Dongle replacement

Question

Dongle replacement

Dylan Leroux 51

Hello, I live in France. I have bought the following bluetooth keyboard some years ago : https://www.microsoft.com/fr-fr/p/clavier-microsoft-all-in-one-media-keyboard/8ttd9j9jnsf0?cid=msft_web_collection A very simple but awesome product. Unfortunately, I have lost the dongle. Would any other dongle work? If no, any driver is required? Living in France, I don't think I can ask Microsoft to send me a new dongle, but I'm not sure. Thank you very much for your help.

a;flsdjasl;dfk afsdjl;afd;sljk 31 Reputation points

2022-04-21T05:21:35.073+00:00

Microsoft isn't too concerned about e-waste, as seen in this example and in the unnecessary obliteration of many PCs through the Windows 11 requirements. That's just awful.
Momo 16 Reputation points

2022-10-14T13:15:46.313+00:00

Hello,

I have the same issue. Since the dongle stretches a "meter and half" from the USB port it is not so uncommon one to forget and flex it to breakage when moving the PC. As I did :). So I opened it and took the PCB to a microelectronics technician. He observed it and said that there is a broken capacitor which makes it difficult to be measured and from there to be determined and ordered. All other damage is pretty common to fix - just repairing some lead tracks and connections. And it will cost around 15 to 20 bucks. The problem is that Microsoft not only does not provide spare universal dongle, but does not provide any technical documentation of dongle PCB circuitry from where one can see what are the parts and connections and find a way to Fix on their own. And then we talk about care for the nature and green transition! We have two more similar sets of Wireless Sculpt Comfort Desktop USB Keyboard and Mouse Bundle and we plan to open one of the healthy dongles and to measure the broken element which will cost some cents and then change the broken capacitor and fix the other lane damage that is obvious. Where one can find circuitry documentation of the dongle. This is the least that microsoft can do after they produced such a stupid dongle. Why stupid dongle? Because if you(microsoft) are aware that you cannot provide spares at least make it compact and not so easy to break all other companies on the market for example!
Lina Vendette 11 Reputation points

2022-11-17T13:32:04.853+00:00

Hi, I have a similar issue. My dongles broke inside my pc and I had to use tweesers to remove it. With the answers I am reading, I will never by Microsoft hardware again and will definetly tell everyone I can.
Patrick Doelle 10 Reputation points

2023-04-18T14:29:26.0866667+00:00

We ordered a bunch of these keyboards for my company, and these long dongles inevitably break when someone forgets to remove it before throwing it in their bag at the end of the day. We have moved to Logitech kb/mouse that have a low profile "Unifying Receiver" dongle with the ability to pair with another kb/mouse. This makes the dongle replaceable!

Accepted answer

4 additional answers

Your answer

a;flsdjasl;dfk afsdjl;afd;sljk 31 Reputation points

2022-04-21T05:21:35.073+00:00

Microsoft isn't too concerned about e-waste, as seen in this example and in the unnecessary obliteration of many PCs through the Windows 11 requirements. That's just awful.
Momo 16 Reputation points

2022-10-14T13:15:46.313+00:00

Hello,

I have the same issue. Since the dongle stretches a "meter and half" from the USB port it is not so uncommon one to forget and flex it to breakage when moving the PC. As I did :). So I opened it and took the PCB to a microelectronics technician. He observed it and said that there is a broken capacitor which makes it difficult to be measured and from there to be determined and ordered. All other damage is pretty common to fix - just repairing some lead tracks and connections. And it will cost around 15 to 20 bucks. The problem is that Microsoft not only does not provide spare universal dongle, but does not provide any technical documentation of dongle PCB circuitry from where one can see what are the parts and connections and find a way to Fix on their own. And then we talk about care for the nature and green transition! We have two more similar sets of Wireless Sculpt Comfort Desktop USB Keyboard and Mouse Bundle and we plan to open one of the healthy dongles and to measure the broken element which will cost some cents and then change the broken capacitor and fix the other lane damage that is obvious. Where one can find circuitry documentation of the dongle. This is the least that microsoft can do after they produced such a stupid dongle. Why stupid dongle? Because if you(microsoft) are aware that you cannot provide spares at least make it compact and not so easy to break all other companies on the market for example!
Lina Vendette 11 Reputation points

2022-11-17T13:32:04.853+00:00

Hi, I have a similar issue. My dongles broke inside my pc and I had to use tweesers to remove it. With the answers I am reading, I will never by Microsoft hardware again and will definetly tell everyone I can.
Patrick Doelle 10 Reputation points

2023-04-18T14:29:26.0866667+00:00

We ordered a bunch of these keyboards for my company, and these long dongles inevitably break when someone forgets to remove it before throwing it in their bag at the end of the day. We have moved to Logitech kb/mouse that have a low profile "Unifying Receiver" dongle with the ability to pair with another kb/mouse. This makes the dongle replaceable!

Answer 1

Karlie Weng 19,251 Microsoft External Staff

Hello @Dylan Leroux

Sorry to hear you're experiencing this issue!

The Microsoft keyboard and USB dongle are paired and will only work with each other, so the dongles are unique and come as a set.

The frequency between the receiver and device are matched. USB dongle is coded to work with just your device , so a replacement is not possible to get.

Contact Microsoft Store Support

Best Regards
Karlie

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Karlie Weng 19,251 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2021-02-23T02:55:18.01+00:00

Hello @Dylan Leroux

Have the problem resolved? If any problem, welcome to feedback!

