Use your Mac as a Bluetooth Keyboard

KeyPad is a Mac app that lets you use your Mac keyboard and trackpad as a bluetooth keyboard and mouse. You can use it to type text messages on your phone, type to siri, control your TV…anything that you can do with a combination of a keyboard and mouse.

Why buy bluetooth keyboards when you can just use your Mac keyboard (and mouse/trackad) with all your devices. A new bluetooth keyboard and mouse will cost you at-least $35. That is for One Keyboard and mouse. Keypad lets you connect to as many devices as you like; its like having 20 keyboards handy, one for each of your devices.

Keypad is free for one phone/tv/tablet/computer. To use it with more than one device, or to use the Mouse feature requires In-App Purchase (for Multi-device).

What our users are using KeyPad for:

• A Digital KVM – Use your Mac keyboard and mouse to control all your other computers
• Privacy – Keep your private messages and texts on the phone, and still use a full keyboard
• iPad Keyboard – Want to decide if you really want to buy a $250 keyboard for the iPad, try KeyPad first; its free
• A remote control for the Apple TV, and any Smart TV
• Reduce desk clutter – You really only need one keyboard
• Developers – Developing iPhone/iPad apps, try out how it works with a keyboard
• Anybody who truly hates using their thumbs to type messages

In the words of Andy Ihnatko of MacBreak Weekly “A really great app that I didn’t know I was looking for.”

Sadly, nobody goes to the App Store looking for a Keyboard. So users have not heard about us yet. If you are reading this, you can help me. Please help me get the word out.

A Better keyboard:

• Connect to as many devices as you like (Phones, Tablets, TVs)
• Not just a keyboard, a combination mouse, keyboard and media remote
• Always available, with a hotkey for each device, or just select it from the toolbar menu

See our video on how to set up and use KeyPad. https://bluetooth-keyboard.com/setup/

Device support

KeyPad has been shipping from January 2020. Our users have tested it with a lot of devices; Phones, TV’s, iPads, Linux Computers, other Macs, TV Boxes, Apple TV, See more details about the verified devices.

Want to Type to Alexa, Google Home, Home Pod…do me a favor and ask Apple, Google, Amazon to add keyboard support to their smart speakers. KeyPad can help you with those times that speech is not working well, but you want alexa and other smart speakers to do something! While you are at it, tell google to fix YouTube; Youtube on the Apple TV has stopped working with any keyboard from April 2020.

Language Support

KeyPad is being used in over 100 countries (I get goosebumps when I think about it). Some users have requested language support; but KeyPad doesn’t care about the language you use. Select the correct language on the phone, iPad that you want to control, and it works, I have tested with U.K English, French, German, Norwegian, Please let me know if you think differently.

Additionally…

I am always listening for feature requests. If there are any suggestions that you have for KeyPad let me know, and I will implement it. Keep the suggestions coming, it will help me make KeyPad better. Send me email at tools@toolbunch.com if you face any issues or have any suggestions. You can also send me feedback anonymously on my support page.

MacBreak Weekly – This Week in Tech

KeyPad is Pick of the Week in MacBreak Weekly. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6A9gf8P3uoI&t=6667s

https://twit.tv/shows/macbreak-weekly/episodes/758?autostart=false

Thank you Andy Ihnatko and Leo Laporte for such an awesome review. Your energy has put KeyPad on the Map!

KeyPad reviewed on Softpedia

Thank you for this awesome review SOFTPEDIA!

See the full review at: https://mac.softpedia.com/get/Word-Processing/KeyPad.shtml

“Over the years, I’ve encountered people who are so proficient with touchscreen keyboards that typing on their phones barely slows them down. Unfortunately, I’m not one of them. I dread having to use a touchscreen for typing, and I always wish I could just plug in a keyboard and get it done the old-fashioned way.

Of course, you can just get a Bluetooth keyboard, but what if you want to use a wired device, or one that is currently paired with your Mac? Well, it’s a good thing you asked, because KeyPad lets you do just that.”

Catalin Chelariu

KeyPad Reviewed on iPhoneJD.com.

“KeyPad is a great little app, and the magic that it provides is easily worth the $3 price.”

