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MinimalPad stores five Bluetooth pairings, so it can stay paired with a desktop, a laptop, a tablet, and two more. Each one is a profile — slot 1 to 5. Switching profiles changes which computer the pad types into.
Don’t confuse these with app profiles in Studio for Mac, which change what the keys do. Bluetooth profiles change which computer the keys go to.

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On the default keymap

Hold the bottom-right key to reach the Connections & LEDs layer, then press: The same layer has Use USB, Use Bluetooth, and Clear profile on the second row, with Clear profile last so you don’t press it by mistake.

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Pair a new computer

1

Switch to an unused profile

The pad advertises itself automatically when the selected profile has nothing paired to it. Selecting a profile that’s already in use does not overwrite it.
2

Pair from the computer

Open its Bluetooth settings and use Add device or Pair new device. The computer does the searching — the pad never searches for computers.
3

Select MinimalPad

Complete the pairing and wait until it shows as connected.

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Free up a profile

If all five slots are in use, clear one before pairing something new:
1

Switch to the profile you want to reuse

Use the profile keys on the Connections & LEDs layer.
2

Press Clear profile

This forgets the pairing stored in that slot.
3

Forget the pad on the old computer too

Remove or forget MinimalPad in that computer’s Bluetooth settings.
The pairing key is stored on both devices. Clearing only one side leaves the other trying to connect with a key that no longer works, which looks like a pad that connects and immediately drops.
If Clear profile isn’t on your keymap, connect over USB and assign it to a key first — see Change a key.

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All the Bluetooth actions

You can put any of these on a key.
Clear all profiles wipes every pairing at once and can’t be undone. The pad will show as unpaired to every computer it knew.

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USB or Bluetooth output

Use USB and Use Bluetooth choose where the pad sends your keys. This matters for more than typing:
  • A configurator can only reach the pad over the connection it’s currently using for output.
  • App profiles only switch on the computer the pad is typing into. Move the pad to another computer and your Mac’s profiles pause until you switch back.

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Battery

Wireless use needs a charged 3.7 V LiPo battery, which isn’t included — see What you need. You can power the pad over USB-C while pairing. On battery, the pad goes into deep sleep after 12 hours without use and Bluetooth disconnects. Press a key to wake it; it reconnects within a few seconds, and that first key press only wakes it.

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Trouble?

See Bluetooth problems. ZMK’s own Bluetooth behaviour documentation covers the underlying firmware behaviour.