computer), you will likely run into problems. I've had this happen to me last night, and my friend today.

SOLUTION: However, these problems can be overcome. The trick fir me was to connect the kb to an old MBP, then go through the official steps of disconnecting/unpairing the Kb (however, I did not turn the kb off before going through the unpairing steps, I then tried reconnecting the kb to the new mini (which was in its initial boot up/set up stage) and finally got it to work.

OTHER HINTS: it may help to pull the batteries out of the kb for a few secs to really turn it off, before retrying. Also, I may have shut the mini off a few times to get it to try to start looking for the kb again.

I hope this helps.
 
I believe the newer Mac Minis (aluminum unibody) have bluetooth proximity sensors which should automatically pair with any wireless keyboard or trackpad when you tap it thrice with the Mini.
 
patent10021 said:
You know what. I'm am getting a pretty sure feeling that you can't start a new Mac with a wireless keyboard. Or at least a Mac Mini. The intro paring screen actually has a flashing image of a Magic Mouse and Magic Trackpad but NOT any type of keyboard. Coincidental? I've tried everything. I cannot believe I can't even get into my new Mini Server simply because it won't pair with my keyboard. Holy mother of all mothers.

I'll change the thread title specifically for this because it's major.
Click to expand...

I had no problem doing this. Your Mac should start up and immediately go into Bluetooth discovery mode when it detects no keyboard / mouse / trackpad are present. Turn off the keyboard, start your Mac, and then turn on the keyboard, holding the power button down until the light on the keyboard starts blinking.
 
This certainly didn't work for me on a brand new 2012 Mac Mini using a previously paired keyboard (which was not currently connected to the previous pair but hadn't been formally unpaired). I think I was naive, and as a previously paired magic mouse worked without issue, I assumed the keyboard would too. Not the case...
 
New Mac mini 500 gb model plus brand new apple key pad and tracker pad will not pair

Hi I am new to apple and have spent most of today trying to set up my new apple mini and new key pad and tracker pad. he tracker pad works ok, I select the language ( English) then turn on the wireless key pad fresh from the box, never been used, I enter the two lots of digits shown on the screen
(4 numbers) space (4 numbers) then press enter, it acknowledges the entr key and the timers whirls but then returns and re -asks for the same numbers to be entered again.

I,ve rebooted, tried new batteries, tried a space between the numbers, no space even tab, powered up and down the key pad no joy ......

I,m calling apple tomorrow, I thought it was me doing something wrong, it,s not a previous pairing issue as these are fresh from the box and it does seem I am not alone. I was told it was easy plug and play. I have plugged, and tried probably ten times today. Help desk shut on a Sunday. Any suggestions on what to do please do email me.

Thanks
Mike
 
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