Cannot use keyboard to navigate iMac

Question

Level 1

9 points

Cannot use keyboard to navigate iMac

My mouse is dead, and no matter how long I charge it, it will not connect. The only solutions that I find include turning off Bluetooth on the computer/forgetting resynicing the mouse. Challenge: how to do this WITHOUT a mouse!? Supposedly, there is a way to do this with the keyboard, but I apparently need to turn on accessibility. Again WITHOUT the mouse!? After searching, I did find a way to get to the Apple menu: System settings. I can move down to Accessibility on the side bar, but CANNOT select it. Cannot move to the next pane with the keyboard!?

This is so frustrating. Why can this computer just work, like Apple products did back in the ‘80s?

iMac 27″, macOS 15.1

Posted on Mar 8, 2025 10:39 AM

Reply

Answer 1

rkaufmann87

Level 10

148,026 points

Mar 8, 2025 10:40 AM in response to PunqueMonkey

The following will require any USB keyboard and mouse. If you don’t have them, borrow or buy them, they are inexpensive!

1. Connect the USB keyboard and mouse to the computer.

2. Open System Preferences – Bluetooth

3. Un-pair the wireless keyboard and mouse.

4. Turn off Bluetooth

5. Restart the computer in Safe Mode per the directions in Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support

6. Restart the computer normally.

7. Open System Preferences – Bluetooth

8. Turn on Bluetooth

9. Re-Pair the wireless keyboard and mouse.

10. Unplug the USB keyboard and mouse and begin testing the wireless devices again.

Reply

Answer 2

PunqueMonkey Author

Level 1

9 points

Mar 10, 2025 09:20 PM in response to rkaufmann87

Thank you for the response. I followed all the steps (found that I still had the old wired keyboard and mouse from a much earlier iMac). Everything worked out, but I still can’t get the Magic Mouse to pair. I think it may be dead. Even after charging all night, and it reading “connected” with 100% charge when plugged in, it can’t connect after unplugging it. If I plug it back in, it reads 3%

Reply

Answer 3

PunqueMonkey Author

Level 1

9 points

Mar 10, 2025 09:23 PM in response to Old Toad

Thanks Toad. I had the wireless keyboard plugged in, but could not navigate the GUI with the keyboard. I figured out how to navigate the desktop to the settings, but could not navigate within the setting window. Scroll down and highlight any item in the side bar, hit enter, and just get that annoying “plip” sound.

Reply

Answer 4

dialabrain

Level 10

133,445 points

Mar 8, 2025 04:21 PM in response to PunqueMonkey

FWIW, you can quickly press the option key 5 times which will enable Mouse Keys.

Use your keyboard like a mouse with Mac - Apple Support

Reply

Answer 5

Old Toad

Level 10

214,242 points

Mar 8, 2025 03:57 PM in response to PunqueMonkey

If you have a wireless keyboard with rechargeable batteries you can connect it with the charging cable and run it as a USB wired keyboard for the Safe Boot process.

Reply