# Keyboard Output
### Keyboard Output
A Keyboard Output acts like a **Bluetooth keyboard**.
When it is activated, Think2Switch™ **sends a key press** to a nearby computer or tablet.
It can also:
* Say a word or phrase, or
* Play a bell sound
### What can a Keyboard Output do?
Keyboard Outputs let you control apps and devices that respond to keyboard input.
For example:
* Press **Space** to play or pause a YouTube video
* Use **Arrow keys** to move in a game
* Press **Enter** to select something
This works with computers and tablets that accept Bluetooth keyboard input (such as Windows computers).
### Keyboard Output settings
You can change what key is sent and how it behaves.
#### Key
Choose which key is sent to the paired computer.
This is the same as pressing a key on a keyboard.
#### Display mode
Choose what appears on the Output:
* Text – shows words
* Image – shows a selected photo
#### Color
Choose the border color of the Output.
#### Speech
This is what the app will say out loud when the Output is enabled or activated.
* Enable - played when output is enabled (manual or when scanning)
* Activate - played when output is activated (manual or with a command). If blank, a bell sound will play instead.
#### Mode
Choose how the key is pressed.
* **Direct**
The key is pressed while the Output is active.
This is useful for games where you need to press and hold a key.
* **Timed**
The key is pressed and then released, like typing on a keyboard.
This is useful for media controls, like play or pause.
If you use Timed mode:
* Choose how long the key is pressed
* We recommend 0.1 seconds (similar to a normal key press)
**Play/Pause** key behaviour:
* The play/pause is different from other keys. Press once to play, press again to stop.
* Use Timed mode to control media playback duration, ex: 3 seconds of playback.
* play/pause may not work with all media players, try using the space key instead
#### Threshold
The threshold is shown as a dashed line on the Output.
* When your Command goes above the dashed line, the key is sent
* You can adjust this if it activates too easily or not easily enough
### Pairing with a computer
To use a Keyboard Output, your iPhone or iPad must be paired with a computer using Bluetooth.
You can pair with one computer at a time.
### Before you start
Make sure:
* Bluetooth is on on your iPhone or iPad
* Bluetooth is on on your computer
* Your Scene has at least one Keyboard Output
If the **Keyboard Output is not connected**, you will see an **exclamation mark (!)** on it.
#### Step 1: On your iPhone or iPad
1. Open the Think2Switch™ app.
2. Go to the Control tab.
3. Select a Scene that includes a Keyboard Output.
Your device is now ready to pair.
#### Step 2: On your computer
1. Open Bluetooth settings on your computer.
2. Search for nearby Bluetooth devices.
3. Look for a device called “Think2Switch”.
Note: On some computers, it may appear with your device name (for example, “iPad”).
Windows tip:
You may need to show all devices or turn on advanced discovery.
4. Select the device and choose **Pair** or **Connect**.
#### Step 3: Confirm pairing
A message will appear on:
* your iPhone or iPad
* your computer
Confirm pairing on both devices.
When **connected**, the Keyboard Output will **no longer display an exclamation mark**. This may take a few seconds.
Once paired, the Keyboard Output is ready to use.
{% hint style="info" icon="lightbulb" %}
**Good to Know**
* You only need to pair once per computer
* If you switch computers, you’ll need to pair again
* If pairing fails, turn Bluetooth off and on and try again
{% endhint %}
### Troubleshooting
#### Keyboard Output not connecting
If the **exclamation mark (!)** does not go away, the Keyboard Output is not connected.
This usually means **Bluetooth pairing needs to be reset**.
#### Reset Bluetooth pairing
**Step 1: On your computer**
1. Open Bluetooth settings.
2. Find the device named Think2Switch.
> It may appear with your iPhone or iPad name (for example, “iPad”).
3. Choose Remove, Forget, or Disconnect.
**Step 2: On your iPhone or iPad**
1. Open Bluetooth settings.
2. Find the device with your computer’s name.
3. Tap Forget this device.
**Step 3: Check your Scene**
Before pairing again:
* Make sure your Scene includes at least one Keyboard Output
* The Keyboard Output should be visible on the Control tab
**Step 4: Pair again**
Repeat the [pairing steps](#pairing-with-a-computer) from the previous section.
Once connected, the exclamation mark will disappear.
### Compatibility
Keyboard Outputs work with computers that support Bluetooth keyboards.
The following systems have been tested:
* Windows 11
* macOS Sequoia or newer (with a different Apple ID)
* iOS devices (with a different Apple ID)
### Important note about Apple IDs
Apple devices (Mac, iPad, iPhone) signed in with the same Apple ID will not show the Think2Switch device in bluetooth settings. To work around this:
* Use a different Apple ID on the iPhone or iPad running Think2Switch™
{% hint style="info" icon="lightbulb" %}
**Good to Know**
* Resetting Bluetooth pairing often fixes connection problems (see above)
{% endhint %}
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