---Please Accept answer if the reply is helpful---

Thanks
Karlie
Scot Bloedorn 21 Reputation points

2022-04-21T01:18:14.497+00:00

this is absulutely unacceptable, Microsoft. No this doesn't "resolve" the issue. MIcrosoft, you should be ashamed of not having a better solution than just "throw away that keyboard and buy another one"! Do you think anyone is ever going to buy another hardware product from you when this is the experience? I know I won't. Guess I'll go buy a Logitech like I should have in the first place.
Anonymous

2023-05-07T00:57:46.9+00:00

It is absolute blatant laziness that a major Company like this makes a product that isn't bluetooth or, it if usb dongle is required, won't design it that a replacement dongle (like Logitech has in the market) can't be used.

Yet the founder of this company, who is clearly not behind these sorts of details about his product is out trying to solve the bigger socio-environmental problems of the world while the people now designing his products cut major corners that contribute to those same problems via e-waste:

In short, usb dongle lost or broken, now throw out a perfectly good ergonomic keyboard, mouse and number pad...seriously?!
Dylan Leroux 51 Reputation points

2023-05-07T01:14:40.7233333+00:00

Guys you are not going to believe it. I have found the lost dongle
Paul Cohen 5 Reputation points

2023-07-27T12:12:21.02+00:00

This is "BS"!

The easy and good way is to make an unifying dongle, as other companied did.
John Mackay 0 Reputation points

2023-08-18T02:32:45.3966667+00:00

How come Logitech can do it, but you guys cannot?
IT HD 0 Reputation points

2024-10-01T12:08:37.3166667+00:00

Is there any way to use some software to change the receiver frequency? Or hardware that can change it? I Hope Microsoft and her founder that speak, write, make conferences about clean energy and greenhouse gas, and how it is so important to keep and save earth, knows how much plastic waste his company intentionally produce.

Answer 2

Dylan Leroux 51

So I'm left with a useless (but fully working when paired..) keyboard. I can't just throw it away..

Can you link me to how I can contact the Microsoft hardware support?

Karlie Weng 19,251 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2021-03-01T01:09:31.757+00:00

Contact Microsoft Support
Dylan Leroux 51 Reputation points

2021-03-02T14:26:56.357+00:00

Yes, thank you for leading me to a very generic link anyone can find.
Javier Lopez 16 Reputation points

2022-12-20T23:37:17.95+00:00

Amazes me that a company this large doesn't care enough to provide their customers simple support like dongle replacements, that every other company like Logitech does. It's a greedy corporation that can easily have this issue resolved, so many people either lose or break them, and yet a fully functional accessory like a mouse/keyboard has to be thrown away. Well, accessories don't break them, so it's noted, never purchase Microsoft accessories. What for...

Answer 3

Jeffery Hall 5

Why isn't THIS knocking down their ESG score?!?

How many thousands of tons of e-waste has Microsoft caused (and continues to do so) by making products that can ONLY EVER have ONE dongle paired to its components. We just had a major office cleanout and there was one cubic yard box completely filled with Microsoft keyboards and mice that can't be used anymore because the dongle wasn't with the devices when cleaning up.

Why isn't THIS knocking down their ESG score?!?

Answer 4

S.Sengupta 22,826 MVP

Microsoft doesn’t not recommend to pair the device with other receivers, you may please contact the Microsoft hardware support if you are having issues with the keyboard receiver-

It seems you have to buy a new one.

Answer 5

Vince Mongiardo 0

I know this is an old question, but the solution is to buy Logitech devices. Whether or not the original device comes with a Logitech "unifying" USB receiver, you can get such a "unifying" receiver from online vendors such as Amazon (or find someone who has a spare). Then, with a simple, downloadable utility, you'd pair your old Logitech device to the new dongle. The unifying receiver looks like this (note the orange star):

20231213_122843

Going this route does still involve the purchase of a new device, but the long-term benefits outweigh the initial purchase, IMHO.

Douglas Shepherd 0 Reputation points

2024-01-11T17:04:53.0466667+00:00

Are you implying that the Microsoft keyboard can be paired with the Logitech dongle? That doesn't seem clear in your comment, so I wanted to see if I am missing something. What I believe you are saying is that it is better just to buy a Logitech keyboard because the dongles are replaceable. Is that a correct reading of your comment?
Christ the King School 0 Reputation points

2024-01-11T17:21:30.3933333+00:00

I'm saying that going with Logitech-brand devices to begin with seems to be the better route, especially if you have a high-end device that costs appreciably more than just purchasing a replacement Logitech "unifying" receiver.
From Microsoft's own description of how their dongles are paired exclusively with a single, unique device at the factory (mentioned in the Accepted Answer on this thread, as well as elsewhere on the Internet), it's not possible to get a replacement Microsoft dongle for a Microsoft product, much less to use a different-brand dongle with a Microsoft product.
Douglas Shepherd 0 Reputation points

2024-01-11T17:51:08.5233333+00:00

OK, That makes sense to me - and I agree. I just happen to have an MS keyboard, the dongle is floating around the office somewhere and I was hoping to be able to re-pair this keyboard with another dongle if possible, but that doesn't seem like a possibility with these keyboards - Model 1738, likely with a matching mouse that was separated at one point. It's a nice and simple keyboard, but no power or pairing capabilities seems like a terrible design choice.
Christ the King School 0 Reputation points

2024-01-11T18:30:38.0033333+00:00

no power or pairing capabilities seems like a terrible design choice

I agree from consumer standpoint. From a sales & revenue standpoint, maybe Microsoft (Micro$oft / M$ to some people) is banking on brand loyalty when it comes to the replacing a product with a missing dongle. Probably not so frequent an occurrence for them to care, but who knows?

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Dongle replacement

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