If your Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse or Magic Trackpad won't connect after you've used it with another Mac, it's almost always still paired with that other Mac. A Magic accessory pairs with one Mac at a time. Forget it in Bluetooth settings on the other Mac, then connect it on this one. Or plug it into this Mac with its cable for a minute, which pairs it straight away.
Here are the fixes in order, quickest first.
1. Check which Mac it's on
Open System Settings → Bluetooth on the other Mac. If the keyboard or mouse shows as connected there, that's the problem: it can't connect to two Macs at the same time.
2. Forget it on the other Mac
- On the other Mac, open System Settings → Bluetooth.
- Control-click the keyboard, mouse or trackpad and choose Forget.
- On the Mac you want to use, hold the pointer over the device in Bluetooth settings and click Connect. If it isn't listed, turn the device off and back on.
Simply turning Bluetooth off on the other Mac often isn't enough: the device still remembers that Mac. Forgetting it is the reliable way.
3. Paired here but "Not Connected"? Pair it again
If you've used the device with another Mac since you last paired it here, clicking Connect usually fails, even if it's still listed. In our testing, the only reliable fix is to remove it and pair it again:
- In Bluetooth settings on this Mac, Control-click the device and choose Forget.
- Make sure it's forgotten on the other Mac too.
- Pair it again, ideally with the cable (next step).
4. Pair it with a cable
Apple's own fix: connect the accessory to your Mac with its USB-C or Lightning cable, wait one minute, then unplug it. That pairs it with this Mac and charges the battery at the same time. For step-by-step pairing, including older models with AA batteries, see how to put a Magic Keyboard in pairing mode.
5. Check the basics
- Power: slide the switch off and on and look for green (bottom of the mouse, back edge of the keyboard and trackpad).
- Bluetooth is on: check System Settings → Bluetooth. If it won't turn on, restart your Mac.
- Battery: check the level in Control Center → Bluetooth, or just plug the cable in.
- Interference: if it connects but keeps dropping, move it closer to the Mac and away from other wireless devices.
Switching back and forth every day?
If this happens because you use one keyboard and mouse with two Macs, you'll be forgetting and re-pairing every time you switch. LinkFlick does the whole handover for you. Click the device in the menu bar, press a shortcut, or trigger it from Raycast, Stream Deck or a mouse button, and it moves to the other Mac without a trip to System Settings. It works even if the Macs use different Apple IDs.
More help: Use a Magic Mouse with two Macs · Switch a Magic Keyboard between Macs · LinkFlick troubleshooting
Frequently asked questions
Why won't my Magic Mouse connect to my other Mac?
It's most likely still paired with the first Mac, and a Magic accessory connects to one Mac at a time. Forget it in Bluetooth settings on the first Mac, then connect it on the second one, or plug it into the second Mac with its cable for a minute.
Why does my Magic Keyboard say Not Connected even though it's paired?
If you used it with another Mac in the meantime, the pairing on this Mac is out of date, so clicking Connect usually isn't enough. Forget it on the other Mac, then remove it here and pair it again (with a cable is fastest).
Can a Magic Keyboard be connected to two Macs at once?
No. It pairs with one Mac at a time. To switch, you have to move the pairing to the other Mac, which LinkFlick can do for you in one click or with a shortcut.