Can anyone advise if I should be able to connect my Apple wireless
keyboard to Linux Mint machine without using a connecting cable?
David B. wrote:
Can anyone advise if I should be able to connect my Apple wireless
keyboard to Linux Mint machine without using a connecting cable?
I would first see if your 'native' bluetooth gear in the LM can see the
BT on the Apple kb. In your LM settings hardware section there is a Bluetooth icon.˙ That's an easy starting point.
Hello folks! ?
The Fusion Drive in my late 2017 27 inch Apple iMac had a small SSD and
a 2TB spinner. The SSD has failed and for a while I was running macOS
Ventura from a 1TB *external* SSD. It worked well but I've now acquired another machine, similar .... but made in 2019.
It's now working just fine, running macOS Sequoia.
I have set up my old iMac to run Linux Mint 22.3. Although I had
teething trouble with getting my Apple 'Magic Mouse' to connect
wirelessly, it IS now working just as it should! :-D
Can anyone advise if I should be able to connect my Apple wireless
keyboard to Linux Mint machine without using a connecting cable?
If that is so, please advise HOW I can do this.
Any help much appreciated.
On Thu, 3/19/2026 5:58 PM, David B. wrote:
Hello folks! ?
The Fusion Drive in my late 2017 27 inch Apple iMac had a small SSD and
a 2TB spinner. The SSD has failed and for a while I was running macOS
Ventura from a 1TB *external* SSD. It worked well but I've now acquired
another machine, similar .... but made in 2019.
It's now working just fine, running macOS Sequoia.
I have set up my old iMac to run Linux Mint 22.3. Although I had
teething trouble with getting my Apple 'Magic Mouse' to connect
wirelessly, it IS now working just as it should! :-D
Can anyone advise if I should be able to connect my Apple wireless
keyboard to Linux Mint machine without using a connecting cable?
If that is so, please advise HOW I can do this.
Any help much appreciated.
There are different kinds of wireless. Not only is there 802.11 Wifi
at 2.4GHz and 5Ghz (and 6GHz), there is Bluetooth, and there is the
Logitech Nano kind, and there are various (old) amplitude modulation
types.
When you say the word "wireless" to us, it could be a well engineered
scheme which is standards compliant (plain bluetooth with multi-pairing
to more than one host), or it could be some horrible
bodge requiring a custom driver that never got written.
Your job, researching your problem and using Mikes answer, is to make
sure your scheme is standards compliant. You cannot blame Linux
for not being able to make it work, if it is one of the weirdo solutions.
Try taking the model number off the keyboard and Google for specs.
Paul
It's an Apple Model A1644 EMC 2815
Hello folks! ?
The Fusion Drive in my late 2017 27 inch Apple iMac had a small SSD and
a 2TB spinner. The SSD has failed and for a while I was running macOS
Ventura from a 1TB *external* SSD. It worked well but I've now acquired another machine, similar .... but made in 2019.
It's now working just fine, running macOS Sequoia.
I have set up my old iMac to run Linux Mint 22.3. Although I had
teething trouble with getting my Apple 'Magic Mouse' to connect
wirelessly, it IS now working just as it should! :-D
Can anyone advise if I should be able to connect my Apple wireless
keyboard to Linux Mint machine without using a connecting cable?
If that is so, please advise HOW I can do this.
Any help much appreciated.
On 20/03/2026 09:40, David B. wrote:
[....]
It's an Apple Model A1644 EMC 2815
This is what it looks like!
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/264907998892
On 3/19/26 10:58 PM, David B. wrote:
Hello folks! ?Not a guru but mostly I get things done.
The Fusion Drive in my late 2017 27 inch Apple iMac had a small SSD and
a 2TB spinner. The SSD has failed and for a while I was running macOS
Ventura from a 1TB *external* SSD. It worked well but I've now acquired
another machine, similar .... but made in 2019.
It's now working just fine, running macOS Sequoia.
