Connect accessories to your Macmini
You can connect your Macmini with other devices, like a keyboard, mouse, or trackpad; wearable devices like AirPods; and more. There are two ways to connect accessories: wirelessly using Bluetooth technology, or by connecting a cable from the accessory to one of the USB-C ports on your Macmini. During initial set up of your Macmini, you are asked to connect a keyboard, mouse, or trackpad. See Set up your Mac mini.
Before you begin. Before you connect an accessory to your Macmini, do the following:
Consult the documentation that came with your accessory.
If you are connecting with a cable, make sure you have the correct cable. You may also need an adapter to connect the cable to your Macmini. To learn more about your ports and their capabilities, see Take a tour of Mac mini.
Make sure your Macmini is updated to the latest version of macOS.
Connect a wireless accessory
Turn Bluetooth on. Click 
[the Control Center status menu] in the menu bar. If the Bluetooth icon 
[] is gray with a line through it, its turned off. Click it to turn on Bluetooth.
![[the Control Center status menu]](https://help.apple.com/assets/68AF4A4B86D71687240E66F4/68AF4A565F6C67F4540CDAC2/en_US/8a479d4a61f8b310fef4f6fff78fe7a0.png){kind=link}
![[]](https://help.apple.com/assets/68AF4A4B86D71687240E66F4/68AF4A565F6C67F4540CDAC2/en_US/0c5ba542c54ed182e0cb0d04cc951784.png){kind=link}
Pair a Bluetooth accessory. The first time you use a Bluetooth accessory with your Macmini, you must pair them. Consult the documentation that came with your accessory to make sure it is ready to pairfor instance, you may need to flip a switch on the accessory to turn on Bluetooth. Both your Mac and the accessory must be turned on and near each other.
When your accessory is ready to pair, open System Settings on your Mac and click Bluetooth in the sidebar. Select the accessory in the Nearby Devices list, then click Connect.
Connect a Bluetooth accessory. Your accessory automatically connects to your Macmini after youve paired it. To see what Bluetooth devices you have connected to your Macmini, click [the Control Center status menu] in the menu bar, then move your pointer over Bluetooth and click 
[the arrow]. Accessories that appear in the list with a blue (or a different color) icon are connected.
![[the arrow]](https://help.apple.com/assets/68AF4A4B86D71687240E66F4/68AF4A565F6C67F4540CDAC2/en_US/da068a03f4553dd6c8ed35c9a93fca98.png){kind=link}
If your accessory isnt automatically connecting, open System Settings on your Mac and click Bluetooth. Make sure the accessory appears in the My Devices list. If it doesnt appear, follow the steps to pair the accessory.
Disconnect or forget a Bluetooth accessory. To disconnect a Bluetooth accessory, open System Settings on your Mac and click Bluetooth. In the My Devices list, move your pointer over the accessory, then click Disconnect when it appears. To forget a Bluetooth accessory so your Macmini doesnt automatically connect to it, click 
[the Information icon] next to the accessory, then click Forget This Device.
![[the Information icon]](https://help.apple.com/assets/68AF4A4B86D71687240E66F4/68AF4A565F6C67F4540CDAC2/en_US/d98d64bffb366c2c9d6fcf131ca664c8.png){kind=link}
Connect a Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse, or Magic Trackpad. Connect the Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse, or Magic Trackpad to your Macmini using the cable provided with the accessory. Then, slide the switch on your accessory to on, so that green is visible. Your accessory then pairs with your Mac.
After the accessory is paired with your Macmini, you can disconnect the cable and use the accessory wirelessly. Your Magic Mouse, Magic Trackpad, or Magic Keyboard automatically connects to your Mac when Bluetooth is turned on.
For information about input devices, see Magic Mouse and Magic Trackpad.
Note: Magic Keyboard, Magic Trackpad, and Magic Mouse behave like a wired keyboard or pointing device when connected using their included cable. Bluetooth isnt used, and all communication is over the cable.
Connect AirPods with your Macmini. To pair and connect AirPods, see Pair AirPods with an Apple Device.
Connect an accessory with a cable
Some accessories can be connected to your Macmini with a cable. Depending on the capabilities of the accessory and the cable, you may also be able to charge the accessory or transfer data when connected.
Consult the documentation that came with your accessory before connecting it. Some accessories have an additional power source that also needs to be plugged in.
To connect an accessory, you need to use a cable that fits both the port on your accessory and the USB-C port on your Macmini. If the cable doesnt have the right connector for your Mac, you may be able to use an adapter to connect the cable. For more information about adapters, what they look like, and what ports to use, see Adapters for the Thunderbolt or USB-C ports on your Mac.
Tip: Some accessories need to be approved the first time theyre connected. See Allow accessories to connect to Mac to learn more.
You also need to connect a display when you first set up Macmini (see Connect a display to Macmini for details).
Learn more. See Bluetooth settings on Mac and Use the ports on your Mac. To learn more about connecting a Magic Mouse, Magic Trackpad, or Magic Keyboard, see Set up your Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse, or Magic Trackpad with your Mac. If you see a note that USB devices are disabled, see If you see USB Devices Disabled on your Mac.