Why do Macs ask you to press random keys when connecting a new keyboard?

2 days ago

Macs ask for random keys when connecting a new keyboard because keyboards cannot tell the computer their exact layout.
Pressing keys next to Shift helps identify international variants: American (ANSI), European (ISO), or Japanese (JIS).
This method is clever because it avoids asking for keys that might not exist on certain layouts.
The dialog appears even for peripherals that identify as keyboards, like card readers.
Selecting the correct layout ensures keys output what they show, especially for Japanese keyboards.
Apple keyboards don't trigger the dialog because they send vendor/model IDs that macOS recognizes.
Third-party keyboards often lack reliable IDs, making an all-encompassing database impractical.

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