How to pair, control your Apple TV with a Bluetooth keyboard

(Credit: Jason Cipriani/CNET)

With the release of iOS 6.1 for iOS devices, the Apple TV line quietly received an update as well. The update adds iCloud support for purchased music, Up Next support (although this was already present on an Apple TV), and the ability to pair a Bluetooth keyboard to your Apple TV. By pairing a keyboard you can control playback, navigate, and enter search queries all from the comfort of a physical keyboard.

1. To pair a keyboard, make sure you've updated your Apple TV to the latest OS. You can update it by going into Settings > General > Update Software.


2. Once you've updated, you'll need to go back into Settings > General and then select the new Bluetooth item, right under Remotes. After selecting Bluetooth your Apple TV will immediately start scanning for Bluetooth devices; be sure to have the keyboard powered on and in pairing mode.


3. Select your keyboard from the list of discovered devices and follow the on screen prompts.

Now that you've paired a keyboard, you can begin using it to navigate and control your Apple TV. Here's a basic rundown of which keys do what:

Navigating:

• The arrow keys will move the blue selection box aro... [Read more]