How to connect a wireless keyboard to your Mac or PC and type from anywhere in your room

• You can connect a wireless keyboard to a Mac or PC using Bluetooth.
• Before you connect your wireless keyboard, make sure that it's charged and in pairing mode.
• A lightweight, wireless keyboard can be a handy alternative to a standard wireless keyboard.

Although they might all look the same to an untrained eye, the truth is that your keyboard says a lot about you as a person. A studious coder might have a custom mechanical keyboard, while a casual user might just have a simple Logitech model.

If you're someone who values flexibility and space, however, you might want to use a wireless keyboard.

A wireless keyboard can be used from nearly anywhere in your room, even if you're relaxing in a recliner chair. It's a great lightweight tool, and most wireless keyboards work and respond just as fast as any wired board.

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And the best part: Wireless keyboards are easy to connect to any Mac or PC. All you need to do is get your keyboard ready, and open your computer's Bluetooth menu.

Here's what you need to know.

How to connect a wireless keyboard to a Mac

Before anything, make sure that your wireless keyboard is charged and in pairing mode. Different keyboards will have different ways to go into pairing mode, but most will have a specific button or switch you'll need to press. Check your keyboard's manual for instructions.

1. Open your Mac's "System Preferences" app, which can be found by clicking the Apple icon in the top-left corner of your screen.

2. Find and click "Bluetooth" from the listed options.

3. If your keyboard is on and in pairing mode, you should see your keyboard's name appear under the list of "Devices." Click "Connect" next to it.

Quick tip: If you're asked to enter a passcode, try "0000." If that doesn't work, check the keyboard's manual to see if there's a specific passcode you need to use.

4. Your Mac will likely ask you to calibrate or "identify" the keyboard by pressing a series of keys. Follow the on-screen instructions and press the keys indicated.

Your Mac will take a moment to connect, and then you're all set. You'll see "Connected" under the name of the keyboard to indicate that the keyboard is paired with your Mac and ready to use.

If it won't connect, try restarting both the keyboard and your Mac.

You can disconnect the keyboard from your Mac by turning it off, or by right-clicking it in the Bluetooth menu and selecting "Disconnect."

How to connect a wireless keyboard to a PC

To start, make sure that your keyboard is charged and in pairing mode. Most will have a switch or button you'll need to press to activate pairing mode, though the method will vary model-to-model. Check your keyboard's manual for specific instructions.

Quick tip: Your wireless keyboard may come with a Bluetooth dongle. If your PC has Bluetooth built-in - which most modern computers do - you won't need this dongle. If your PC doesn't have Bluetooth capabilities, plug the dongle into a USB port and let it install its drivers.

1. Open the "Settings" app on your PC and find and select the "Devices" option, then click "Bluetooth & other devices."

2. Select the option to "Add Bluetooth or other devices."

3. Click "Bluetooth" when asked what type of device you're adding.

4. If your keyboard is in pairing mode, you should see it appear on the "Add a device" page. Click it.

Quick tip: If you're asked to enter a passcode, try "0000." If that doesn't work, check out the instruction manual to see if there's a specific passcode you'll need.

5. Your PC will then ask you to enter a PIN on the wireless keyboard. Enter it.

After you correctly enter the PIN, your keyboard and PC will pair. If they won't connect, restart both the keyboard and PC and then try again.

To disconnect the keyboard from your PC, turn the keyboard off, or click on it in the Bluetooth menu and select "Remove this device."

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