Which cables do I need for my split keyboard?
Your split keyboard needs at least one kind of cable, and it may need more. On this page, you'll learn which cable your keyboard needs. For keyboards sold at splitkb.com, it's pretty straightforward.
For keyboards sold at splitkb.com
If your keyboard is wired and is part of the new Halcyon Series, including the Kyria rev4, you'll need one USB C to C cable to connect both halves together, and one USB C cable to connect your keyboard to your computer.
If your keyboard is wired and is part of the Aurora Series, including the Kyria rev3, you'll need one TRS or TRRS cable to connect both halves together, and one USB C cable to connect your keyboard to your computer. If you're using controllers with a different USB port, though, you may need a different USB cable, though controllers without a USB C port are becoming rather rare these days.
If your keyboard is wireless, such as when using a nice!nano controller, you'll only need one USB C cable to charge the keyboard. You can only charge one half at a time with one cable, so you may want two cables if you want to charge both at the same time. When charging it, turn the keyboard on by flipping the power switch, otherwise it won't charge.
Older keyboards that used to be sold at splitkb.com may require different cables. Usually, they require one TRRS cable to connect both halves together, and depending on the controllers you've used, you'll need either one Micro USB or one USB C cable to connect the keyboard to your computer.
Other keyboards
For keyboards not sold at splitkb.com, you'll want to refer to its product page or manual if the vendor has it. Usually, you can identify the port to connect. If you don't know what a port looks like, you can refer to an article such as How to tell what type of USB port you have. This page was made by Make Use Of, but many such guides exist on the internet.
To connect both halves together, split keyboards can use many different cables. The most commonly used are TRS and TRRS cables, but recently more keyboards are starting to use USB C.
We've also seen keyboards use RJ45 cables (commonly used for wired telephones) or CAT cables (used for wired networks), and fully DIY builds can of course use any cable you think of - but then you'll also know which cable to use, already.
TRS versus TRRS
If your keyboard can use a TRS cable, it can usually use a TRRS cable too. That's the case for all Aurora Series keyboards, at least.
When your keyboard is only compatible with a TRRS cable, do not use a TRS cable!
The connectors on a TRS and TRRS cable both have the same length and diameter, but where a TRS connector provides three connections (the tip, a ring and the sleeve), a TRRS connector provides four (the tip, two rings and the sleeve).
The tip on a TRS connector is longer than the other two connectors. When used in a keyboard that requires a TRRS cable, that longer tip spans across two contacts, causing an electrical short that may damage your keyboard.
What about unplugging?
If we're here anyway, you may wonder: can I unplug my keyboard at any time?
The answer: yes, unless you're using a TRS or TRRS cable. If you're using either of those, then be sure to unplug the main side of the keyboard first.
For Halcyon keyboards which use USB C, you can unplug and plug in the peripheral half even when the main half is turned on, and the newly connected half will start working without you having to reboot the keyboard. Nice!