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This Instruction Manual covers all features, connectivity modes, keyboard shortcuts, backlight settings, battery care, and safety information for the Satechi SM3 Slim Mechanical Backlit Bluetooth Keyboard (ST-KSM3LT-EN / ST-KSM3DK-EN). Download the full illustrated PDF manual using the link below.

📥 Download User Manual — SM3 Slim Mechanical Backlit Bluetooth Keyboard (English) · PDF · 3.1 MB · 27 pages

SM3 Keyboard Parts Reference

The SM3 Slim Mechanical Backlit Bluetooth Keyboard has 17 labeled parts. Use the diagrams below as a reference when following any setup or feature instructions.

Parts 1–5: Fn Lock key (Esc), On/Off switch (top edge), USB-C charging port, Function/Shortcut keys (F1–F12 row), and Mac/Windows mode keys.

Parts 6–17: Backlight Pattern key, Lock Screen key (macOS), Bluetooth keys (BT1, BT2), USB Receiver key, Wired Mode key, Num Lock key, Number Pad, Num Lock LED, Caps Lock LED, Battery Low/Charging LED, Fn key, and Windows keycaps.

• Fn Lock key — toggles function key lock (Esc key flashes when active)
• On/Off switch — powers keyboard on and off (top edge)
• USB-C port — for wired mode and charging
• Function / Shortcut keys — F1–F12 row with media and shortcut functions
• Mac / Windows keys — FN + O for macOS, FN + P for Windows
• Backlight Pattern key — cycles through 14 backlight patterns
• Lock Screen key (macOS) — FN + Lock
• Bluetooth Device keys (BT1, BT2) — pair up to 2 Bluetooth devices
• USB Receiver key — connects via 2.4GHz USB-A receiver
• Wired Mode key — switches to USB-C wired connection
• Num Lock key — activates number pad (Windows mode only)
• Number Pad — full numeric keypad (right side)
• Num Lock LED — illuminates when Num Lock is active
• Caps Lock LED — blue LED illuminates when Caps Lock is active
• Battery Low / Charging LED — indicates low battery or active charging
• Fn key — modifier key for shortcuts and mode switching
• Windows Keycaps — included keycaps to replace macOS CMD/OPT keys

Turning the SM3 Keyboard On and Off

Move the switch on the top edge of the SM3 keyboard to the ON position to power it on.

The On/Off switch is on the top edge of the SM3 keyboard, circled in red. Move it to the ON position.

Note: If the SM3 keyboard does not power on, charge it first using the included USB-C cable, then try again.

Connecting the SM3 Keyboard

The SM3 Slim Mechanical Backlit Bluetooth Keyboard supports four connection modes and can stay connected to up to four devices simultaneously: two via Bluetooth, one via 2.4GHz USB receiver, and one via USB-C wired mode.

Bluetooth Mode (up to 2 devices)

The BT1 and BT2 keys are the dedicated Bluetooth pairing keys on the SM3 keyboard.

1. Press and hold the BT1 or BT2 key for 3 seconds. The backlight turns on for 3 seconds to confirm pairing mode is active.
2. On your device, open Bluetooth settings and select "Slim SM3 Keyboard" (may also appear as "Bluetooth Device").
3. To pair a second device, repeat using the other Bluetooth key.

Important: After pairing, press and hold FN + O for 3 seconds for macOS / iPadOS / iOS, or FN + P for 3 seconds for Windows. Failure to select the correct OS may cause the SM3 keyboard to function improperly.

2.4GHz USB Receiver Mode

The USB Receiver key on the SM3 keyboard activates 2.4GHz wireless mode.

1. Remove the 2.4GHz USB-A receiver from the bottom of the SM3 keyboard where it is pre-attached, and connect it to a USB-A port on your computer or adapter.
2. Press and hold the USB Receiver key for 3 seconds. The backlight turns on for 3 seconds to confirm connection.

Wired Mode (USB-C)

The Wired Mode key on the SM3 keyboard switches the connection to USB-C wired mode.

1. Connect the included USB-C cable between the SM3 keyboard and your computer.
2. Press and hold the Wired Mode key for 3 seconds to switch into wired mode. The backlight turns on for 3 seconds to confirm.

Note: In wired mode, the SM3 keyboard charges while connected if the port supports power delivery. The keyboard does not enter sleep mode in wired mode.

SM3 OS Selection

After pairing the SM3 keyboard, always select the correct operating system. Failure to do so may cause the SM3 keyboard to function improperly.

