bluethooth mouse breaks wireless connection

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.

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

Barb Bowman,

Yes I know there is interference. Hence why you can change the channel. Did you mean to reply to me or was that meant for someone else?

I wanted to ask you a question. After reading the keyboard documentation it says it is licensed to broadcast at the 5.15 to 5.25 GHz. Do you know why? Does it use Bluetooth and/ or the devices wifi NIC? I am guessing you are a networking or hardware person and know more about this then me.

LegacyOfHerot,

You are correct it does use a radio to communicate. I use a Wacom pen all day long. It doesn't have batteries and it connects to the digitizer directly via magic I think ;). Still trying to figure out what range the keyboard operates. The tech specs usually say but it didn't and it had an odd comment that it uses 5.xx Ghz.

If you have a surface pen around it when it isn't working take the batteries out and unpair it to see if that frees up the keyboard

I am a programmer so hardware and networking are not my area.

Barb Bowman,

Yes I know there is interference. Hence why you can change the channel. Did you mean to reply to me or was that meant for someone else?

I wanted to ask you a question. After reading the keyboard documentation it says it is licensed to broadcast at the 5.15 to 5.25 GHz. Do you know why? Does it use Bluetooth and/ or the devices wifi NIC? I am guessing you are a networking or hardware person and know more about this then me.

Documentation for WHICH keyboard (and link to docs you read)? There are too many devices being discussed in this thread at this point. I can't tell who is using what exact keyboard at this point.

http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/en-us/p/universal-mobile-keyboard#support It was in the product guide.