Thank you for the awesome review Jeff Richardson

https://www.iphonejd.com/iphone_jd/2021/04/review-keypad.html

KeyPad reviewed on NotNerd.com

Keypad mentioned

One user wrote a very detailed manual in Chinese on how to setup KeyPad. https://zhuanlan.zhihu.com/p/330685604

One user wrote an article on how he used KeyPad to automate gestures on iOS
devices https://guanzhang.medium.com/setting-up-gesture-macros-on-ios-using-macos-for-mobile-games-4891b1920275

https://www.macfans.com/app/102060

KeyPad reviewed on French site maxiapple.com

macupdater.net has listed KeyPad on their site, and are directing people to download our app. https://www.macupdater.net/app_updates/appinfo/com.toolbunch.KeyPad/index.html

AppAgg.com an Application Aggregator has listed KeyPad on their site. https://appagg.com/macos/utilities/keypad-bluetooth-keyboard-34098762.html?hl=en

I respond to all emails and support request. If you are facing any issue, please reach out (tools@toolbunch.com). Help me make keypad better.

How to setup KeyPad

KeyPad works like any other physical bluetooth keyboard. The connection needs to be initiated from the device that you want to control. You may need to refer your device documentation for instructions on connecting a bluetooth keyboard. Please do not hesitate to send me email if you have any issues. My email is tools@toolbunch.com

Make KeyPad discoverable to your device

You will get a list of devices that are discoverable on the mac, Please ignore this window, you must initiate the connection from the Device you want to control. This window is the only way to make the Mac discoverable on the device.

Connect KeyPad to your Phone, TV or Tablet

Please refer to your device instruction on how to connect to a keyboard. These instructions vary from device to device. The example here shows what works on the iPhone.

To connect, click on the bluetooth name of your Mac in the device bluetooth settings.

Accepting the connection on the Mac

This popup message varies from device to device. You may need to accept the confirmation message on your device too.

If you do not see this connect dialog, there is some other issue. (please see our support page)

Completing the connection

Please wait for this screen. If it does not show up the setup is not yet complete.

KeyPad setup is complete

Once it is setup any key you type will go to the connected device. Please take a moment to familiarize yourself on how the device is responding to keypad. Not all buttons work on all devices (for example Volume buttons work on a phone, ipad, but not on an Apple TV).

Click on any other window, or press command tab to close the KeyPad window.

Launching KeyPad when you need it next

You can setup additional devices, and their hotkeys in the preferences screen. Go to the toolbar menu and click preferences.

Sometimes the toolbar icon gets hidden behind the menu. If this happens, move to another application (like finder) to make the toolbar visible, and while pressing the command key on your keyboard drag the KeyPad Icon to a better location on the toolbar.

Let me know what you think of KeyPad. Especially if you have any issues.

Any features/improvements that you would like to see in KeyPad? Let us know: tools@toolbunch.com.

If you like KeyPad, I could use some help. I get about 30 downloads a day worldwide. This is depressingly low. I need your help in getting KeyPad visible. I would really appreciate it if you would give us a rating, and share it with your friends and family.

1.75 – KeyPad Buttons, Korean support

• Improved KeyPad buttons
  • Looks better in Big Sur (May not look great in catalina and below, let me know what you think)
• Added korean support, thank you to the user who gave me the translations
• Minor UI improvements

1.75beta1

1.74 – Better Scrolling, more media controls

• Fixed tooltips for Brightness + and Brightness –
• Disables Buy button if you have already purchased KeyPad
• Minor UI improvements

1.73 – Better Scrolling, more media controls

• Improvements to Mouse scroll wheel performance
• Added X axis scrolling
• Added brightness controls to media remote
  • Brightness support is a new feature introduced in 1.73. If you have been a user of KeyPad before (before 1.73) you may find that they do not work. The only way to fix this is to forget KeyPad from the device you want to control, and create a new connection. It is like disconnecting the bluetooth keyboard, and then reconnecting a new one. See support page for more details.
• Verified sending command for target display mode to iMac
• Minor UI improvements

1.70 – Improved mouse handling

• Improved the mouse responsiveness for the iPad
• Verified that Norwegian (Scandinavian) keyboard is working as desired on the iPhone/iPad.

1.68 – Smaller KeyPad Window

• Smaller KeyPad window. Uses less screen space. Cleaner interface.
• More help options on features of KeyPad

1.65 – Improved mouse scrolling support

• Added support to take screenshot on iPhones and iPads, function-shift-3
• Improved Y scrolling with mouse and trackpad
• Remove unused user interface features.

