Pair your Magic Mouse, Keyboard or Trackpad using its cable

Why it happens

Apple's Magic accessories pair through their charging cable, so there's no pairing mode to find and no code to type. Pairing over Bluetooth alone can fail if the accessory is still linked to another device or its battery is low. The cable pairs it and charges it at the same time.

How to fix it

1. Turn the accessory on. The switch is on the back edge of the keyboard and trackpad, and underneath the mouse. Green means it's on.

2. Plug the cable into the accessory and the other end into your Mac. Use the cable that came with it if you can, because some cables only charge and can't pair. If your Mac only has USB-C ports and the cable has the larger USB-A plug, you'll need an adapter.

3. Open System Settings and click Bluetooth. After a few seconds the accessory shows under My Devices as connected.

   Bluetooth

4. Unplug the cable. The accessory keeps working over Bluetooth, and you only need the cable again to charge it.

Still not fixed?

1. Older models with AA batteries, like the first Magic Mouse and Magic Trackpad, have no port and can't pair by cable. Turn one on, open Bluetooth settings, hold the pointer over it and click Connect.

   Bluetooth

2. If it was paired before and now acts up, remove it first. In Bluetooth settings, click the info button next to it, choose Forget This Device…, then plug the cable in again.

   Bluetooth

3. Leave it plugged in for 15 minutes to charge, then try again. A flat battery can stop it pairing even with the cable in.

4. If it pairs but keeps dropping out, keep it closer to the Mac and away from Wi-Fi routers and metal boxes, which can get in the way of Bluetooth.

5. If it won't charge or pair by cable on two different Macs, it's most likely a hardware fault in the accessory. Contact Apple Support to arrange a check or repair.