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Instruction Manual — SM1 Slim Mechanical Backlit Bluetooth Keyboard

This Instruction Manual covers setup, connectivity, keyboard shortcuts, backlight settings, battery care, and safety information for the Satechi SM1 Slim Mechanical Backlit Bluetooth Keyboard (ST-KSM1LT-EN Light / ST-KSM1DK-EN Dark).

📄 Download User Manual — SM1 Slim Mechanical Backlit Bluetooth Keyboard (English) · PDF · 2 MB

Parts Reference

The SM1 keyboard has 14 labeled components. Use the diagrams below as a reference when following any setup or feature instructions.

Powering On and Off

Move the physical switch on the top left edge of the keyboard to the ON position to power on. Move it to OFF to power off. If the keyboard does not power on, charge it first using the included USB-C cable, then try again.

Connectivity — Three Modes

Bluetooth (BT1 and BT2)

The SM1 supports two simultaneous Bluetooth device pairings on channels BT1 and BT2. To pair a device, press and hold Fn + 1 (for BT1) or Fn + 2 (for BT2) for 5 seconds, then release. The keyboard will enter pairing mode. On your host device, open Bluetooth settings and select the SM1 keyboard. The keyboard will flash briefly to confirm a successful connection, then the light will turn off.

To switch between paired Bluetooth devices, press Fn + 1 or Fn + 2.

Note: If multiple Satechi keyboards are nearby, ensure only one is powered on during pairing to avoid connection confusion.

2.4GHz USB Receiver

Insert the included USB-A wireless receiver dongle into a USB-A port on your host device (use an adapter if needed). Then press and hold Fn + 3 on the keyboard for 5 seconds. The keyboard backlight will flash for 5 seconds and then turn off after a successful connection.

Wired Mode (USB-C)

Connect the included USB-C cable from the keyboard's USB-C port to a USB-C port on your host device. Press and hold Fn + 4 to activate wired mode. In wired mode there is no sleep mode and the backlight remains on unless manually turned off.

OS Selection — macOS and Windows

The SM1 ships in macOS mode by default. To switch operating system modes:

• Press and hold Fn + O for 3 seconds to enter macOS mode
• Press and hold Fn + P for 3 seconds to enter Windows mode

The selected key will flash briefly to confirm the change. The SM1 comes with swappable Windows keycaps (Win keys, Alt keys) included in the box for users who prefer a Windows-style layout.

Important: When pairing wirelessly with Windows OS, pair via Control Panel and not Bluetooth Settings. Satechi keyboards are seen as input devices on Windows, requiring them to pair via Control Panel.

Hot Key Functions

The F1–F12 keys double as media and system shortcut keys. Functions differ between macOS and Windows modes:

• Fn Lock (Fn + Esc) — toggles F1–F12 between function keys and media shortcuts
• Decrease / Increase Display Brightness — F1 / F2
• Mission Control (macOS) / App Switcher (Windows) — F3
• Spotlight Search (macOS) / Task Switcher (Windows) — F4
• Decrease / Increase Backlight Brightness — F5 / F6 (macOS) or F6 / F7 (Windows)
• Previous Track — F7 / Play/Pause — F8 / Next Track — F9
• Mute — F5 (Windows) / Volume Down — F10 / Volume Up — F11
• Screenshot — F12 (Windows)
• Backlight Patterns — dedicated backlight pattern key
• Screen Lock (macOS) — dedicated lock key

Fn Lock

By default, the F1–F12 keys act as media and shortcut keys. To make F1–F12 act as standard function keys, press and hold Fn + Esc for 1–2 seconds to enable Fn Lock. The Esc key will flash every second to confirm Fn Lock is active. Press and hold Fn + Esc again to disable Fn Lock.

Backlight Settings

The SM1 keyboard has a white backlight with 14 total lighting patterns. Use the dedicated backlight pattern key to cycle through patterns. Use Fn + F5 to decrease backlight brightness and Fn + F6 to increase it (macOS mode). When Caps Lock is active, the Caps Lock LED turns turquoise.

Sleep Mode and Power Saving

In Bluetooth mode, the SM1 conserves battery automatically. After 1 minute of inactivity, the backlight turns off to save power. After 30 minutes of inactivity, the keyboard enters sleep mode until a key is pressed. In 2.4GHz USB receiver mode, the keyboard sleeps after 10 minutes of inactivity. In wired mode, sleep mode is disabled and the backlight stays on until manually turned off.

Low Power Mode and Backlight Patterns

When the battery is low, the space bar key slowly flashes white to indicate low battery. The backlight is automatically disabled to conserve power. Connect the USB-C cable to charge.

The SM1 has 14 total backlight patterns. Hold the dedicated backlight key for 5 seconds to turn the backlight on or off. Press once to cycle through patterns. Use Fn + F5 / Fn + F6 to adjust brightness. Caps Lock backlight will turn turquoise when Caps Lock is enabled.

Charging the SM1 Keyboard

Connect the included USB-C cable to the USB-C port on the keyboard and to any USB-C charger or computer. During charging, the space bar backlight turns red. When fully charged, the backlight turns off (or white if backlight is enabled). For best results, unplug the cable once fully charged.

Reset the Keyboard

To reset the keyboard and clear all paired devices, press and hold Fn + Ctrl (Left) + Del for 3 seconds. The keyboard backlight will flash 3 times to confirm the reset is complete. Re-pair your devices after resetting.

Safety Instructions

• Keep the keyboard away from excessive vibration
• Do not place heavy objects on the keyboard
• Keep away from moisture and liquids
• Keep away from chemical or organic solvents
• Mechanical switches are soldered to the PCB and are not hot-swappable. Do not attempt to remove switches.
• If the keyboard is dropped or damaged, stop use and contact Satechi support

Need Help?

Visit satechi.com for product support, firmware updates, and warranty information. Contact Satechi Technical Support at support.satechi.com.