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Connection Issues

Bluetooth quirks are the most common thing people run into with any wireless keyboard. Work down this page in order — the first couple of fixes solve the large majority of cases.

Which keyboard is this for?

These steps apply to wireless (ZMK) Cyboards. The Speller has its own, simpler pairing flow — if that's your keyboard, start with the Speller troubleshooting section instead.

Won't connect at all​

1. Make sure it's on and charged​

Slide the power switch on each half toward the USB-C port until it clicks. Plug in over USB-C for a few minutes if the battery might be flat — a keyboard that's too low on charge won't advertise reliably.

2. Remove the old Bluetooth entry, then re-pair​

By far the most common cause is a stale pairing left on the host — you'll see the keyboard listed but it won't connect, most often when returning to a device you'd paired before.

  1. On your computer/tablet/phone, open Bluetooth settings and Forget / Remove any existing Cyboard (Imprint / Dactyl) entry.
  2. On the keyboard, clear that Bluetooth profile too, so both sides start fresh (see clearing a profile below).
  3. Put the keyboard back into pairing mode and connect from your device's Bluetooth settings.

3. Check you're on the right Bluetooth profile​

ZMK keeps several independent Bluetooth profiles, one per paired device. If the wrong profile is selected — or the selected profile already holds a saved connection to a different device — the keyboard looks "stuck." Switch profiles using the Bluetooth keys in your layout (or from Cyboard Studio), and clear the one you want to reuse.

Clearing a Bluetooth profile​

The standard Cyboard layouts include Bluetooth keys on a lower layer. To wipe the currently selected profile, activate that layer and press the clear profile key (BT_CLR). Not sure where it is on your layout? Open Cyboard Studio, where every key — including the Bluetooth controls — is labeled.

Pairs, but won't type​

Sometimes the host shows the keyboard as connected yet no keystrokes arrive.

On macOS​

  1. Remove the keyboard from System Settings → Bluetooth.
  2. With the profile for that Mac active, press the clear profile (BT_CLR) key on the keyboard.
  3. Pair again from macOS.

On Windows​

  1. Remove the keyboard from Settings → Bluetooth & devices.
  2. With the profile for that PC active, press the clear profile (BT_CLR) key on the keyboard.
  3. Turn Windows Bluetooth off, then back on, and pair again.

If it still misbehaves, either restart the PC, or open Device Manager → View → Show hidden devices → Bluetooth, delete any leftover Cyboard entries, and pair once more.

Managed / work Windows PCs

Some corporate Windows machines require a passkey before they'll accept a Bluetooth keyboard, which can show up as pairing-but-not-typing. If you're on a work-managed device and nothing above helps, email support@cyboard.digital — this needs a small firmware option enabled and we'll sort it out.

Powered over USB but testing Bluetooth?​

If the keyboard is plugged into USB (for charging, say) while you're trying to type over Bluetooth, keystrokes may still be routed to the cable. Use the output-select key in your layout (or Cyboard Studio) to prefer Bluetooth output, or simply type the test on battery power with the cable unplugged.

The two halves won't talk to each other​

If one half types and the other is dead — or you've swapped or replaced a controller — the halves have lost their pairing with each other. This is fixed with a settings reset: see Reset Your Keyboard's Pairing.

Weak or dropping connection​

A little distance or a metal desk can weaken Bluetooth. Before assuming a hardware problem:

  • Bring the keyboard closer to the host and clear the line of sight.
  • Try a different host to rule out that computer's Bluetooth adapter — laptop Bluetooth quality varies a lot.

If you consistently get a weak link across multiple devices, get in touch — we can build you firmware with the radio's transmit power turned up, which usually clears it right up.

Dual-boot machines​

Because Bluetooth bonds are tied to a host's hardware address, you can't keep two operating systems on the same computer (a dual-boot setup) paired on the same profile at once — each OS overwrites the other's bond. The simplest workaround is to dedicate a separate profile to each OS, or re-pair when you switch. (Advanced users can copy bonding keys between OSes, but it's fiddly.)

Nothing here doing the trick? Reach us on Discord or at support@cyboard.digital — we're glad to help.