I have set up my old iMac to run Linux Mint 22.3. Although I had
teething trouble with getting my Apple 'Magic Mouse' to connect
wirelessly, it IS now working just as it should! :-D
Can anyone advise if I should be able to connect my Apple wireless
keyboard to Linux Mint machine without using a connecting cable?
If that is so, please advise HOW I can do this.
Any help much appreciated.
I understand that apple stuff is bluetooth right?
( you could have mentioned that ).
If that keyboard has a "pair" function, I am pretty sure you can make it work.
As per usual in all "linux" is is chaotic but there is an instruction
for bluetooth that actually works.
If you want that I will do my best to find it :-)
Can anyone advise if I should be able to connect my Apple wireless
keyboard to Linux Mint machine without using a connecting cable?
On 20/03/2026 09:48, Edmund wrote:
On 3/19/26 10:58 PM, David B. wrote:
Hello folks! ?Not a guru but mostly I get things done.
The Fusion Drive in my late 2017 27 inch Apple iMac had a small SSD and
a 2TB spinner. The SSD has failed and for a while I was running macOS
Ventura from a 1TB *external* SSD. It worked well but I've now acquired
another machine, similar .... but made in 2019.
It's now working just fine, running macOS Sequoia.
I have set up my old iMac to run Linux Mint 22.3. Although I had
teething trouble with getting my Apple 'Magic Mouse' to connect
wirelessly, it IS now working just as it should! :-D
Can anyone advise if I should be able to connect my Apple wireless
keyboard to Linux Mint machine without using a connecting cable?
If that is so, please advise HOW I can do this.
Any help much appreciated.
That's just grand! ?
I understand that apple stuff is bluetooth right?
( you could have mentioned that ).
You are correct - I sincerely apologise for not making that clear.
If that keyboard has a "pair" function, I am pretty sure you can make
it work.
I will; but I ran out of patience yesterday!
As per usual in all "linux" is is chaotic but there is an instruction
for bluetooth that actually works.
If you want that I will do my best to find it :-)
If it's not too much trouble, I'd appreciate that, Edmund.
Thank you.
David B. wrote:
Can anyone advise if I should be able to connect my Apple wireless
keyboard to Linux Mint machine without using a connecting cable?
Part of your process is to 'see' if your OS is properly recognizing the iMac's BT hardware; that's what the linux BT tools are for.
Connecting Apple Wireless Keyboard
On 3/20/26 7:00 PM, David B. wrote:
On 20/03/2026 09:48, Edmund wrote:
On 3/19/26 10:58 PM, David B. wrote:
Hello folks! ?Not a guru but mostly I get things done.
The Fusion Drive in my late 2017 27 inch Apple iMac had a small SSD and >>>> a 2TB spinner. The SSD has failed and for a while I was running macOS
Ventura from a 1TB *external* SSD. It worked well but I've now acquired >>>> another machine, similar .... but made in 2019.
It's now working just fine, running macOS Sequoia.
I have set up my old iMac to run Linux Mint 22.3. Although I had
teething trouble with getting my Apple 'Magic Mouse' to connect
wirelessly, it IS now working just as it should! :-D
Can anyone advise if I should be able to connect my Apple wireless
keyboard to Linux Mint machine without using a connecting cable?
If that is so, please advise HOW I can do this.
Any help much appreciated.
That's just grand! ?
I understand that apple stuff is bluetooth right?
( you could have mentioned that ).
You are correct - I sincerely apologise for not making that clear.
No problem, it is easy to forget to mention.
If that keyboard has a "pair" function, I am pretty sure you can make
it work.
I will; but I ran out of patience yesterday!
LOL Yup I've been there.
As per usual in all "linux" is is chaotic but there is an instruction
for bluetooth that actually works.
If you want that I will do my best to find it :-)
If it's not too much trouble, I'd appreciate that, Edmund.
Thank you.
Here's the link :
https://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?t=427080
And here what I typed in my case.