1.60 – Add support for M1 (ARM) Mac’s

• Updated, tested with M1 ARM Mac’s

1.51 – Show keystrokes when typing

• As you type, Keypad will show your keystrokes on the KeyPad application window
• Makes it easier to share KeyPad on facebook or twitter, please help me get the app visible
• Asks you to rate the application if you have used it over 200 times.

1.50 – Fix some minor UI issues/irritants

• Hides KeyPad window if the app goes into the background. If you see the KeyPad window your keystrokes will go to the connected device.
• Asks you to rate the application (only once!) after you have launched KeyPad at-least 25 times. Please do consider giving us a rating it will help the app get visible.
• Fixes AutoLaunch at login where it would try to connect to the phone/device whenever you logged in to the Mac
• If you use the hotkey to launch KeyPad, pressing the hotkey again will close the window.

1.45 – Faster launch with Hold Connection

• Bringing a test feature to the main stream (Feature introduced in 1.20 below). Toggling Hold connection will make switching to KeyPad faster.
  • If you are using this feature with a phone, please set your Mac screensaver to a shorter time. If you pick up the phone and walk away from the Mac (and are in bluetooth range) it will disconnect only if the Mac screen locks, or screensaver comes on.
• Moved the paste button into the media button bar.
• Request feedback/rating from users who have used KeyPad over 20 times. Please give us a rating, it will help other users find our app.

1.40 – Hide app from Dock

• Added shortcut to paste text to device using keyboard (command-shift-v). This is for non-iOS devices. iOS devices will work with the standard paste shortcut (command v) as long as your Mac and iOS device are logged into the same Apple ID.
• Added a configuration setting so that you can turn off the App icon from the Dock (requested by many users)

1.37 – UI and Language updates

• Added a button to copy keypad app link to clipboard. Makes sharing KeyPad easier.
• Added more languages in app store listing
• Minor UI bug fixes

1.35 – UI and Language updates

• UI Updates made media buttons smaller
• Updates to supported languages
• Minor UI bug fixes
• Extended Mouse trial period to two days. Let me know if you face any issues.

1.30 – Type to Siri

• Added support for press and hold of Media Buttons
  • Can use this to put Apple TV to sleep, and hold to change volume level
• Verified type to Siri support
  • Requires that you go to Settings | Accessibility | Siri and turn on Type to Siri
• Minor UI Fixes

1.20 – Hold phone/device connection

• Hold Connection: You can switch to your device faster
  • Requires you to enable this feature in the KeyPad application menu.
  • Will disconnect ONLY when screensaver comes on OR screen is locked OR user logs out OR MacBook lid is closed
    • Recommend that you set your Mac screensaver to a low timeout (2-3 minutes)
  • Advantage: Will switch to keypad very quickly, you don’t need to wait for the connection establishment
  • Dis-advantage: If you do not have a screensaver set to a low interval you may pick up the phone and walk away from your desk, get a text message, and when you try to reply you will not be able to see/use the keyboard till the mac screensaver comes on, or you disconnect bluetooth on the phone.
• Supports 1 day trial of Mouse Support
  • Mouse support is a paid feature. This allows you to try the feature before you decide if you want to purchase it.
• Adds additional language support
• If you like KeyPad you can leave a review on the Mac App Store

1.11 – Improved user interface, easier to launch KeyPad

• Switch to KeyPad with “command – tab” on the mac. Makes it easier to find and launch keypad.
• Updates to Mouse performance.
• Save previous KeyPad window location, allows you to move the keypad window

1.06 – Added support for Mouse

• Testing command-tab functionality in iPad (use function + tab) to switch applications
• Added support for Mouse, tested only on iPad
  • Includes mouse scrolling, better than Magic Mouse 1 on iPad
• Adds support for iPhone with mouse; go to Settings | Accessibility | Touch and turn on Assistive Touch

1.00 – Production release with In App Purchases

0.95 – Configure HotKeys

• Supports more than one device in KeyPad
• Supports defining separate HotKey’s for each bluetooth device.
• Includes a link to a installation support video

0.91 – Support clipboard paste to device

0.90 – Support Media Keys

• Added support for Media Keys like Play/Pause and Volume control.
• Bring up soft keyboard to type emoji’s

0.82 – Fixes to support TVs 

• TV’s and Media boxes were not seeing the keyboard. 
  • Verified with Sony and Samsung TVs
  • Verified with Google Nexus Player, Apple TV etc

0.70 – Initial Release

• Use your Mac as a bluetooth keyboard for your Phone, iPad, TV, Tablet, Apple TV