How to use Apple’s Magic Keyboard with a macOS and a Windows device simultaneously

Apple’s Magic Keyboard is a gadget that makes life infinitely easier, with its compact form factor, and a myriad of in-built features. The keyboard is a great investment and helps enhance the ease of use of one’s Apple products, whether it is an iMac, MacBook, or iPad for that matter.

However, a common annoyance one often faces with them is the lack of ability to connect them to two devices at once. Even more so, if the second device happens to be a Windows system. Well, we’ll let you in on a little secret. It is actually possible to pair and use your Magic Keyboard to a macOS and a Windows device at the same time.

How to connect a Magic Keyboard to a macOS and Windows system simultaneously

Contrary to what one may believe, it is possible to quickly and easily pair the Apple Magic Keyboard with multiple devices simultaneously, and macOS and Windows systems at that. Moreover, it is easier than you think. Here’s what you need to do –

1. Connect your Mac to the keyboard wirelessly via Bluetooth and connect the keyboard using a lightning-to-USB cable, to your Windows PC.

2. When using your macOS device, ensure your Windows PC is switched off. This will allow the Bluetooth connection to take priority and pair the keyboard to the MacBook.

3. If you want to use the keyboard with your Windows PC, simply turn your macOS device off, and the wired connection to the former takes priority.

Now, here’s when things get interesting. How do you use them both together? Well, in such a scenario, you need to keep the keyboard on, to use the macOS device via Bluetooth, while it is still connected to the Windows PC via a wired connection. Now, to switch to your Windows device, simply flick the power switch on the keyboard off, and all its inputs will be directed towards the Windows PC by default.

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While this does require a bit of effort, with the back and forth, it still makes a whole lot more sense than having to invest in a separate keyboard, both in terms of money, as well as space.

Moreover, it is unlikely that one will use their macOS and Windows device simultaneously anyway, should they happen to have both. Moreover, the next-generation Apple Magic Keyboard is also expected to bring with it multi-device connectivity, as well as a USB Type-C port.