Test Keyboard Access at Mac Startup Before Relying on Bluetooth Alone
A keyboard working on the desktop does not prove that it will work at every startup screen. Before putting a MacBook in a closed-lid desk arrangement or depending on one wireless keyboard, test how you will enter the initial unlock credentials after a restart.
Distinguish startup from an ordinary lock screen
Record the Mac model, macOS version and keyboard connection method. Save your work and make sure you know your normal login credentials before planning a restart test. Keep an alternative input method within reach.
Logitech's MX Keys Mini for Mac instructions warn that FileVault can prevent Bluetooth devices from connecting before login in some setups. The guide points to the MacBook's built-in keyboard and trackpad or a USB keyboard and mouse as alternatives. This is a compatibility consideration, not a claim that every current Mac has the same limitation.
A charging cable should not be assumed to convert a wireless keyboard into a wired data keyboard. Check what that keyboard's USB connection actually supports before relying on it as the fallback.
Prove the fallback while you can still recover
Test the built-in controls or a known-compatible wired keyboard during an ordinary session first. Then perform a planned restart and observe whether the wireless keyboard is available at the initial unlock prompt.
If it is not, use the tested alternative. Once logged in, check whether the wireless keyboard reconnects normally. That difference is useful evidence: the device may be paired correctly even though it was unavailable earlier in startup.
Keep the fallback accessible for updates, restarts and troubleshooting. If you use a supported receiver connection, verify it at the same stage rather than assuming desktop operation proves startup operation.
Do not disable FileVault merely to avoid testing an input alternative. If access remains unreliable, use the exact Mac and keyboard support guidance. A dependable workstation includes a way to unlock it after a restart, not just a comfortable keyboard once everything is already running.