FN + O selects macOS mode on the SM3 keyboard.

FN + P selects Windows mode on the SM3 keyboard.

• macOS / iPadOS / iOS: press and hold FN + O for 3 seconds after pairing
• Windows: press and hold FN + P for 3 seconds after pairing

Note: When pairing with some Windows operating systems, pairing via Control Panel may be required instead of Bluetooth Settings.

Charging the SM3 Keyboard

Connect the included USB-C cable to the USB-C port on the SM3 keyboard to charge.

The USB-C charging port is on the top edge of the SM3 keyboard. Insert the cable with the arrow pointing toward the port.

The SM3 keyboard uses a blue LED to indicate charging status. The LED illuminates while charging and turns off when fully charged. The SM3 has no battery icons or percentage display — the blue LED is the only charging indicator.

• Charging LED on (blue): SM3 keyboard is charging
• Charging LED off while plugged in: SM3 keyboard is fully charged

SM3 Low Power Mode

The space bar key is circled, showing where the low-battery flash appears on the SM3 keyboard.

When the SM3 keyboard reaches low power, the space bar key will slowly flash white to indicate low battery. The backlight is automatically disabled to conserve power.

SM3 Hot Key Functions

The F1–F12 row on the SM3 keyboard doubles as media and shortcut keys. Use FN + Esc to toggle between function keys (F1–F12) and media/shortcut keys.

Keys with the same function on macOS and Windows:

• FN + Esc — FN Lock
• F1 — Decrease Display Brightness
• F2 — Increase Display Brightness
• F5 — Decrease Backlight Brightness
• F6 — Increase Backlight Brightness
• F7 — Previous Track
• F8 — Play / Pause
• F9 — Next Track
• F10 — Mute
• F11 — Volume Down
• F12 — Volume Up
• Screenshot key — Screenshot (macOS and Windows)
• Backlight Pattern key — Cycle through backlight patterns

Keys with different functions by OS:

• F3 — Mission Control (macOS) / App Switcher (Windows)
• F4 — Spotlight Search (macOS) / Task Switcher (Windows)
• FN + Lock — Screen Lock (macOS only; not available on Windows)

SM3 Backlight Patterns

The SM3 keyboard has 14 backlight patterns. Press the Backlight Pattern key once to cycle through patterns. Hold the Backlight Pattern key for 5 seconds to turn the backlight on or off.

• Increase backlight brightness: press the F6 key (Increase Backlight Brightness)
• Decrease backlight brightness: press the F5 key (Decrease Backlight Brightness)
• Increase backlight animation speed: FN + right arrow
• Decrease backlight animation speed: FN + left arrow

SM3 FN Lock

Press and hold FN + Esc to activate FN Lock on the SM3 keyboard. When FN Lock is on, the Esc key flashes every second. To disable, press and hold FN + Esc again for 1–2 seconds until the Esc key stops flashing.

SM3 Sleep Mode and Battery Saving

The SM3 keyboard automatically enters sleep mode after inactivity. Sleep timing varies by connection mode.

• Bluetooth (BT1 or BT2): backlight turns off after 1 minute of inactivity; keyboard enters sleep mode after 30 minutes of inactivity
• 2.4GHz USB Receiver: backlight turns off after 1 minute of inactivity; keyboard enters sleep mode after 10 minutes of inactivity
• Wired (USB-C): backlight stays on; keyboard does not enter sleep mode

Press any key to wake the SM3 keyboard from sleep. It will automatically reconnect to the last paired device.

Resetting the SM3 Keyboard

To reset the SM3 keyboard and clear all device connections, press and hold FN + Del + End for 3 seconds.

The FN, Del, and End keys are highlighted, showing the three keys to hold simultaneously for 3 seconds to reset the SM3 keyboard.

The pairing key will flash continuously until the SM3 keyboard is paired again.

Swapping to Windows Keycaps on the SM3 (Optional)

1. Lift the macOS keycaps (CMD, OPT) straight up to remove them. Use a keycap puller to avoid damaging the switches.
2. Push the included Windows keycaps (Win, Alt) straight down into place.

Note: Only keycaps are removable and replaceable. The mechanical switches are soldered to the PCB and are not hot-swappable. Do not attempt to remove the switches.

SM3 Safety Instructions

Warning: Fire or electric shock damage could occur if the following instructions are not followed.

• Keep away from microwave radiation sources.
• Do not place heavy objects on the keyboard.
• Do not drop or bend the keyboard.
• Keep away from oil, chemical, or organic solvents.