How to Connect and Use a Bluetooth Keyboard With Your iPhone [BTstack]

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Posted December 25, 2009 at 7:51pm by iClarified

These are instructions on how to connect and use a bluetooth keyboard with your iPhone. This tutorial will use the BTstack Keyboard utility by Matthias Ringwald.

Step One
Launch Cydia by tapping its icon on your Springboard.

How to Connect and Use a Bluetooth Keyboard With Your iPhone [BTstack]

Step Two
Press to select the Sections tab.

Step Three
Press to choose Networking from the list of Sections.

Step Four
Press to select BTstack Keyboard from the list of Packages.

Step Five
Press the Purchase button at the top right of the screen. BTstack Keyboard costs $5.00 and can be bought using Paypal or Amazon Payments. Once the payment has been processed press the button at the top right which has now been changed to Install.

Step Six
Press the Confirm button to begin installation.

Step Seven
Once the installation has successfully completed press the large Restart Springboard button.

Step Eight
You will notice a new icon on the Springboard called Keyboard. Press it to launch the app.

Step Nine
You will likely be notified that Apple's Bluetooth is active. Only one Bluetooth Stack can be active at the same time. Since the keyboard will only work with the BTstack press the OK button to activate this stack.

Step Ten
The app will now search for your keyboard. You must make the keyboard discoverable in order for it to be located. On the Apple Wireless Keyboard you can hold down the power button until the led blinks repeatedly. For other keyboards, check the user manual.

Press to select the device you would like to pair.

Step Eleven
Once the device has been connected you will be prompted to enter a pin number using the keyboard then press ENTER.

Step Twelve
You will now be informed that you're connected with the keyboard. You can use the text field provided to test it out or open any other application to begin typing.

Step Thirteen
Notice the Springboard icon will display an On badget when BTstack Keyboard is running. You can open the application and press the Disconnect button for your keyboard to end the connection.

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Matty G - January 5, 2010 at 2:15pm

Great tutorial. I bought and am using with the Palm folding bluetooth keyboard. Everything works as advertised, including mail and in Facebook app. Only complaint is that it appears you have to re-pair from scratch every time the keyboard powers down.

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Chris Hebert - January 7, 2010 at 11:23am

Matty, do you have the Palm Wireless keyboard 3245WW?

Yoron - January 2, 2010 at 2:21am

I purchased a Palm Bluetooth keyboard recently, and downloaded this app the day it popped up on Cydia. Didn't have time to try it until today when I stumbled on the tutorial. Palm Bluetooth Keyboard works great in the app (on the test box); but I was unable to use it in Notes and Mail. If any readers just want to try it, I believe there is a demo-only install through Cydia as well.

Yoron - January 2, 2010 at 2:22am

I just saw the demo in the tutorial picture :-)