I like to mention that this is the one and only method I found that
worked every time.
++++++++++
Hi! I am new to this forum and to Linux but I managed to do it as follows:
1) Open terminal and type 'sudo bluetoothctl'
scan on
2) Remove and forget the device. If you have already removed it don't do anything if not just type 'remove' following with the MAC address of the device. You can also do it with the Blueman app.
remove˙˙ (mouse) F2:11:B7:E4:99:3E
3) Turn on your device that you want to connect and put it on pairing mode.
4) On your terminal write 'scan on'
scan on
5) Find your device's MAC address and copy it (ctrl + shift + c)
F4:73:35:65:08:49˙˙ F4:73:35:65:08:49
6) Type 'pair' following with the MAC address of your device (ctrl +
shift + v)
pair F4:73:35:65:08:49
7) Type 'connect' following with the MAC address of your device
connect F4:73:35:65:08:49
8 ) This is tricky and I don't know how to explain it but the previous
steps have been written in terminal after '[bluetooth] #'. After you do
the 7th step you will be now writing after '[Bluetooth Mouse M336/M337/ M535]#' and then you just write 'trust' and you are good to go.
++++++++++++++
Mike Easter wrote:
David B. wrote:I like this answer at the LM section at reddit.
Can anyone advise if I should be able to connect my Apple wireless
keyboard to Linux Mint machine without using a connecting cable?
Part of your process is to 'see' if your OS is properly recognizing
the iMac's BT hardware; that's what the linux BT tools are for.
https://www.reddit.com/r/linuxmint/comments/1ktg3jb/comment/nxqrtd7/
Connecting Apple Wireless Keyboard
That should highlight the comment by Echojhawke 2 mo ago.
On Fri, 3/20/2026 5:42 AM, David B. wrote:
On 20/03/2026 09:40, David B. wrote:
[....]
It's an Apple Model A1644 EMC 2815
This is what it looks like!
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/264907998892
AI (Gemini) Overview [Google search, at top]
The Apple A1644 is the Magic Keyboard (1st Generation) released in 2015, featuring a compact, rechargeable design with a Lightning port for charging and Bluetooth connectivity. It is known for a scissor-mechanism key feel
and long-lasting battery, serving as the standard, non-numeric keypad model for Mac, iPad, and iPhone.
Key Features & Specifications
Model Number: A1644 (often labeled as MLA22LL/A).
Design: Compact, low-profile, and without a numeric keypad.
Connectivity: Bluetooth wireless with a Lightning port for charging.
Key Mechanism: Scissor switch for stable, responsive typing.
Battery: Built-in lithium-ion battery, lasting roughly a month per charge.
Compatibility & Use
System Requirements: Works with macOS 10.11 or later, and iOS 9.1 or later.
Pairing: Pairs automatically with Mac computers.
Physical Features: The keyboard has a slight incline, measuring 0.41?1.09 cm in height, 27.9 cm in width, and 11.49 cm in depth.
*******
The EMC could stand for Electromagnetic Compatibility, and worldwide spectrum usage can be location dependent (for frequency and channel definitions).
You should be able to pair with it. Some devices in the past,
had pairing limitations. Placing the device in pairing mode
is likely a start.
https://support.apple.com/en-ca/119917
"Turn on your device. Its LED should start blinking to show that it's discoverable and ready to be paired."
... [Unpair from previous device if LED is not blinking]
On simple devices, the pairing code can be 0000, but the support
document does not mention whether any pairing code is on the
bottom on the label.
If I'm pairing two intelligent devices in the room, one of them
puts up a six digit code on the screen, the other one displays
the value as well, and you "click to Agree they match". the pairing
then, is dynamically generated and is a different number each
time pairing is attempted.
