Can't pair Bluetooth keyboard - "Check the PIN and try connecting again."

Anonymous
2018-02-24T16:22:25+00:00

I've been using a Bluetooth keyboard with my Windows 10 laptop for months. Suddenly it wouldn't connect, and I made the mistake of removing it from my Bluetooth devices before discovering its batteries were dead. Now, with new batteries, it won't pair.

The problem is that when I go to Windows Settings and select Add Bluetooth or other device and put the keyboard into pairing mode, it shows up in the Add a device dialog, but when I click it, it says "Connecting..." for a long time and then says "Check the PIN and try connecting again." 

That's not the way it's supposed to work! That Add a device dialog is supposed to give me a PIN and then I'm supposed to type it on the keyboard. So I have no way to proceed and complete the pairing.

Troubleshooting steps I have done so far.

  • I've tried the process repeatedly.
  • I moved the keyboard very near to, and then many feet away from, the laptop.
  • I moved the laptop and the Bluetooth keyboard to other locations in house, further away from other wireless devices.
  • I turned off all other Bluetooth devices in house.
  • In Device Manager I deleted everything under the Bluetooth category, selecting to delete the driver files also, and rebooting. (After reboot, everything comes back by itself.)
  • The laptop vendor support app, and Windows updates, say the laptop is up to date.
  • I swapped Bluetooth keyboards between two PCs. This keyboard paired to that PC without issue. The PIN appeared, I typed it on the keyboard, and done. That keyboard from the other PC would not pair on this laptop, displaying the same issue as the other keyboard did.
  • I have seen the solutions offered by ThomasFulton and Hanuki4 in this thread on this forum, but I don't get the same dialogs that these answers refer to, so am unable to use the info.
Windows for home | Windows 10 | Devices and drivers

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2018-06-05T21:48:55+00:00

I Got It Working

I had this exact same problem, was about to go and get a corded keyboard. 

After some recent Windows 10 forced update the bluetooth keyboard stopped working

after I had to replace the batteries I could not pair it. 

It kept asking for a PIN but no matter what I entered it would no longer pair. 

It would not pair in the Control Panel / Bluetooth & other devices section and

did not give me an option to put in a code. 

What worked finally for me what: 

Start -> Run -> devicepairingwizard

Select your keyboard, click next 

Click 'or enter a code' link below

On this screen a numeric code will be presented

Quickly type in the code you see on the Wireless Keyboard and press Enter

If successful it will install some files and pair!

I had to try a couple of times to input the code quick enough but thankfully it worked.  

Hope this helps out others.

Was this answer helpful?

1400+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

82 additional answers

Sort by: Oldest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2019-02-22T18:16:38+00:00

    Hello,

    If anyone is still having this problem and is running Windows 10 make sure the "Show notifications to connect using Swift Pair" box is selected in the Bluetooth & other devices section.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2019-02-25T07:56:49+00:00

    It worked for my Apple Keyboard! 

    Step 1: Click on Windows Start Button 

    Step 2: Type "Run"

    Step 3: When the Run Command appears, Type "Regedit"

    Step 4: Follow the screen below and locate... Computer\HKEY_USERS.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Bluetooth\ExceptionDB\Addrs

    Step 5: Delete the folder under Addrsas shown in my screenshot below

    Step 6: Try pairing your Apple Keyboard again, a new Apple Keyboard PIN will now be generated. Quickly enter the PIN you see on the Apple Keyboard and press Enter.

    Example is as shown below. Let me know if it worked for you. 

    Hello

    I located it but when I go to "addrs" it already empty. Then I try to connect my magic keyboard again but it still can not connect. I'm using pc windows 10 with magic keyboard, my magic mouse and new airpods work fine with my pc, just only magic keyboard won't work. I bought this keyboard few months ago, it work perfect until wins10 get new updates as I can understand. Now I'm using magic keyboard just like a wired keyboard. My pc can only connect to magic keyboard in that way, hope you can help me go through this. Thanks you.

    Was this answer helpful?

    3 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2019-02-28T02:21:49+00:00

    Ciao,

    I'm Ugo, a Microsoft Independent Advisor willing to help other Microsoft customers.

    Regarding your question, did you try the solutions proposed by Microsoft in this page?

    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/14169/...

    Please let me know if this helped somehow.

    Ciao

    Ugo

    Hello Ugo!

    Hope you will be fine, I tried this but cannot get the solution. Still, I can't pair my headphones to Bluetooth, I m using CSR 4.0 dongle Bluetooth device.

    Regards Ammad

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2019-02-28T02:22:44+00:00

    Have you tried pairing through Devices and Printers instead? Also, if you are prompted for a PIN, try 0000 or 1111.

    https://www.groovypost.com/howto/pair-a-bluetoo...

    Hello Andre Da Costa!

    Hope you will be fine, I tried this but cannot get the solution. Still, I can't pair my headphones to Bluetooth, I m using CSR 4.0 dongle Bluetooth device.

    Regards Ammad

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments