When it comes to wireless keyboards, the Microsoft Surface Keyboard is a premium option with a high-quality build that provides an even better typing experience than the Microsoft Bluetooth Keyboard.
However, finding any kind of setup instructions for the Microsoft Surface Keyboard is very challenging because, like all Microsoft Keyboards, there aren’t many online resources available.
Therefore, in this blog article, I’ll walk you through the simple process of pairing and connecting the Microsoft Surface Keyboard (which has a pairing button) and the Microsoft Modern Keyboard (which doesn’t) to your Windows computer.
How to Pair and Connect Your Microsoft Surface Keyboard: The Full Step-By-Step Process
01) With the Pairing Button: Microsoft Surface Keyboard
Step 00 – Preparing to Pair the Keyboard:
Before you begin pairing your Microsoft Surface Keyboard to your PC, you must ensure that both the hardware (keyboard) and software (Windows PC) are prepared for connection.
This is recommended for an optimal experience and will help prevent any potential connectivity issues that may arise.
To do so, just follow these steps:
- Ensure that your Microsoft Surface Keyboard has a fresh pair of two AAA batteries.
- Confirm that your Windows PC supports Bluetooth 4.0 or a later version.
- Check that your PC is running Windows 10 Version 1903 or later.
Once you’ve finished preparing everything, it’s time to pair and connect your Microsoft Surface Keyboard.
Step 01 – Enable Bluetooth on Your Computer:
Firstly, make sure Bluetooth is activated on your computer. Here’s how to do so:
- Press
[Windows key]+[i]to open the Settings app.
- In the Settings window, navigate to [Devices] and then click on [Bluetooth & other devices.]
- Toggle the Bluetooth switch to turn it ON.
Once Bluetooth is enabled, your computer should be ready to discover and connect with your Microsoft Surface Keyboard.
Now it’s time to take action.
Step 02 – Put the Microsoft Surface Keyboard in Pairing Mode:
Next you have to put your Microsoft Surface Keyboard in pairing mode so that it broadcasts its presence and readiness for connection.
Similar to the Microsoft Bluetooth keyboard, the pairing button on the Surface Keyboard is somewhat “hidden” away, which is why many users find it difficult to locate.
Nevertheless, to put the keyboard in pairing mode, follow these steps:
- Look for the Bluetooth pairing button, which is marked with a Bluetooth logo and is located on the left side of the keyboard kickstand.
- Press and hold the pairing button for around 5 seconds, or until the LED indicator above the Up arrow key begins blinking white, confirming that the Surface Keyboard is now in pairing mode.
Step 03 – Connect Your Keyboard:
Once in pairing mode, you should see a notification on your computer’s screen prompting you to connect the keyboard:
- Press the [Connect] button on the notification.
- Next, a pairing PIN will be displayed on your computer screen, type this PIN on your Bluetooth keyboard, and then press the “Enter” key.
- Done, once you’ve input the pairing PIN correctly, your computer will notify you that the Bluetooth keyboard has been paired.
If you didn’t receive any notifications or pop-ups during the pairing process, you may need to complete this step manually. Here’s how:
- Navigate to Settings (press Windows + i) > Devices > Bluetooth & other devices > Add Bluetooth or other device > Bluetooth.
- Wait a few seconds, then select your Microsoft Surface Keyboard from the list of available devices.
- Enter the pairing PIN displayed on your computer screen into your Microsoft Surface Keyboard and press “Enter.”
- Lastly, if the pairing was successful, you will either receive a confirmation message on your computer or see “paired” under your Surface Keyboard in the list of Bluetooth devices.
Step 04 – Test Your Keyboard:
After successfully pairing your Microsoft Bluetooth keyboard with your computer or device, it’s crucial to test your keyboard by typing a few characters on your keyboard to ensure that the input is registered on your computer.
Now, enjoy typing without wires using your Microsoft Bluetooth Keyboard.
02) With No Pairing Button: Microsoft Modern Keyboard
If your Surface Keyboard does not have a pairing button, you have what is called “Microsoft Modern Keyboard,” a modern model of the Microsoft Surface Keyboard with a built-in fingerprint reader and a USB rechargeable battery, as opposed to the Surface Keyboard, which uses AAA batteries.
This Surface Keyboard model uses a USB cable for pairing, which differs from the standard approach. Here’s how to do so:
Step 01 – Turn On the Keyboard:
Turn ON the keyboard using the power switch found on the kickstand.
Step 02 – Connect the USB Cable:
Connect the Microsoft Modern Keyboard to a main USB port on your computer using the USB cable included in the keyboard’s box.
Step 03 – Click the Notification:
On your PC screen, click the notification that appears in the lower-right corner of your screen that says “Add a device”.
In case you didn’t see the notification, you can make it appear again by switching the keyboard OFF/ON again.
Step 04 – Enter the Pairing Pin (If Required):
Some keyboards may, for security purposes, demand a PIN during the Bluetooth pairing process.
So, if your Microsoft Modern Keyboard prompts you to enter a PIN during the pairing process, just type in the PIN displayed on the screen using the keyboard, then press “Enter.”
Step 05 – Check if the Keyboards Is Paired:
Now, to check if the keyboard is connected to your pc successfully, go to Settings (press Windows + i) > Devices > Bluetooth & other devices.
Next, in the list of Bluetooth devices, you should see “paired” under your keyboard, which will be labeled as “BTLE Keyboard Fingerprint ID”.
Step 06 – Unplug the USB Cable to Use the Keyboard Wirelessly:
As of now, your keyboard is wired, but if you want to make it wireless, simply unplug the USB cable and the keyboard will automatically switch to Bluetooth mode.
The Bottom Line
In conclusion, pairing and connecting the Microsoft Surface Keyboard is a fairly simple process. However, and for some reason, many users encounter difficulties when pairing Bluetooth devices in general.
Moreover, and particularly in this case, users confuse the Microsoft Surface Keyboard with the Microsoft Modern Keyboard.
This confusion can lead to difficulties in pairing the keyboard, as the two models may have different pairing methods or features.
Regardless, please do not hesitate to post any questions in the comments section.
