bluethooth mouse breaks wireless connection

8 does count as 8.1. The 8.1 certified just means that it has been tested against 8.1 and other third party certified software and hardware. For example, it may work on a clean install of 8.1 but if you have a virus software that runs specific to 8.1 it may interfere with an uncertified 8.1 device even though the device on its own will work. If  tat was a confusing explination, sorry :)

This may help the sleep issue

Did the keyboard sleep or the computer? Try this windows key + x > Device manager > right click the Bluetooth and your networking adapters > click properties > power management tab > uncheck allow computer to turn of this device to save power

What may be happening is that when the PC sleeps the driver isn't waking it back up correctly. This will tell windows to override any third party driver functions to let the device sleep so it won't have an issue waking up.

I know the keyboard can sync to 3 devices. Does anyone know if that means it can only sync to three devices at a time; or it can only store sync settings for 3 devices and to add a new one the old one needs to be cleared? I have never used one so I can't test it out

Well according to their web site: http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/en-us/p/universal-mobile-keyboard#details it says:

Requires a PC that meets the requirements for and has installed one of these operating systems:

• Microsoft Windows^®^8+ and Windows RT
• iOS 6+
• Mac OS 10.7+
• Android 4+
• Works with tablets and smartphones that have Bluetooth HID (Human Interface Device) keyboard support.

I would have expected 8.1 to count as 8+

I confess I missed the light grey 6pt text that says "Does not work on Windows Phone" ..! ahh the joys of the "Modern" UI

As a last ditch attempt, last night I cleaned out all the Bluetooth accessories from the Surface's list, and rebooted. I pressed the tiny button on the right of the keyboard for more than 3 seconds, and lo and behold, it appeared in the list and I was able to pair.

I've just been using it here at work, I was reading an MSDN article , went to type, and it had gone to sleep. Nothing I did would wake it up.

Flaky beyond belief.

My thanks to all the contributors, but I've got an Amazon return voucher. I'll try the Logitech.

I hope someone from MS reads this...its a shame, I like the design.

The universal keyboard only works with Windows 8 and 8rt. It is still waiting 8.1 certification last I knew but I would assume it works just fine. It isn't made to work with the Windows phones, just the tablets as of right now. And it wasn't built to support Windows 7.

The documentations says:

802.11a devices only This product is restricted to indoor use only to reduce any potential for harmful interference with licensed operation in the 5.15 to 5.25 GHz frequency range.

It requires Bluetooth 3 or higher as well.

How many devices do you have paired with it?

What is the model# for the keyboard

Well that's embarrassing (for MS) I can pair the Microsoft Universal keyboard with an iPhone, but not my Microsoft Surface  or my colleague's Windows 7 laptop, or my Nokia 920

It doesn't work with a 'droid either (Samsung Galaxy).

Ho Hum, I guess we'll see how good Amazon's returns policy is.