There are some things you should not do over Bluetooth. One
would be sending machine audio from one computer to the speakers
of a second computer. There can be some combinations of operations
that "leave preferences at two levels", dropping the pairing
at the top level, leaves the second preference "stranded". This
leads to "permanent dependency", where the second PC remembers
it had an audio connection from the other computer. And every time
you have the Bluetooth interface up on the screen, you're
reminded of the experiment you no longer care about. Doing
simpler "connect keyboard to one computer", has no side
effects like that, so don't worry about that one. But for
some of the more arcane experiments the OS may tempt you
to try, you might want to be wary of making a mess.
You can probably fix that... if you have an idea where that
information is stored. That's part of the problem.
On 20/03/2026 19:52, Edmund wrote:
On 3/20/26 7:00 PM, David B. wrote:
On 20/03/2026 09:48, Edmund wrote:
On 3/19/26 10:58 PM, David B. wrote:
Hello folks! ?Not a guru but mostly I get things done.
The Fusion Drive in my late 2017 27 inch Apple iMac had a small SSD >>>>> and
a 2TB spinner. The SSD has failed and for a while I was running macOS >>>>> Ventura from a 1TB *external* SSD. It worked well but I've now
acquired
another machine, similar .... but made in 2019.
It's now working just fine, running macOS Sequoia.
I have set up my old iMac to run Linux Mint 22.3. Although I had
teething trouble with getting my Apple 'Magic Mouse' to connect
wirelessly, it IS now working just as it should! :-D
Can anyone advise if I should be able to connect my Apple wireless
keyboard to Linux Mint machine without using a connecting cable?
If that is so, please advise HOW I can do this.
Any help much appreciated.
That's just grand! ?
I understand that apple stuff is bluetooth right?
( you could have mentioned that ).
You are correct - I sincerely apologise for not making that clear.
No problem, it is easy to forget to mention.
Thank you. ?
If that keyboard has a "pair" function, I am pretty sure you can
make it work.
I will; but I ran out of patience yesterday!
LOL Yup I've been there.
As per usual in all "linux" is is chaotic but there is an
instruction for bluetooth that actually works.
If you want that I will do my best to find it :-)
If it's not too much trouble, I'd appreciate that, Edmund.
Thank you.
Here's the link :
https://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?t=427080
And here what I typed in my case.
I like to mention that this is the one and only method I found that
worked every time.
++++++++++
Hi! I am new to this forum and to Linux but I managed to do it as
follows:
1) Open terminal and type 'sudo bluetoothctl'
scan on
2) Remove and forget the device. If you have already removed it don't
do anything if not just type 'remove' following with the MAC address
of the device. You can also do it with the Blueman app.
remove˙˙ (mouse) F2:11:B7:E4:99:3E
3) Turn on your device that you want to connect and put it on pairing
mode.
4) On your terminal write 'scan on'
scan on
5) Find your device's MAC address and copy it (ctrl + shift + c)
F4:73:35:65:08:49˙˙ F4:73:35:65:08:49
6) Type 'pair' following with the MAC address of your device (ctrl +
shift + v)
pair F4:73:35:65:08:49
7) Type 'connect' following with the MAC address of your device
connect F4:73:35:65:08:49
8 ) This is tricky and I don't know how to explain it but the previous
steps have been written in terminal after '[bluetooth] #'. After you
do the 7th step you will be now writing after '[Bluetooth Mouse M336/
M337/ M535]#' and then you just write 'trust' and you are good to go.
++++++++++++++
Well, I'm not 100% how it happened - but I CAN now use my keyboard wirelessly!
Thanks so very much, Edmund.
Hmm so you just tried everything until it suddenly worked?
Been there done that, until I had it to install it again and
had to try everything over and over again to find out it did not work
again :-)
So I prefer this method, which worked each and every time for me.
On 21/03/2026 10:43, Edmund wrote:
[....]
Hmm so you just tried everything until it suddenly worked?
Been there done that, until I had it to install it again and
had to try everything over and over again to find out it did not work
again :-)
So I prefer this method, which worked each and every time for me.
I will remember what you've said!
The good news is that it is still connected today! ?
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