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How to pair wireless Apple keyboard and mouse to iMac with blank disk

I'm trying to help someone with an 18-month-old iMac and wireless Apple keyboard and mouse.

The internal drive contained errors (as seen with Disc Utility > First Aid), so it was erased ready for a reinstalled and restore from Time Machine backup.

Now when it attempts to boot into recovery mode, the Mac displays pictures of the mouse and keyboard hinting that the two devices need to be turned on so they can be paired.

She turned them both on, but the Mac doesn't automatically pair them. As there's no operating system on the drive, she can't pair via macOS.

So how can she pair them so that she can use them to reinstall macOS and migrate data over?

So far, I can only suggest she buys a wired keyboard and mouse!

Posted on Oct 15, 2020 1:17 PM

Top-ranking reply

Old Toad

Level 10

211,417 points

Posted on Oct 15, 2020 2:18 PM

Is the wireless keyboard an Apple keyboard with rechargeable batteries? If so then she can use is as a wired keyboard by connected it to the Mac with its charging cable. That should be enough to get booted into the Recovery volume, boot with the Command + R keys held down, and reinstall the system. The Enter/Return key can move from field/button to field/button as can the arrow keys.

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How to pair wireless Apple keyboard and mouse to iMac with blank disk

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