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Unable to pair Microsoft Designer Compact Keyboard

Anonymous
2022-01-12T12:04:24+00:00

I hope I have reached the right place to ask this question.

I bought this Microsoft Designer Compact Keyboard and a Mouse less than a year ago to use them for home office. It has always been some model of Dell Latitude laptops and it was refreshed a couple of times and I had no issues pairing the keyboard and mouse every time.

Except the last time. I was still working on the previous computer during the morning then received the new one (Dell Latitude 7320) around noon and the keyboard simply won't pair anymore. The mouse paired immediately and is working perfectly but the keyboard simply won't. I have done all the troubleshooting available in the forums including: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/fix-bluetooth-problems-in-windows-723e092f-03fa-858b-5c80-131ec3fba75c as well as downloaded the Mouse and Keyboard Center which is detecting the mouse but obviously not the keyboard which is not pair.

I am looking for any advice outside of the standard "have you tried pairing your keyboard" or "check the batteries" options because I have tried everything available online.

Is there any way to force some sort of hard reset on the keyboard to get it to pair again?

Thank you!

Surface | Accessories | Surface mice and keyboards

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  1. Anonymous
    2022-03-12T18:15:03+00:00

    Hi,

    I was reading this topic and was about to return the keyboard, as I often need to pair the keyboard between my machines (more than 3, so I register the most used ones depending on my current usage). I had the exact same LED behavior you described: slow blink in the beginning, and then the 3 fast blinking sequences in a loop. Spamming the Bluetooth key where the LEDs are did *nothing* and the LED animation continued to play in a loop.

    But I found a solution!

    The problem was that when the keyboard was last used, I had disabled ⌨ FnLock on the keyboard! So, instead of pressing the ⌨ Bluetooth key, I was effectively spamming the ⌨ F1 key and the keyboard was just trying to connect to send the key to the previously paired device.

    The solution was to press ⌨ Fn + ⌨ Bluetooth (instead of ⌨ Bluetooth) in order to switch to the next pairing device, and I was able to pair my other computer! I guess trying to disable FnLock would also work, but I do not remember how to do that so I just use Fn+Bluetooth instead.

    Hope this helps. 🕵️‍♀️

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  1. Anonymous
    2022-05-24T04:18:13+00:00

    hello,

    Kindly try to press FN + F1 key for atleast 8 seconds to reset bluetooth connection. The keys are a bit time sensitive.

    If it's blinking it means its ready for pairing. Click Start, then select Settings> Devices> Bluetooth & other devices> Add Bluetooth or other devices > Bluetooth> Microsoft Designer Compact Keyboard > Done.

    I hope it helps.

    20+ people found this answer helpful.
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  2. Anonymous
    2022-03-09T19:13:07+00:00

    So what he's saying is, you can only add three devices throughout the life of the keyboard. It is now junk, you may throw it in the trash.

    9 people found this answer helpful.
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  3. Anonymous
    2022-01-12T16:29:49+00:00

    Hello Marrion,

    Thanks for your reply but everything you suggested has been tried and tested. When I turn the keyboard on the little white light turns on for about three seconds then off. Then if I press the button it will start flashing in series of three. It is the computer not detecting the keyboard at all, I tried other devices (one Macintosh laptop, one Microsoft Surface) and the keyboard does not seem to be transmitting at all.

    My question is exactly what you mention at the end... how do I remove the devices previously connected? I do not have the old computers anymore, they have been shut down and returned to my company so I don't have access to them. Can something be done on the keyboard itself?

    Unfortunately from previous experience contacting Microsoft support provides absolutely zero results and only turns into more stress and frustration so I would rather not have to do that unless the keyboard would implode or something...

    8 people found this answer helpful.
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  4. Anonymous
    2022-03-14T09:22:27+00:00

    YOU ARE A GENIUS. Seriously, can you publish this somewhere for others suffering this pain can be helped?

    I cannot believe it was such a simple fix while apparently for Microsoft the only solution is to throw the keyboard in the garbage.

    THANK YOU!

    5 people found this answer helpful.
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