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Q: external mac keyboard not working with maverick on macbook air

I installed Mavericks 10.9 on a mid-2013 macbook air. The Apple external keyboard is no longer working from either usb port (external usb mouse does work, however, as does external firewire display). Reset PRAM and SMC to no effect.  External keyboard and external monitor (firewire) were connected at time of installing 10.9 (no idea if this interferred with the setup). Any suggestions on how to resolve appreciated.

MacBook Air, OS X Mavericks (10.9)

Posted on Oct 23, 2013 6:44 AM

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Q: external mac keyboard not working with maverick on macbook air

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  • by jagatveer,

    jagatveer jagatveer Jul 2, 2015 9:24 PM in response to nrorg
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 2, 2015 9:24 PM in response to nrorg

    Wow what a bug.. Just attach any USB extension cord to your apple keyboard and it works again.

  • by antoniopedota,

    antoniopedota antoniopedota Jul 3, 2015 6:10 AM in response to jagatveer
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Jul 3, 2015 6:10 AM in response to jagatveer

    Hi guys. This issue is really getting on my nerves now. I plugged my old black KB that came with my silver into the iMac to see if the iMac would react and it did. I then plugged the black KB into back into my old Silver and now the KB does not work....jajajaja this is a joke. It does not work with or without the extension. This KB has always worked on the Silver. This makes me think that something happened to the black KB when plugged in the iMac. The KB that came with my iMac (the new silver & white) is not working and I´m writing from a white KB that with the extension plugged into a cinema monitor rather than the iMac, works just fine. Any thoughts?

  • by antoniopedota,

    antoniopedota antoniopedota Jul 3, 2015 6:11 AM in response to jagatveer
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Jul 3, 2015 6:11 AM in response to jagatveer

    Seriously? I`m going to try it. I`ll let you know!

  • by Ross Lindsay,

    Ross Lindsay Ross Lindsay Jul 25, 2015 7:37 PM in response to nrorg
    Level 1 (35 points)
    Jul 25, 2015 7:37 PM in response to nrorg

    Wow. never thought would have been a fix but has indeed solved the issue on my Mac Pro. Had been searching for the last 4-5 weeks for a solution so now having to spend 5 minutes of unplugging and plugging in each time I start up will be a great help. Apple... update... please...

  • by CFDoc,

    CFDoc CFDoc Jul 28, 2015 1:36 PM in response to Ross Lindsay
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 28, 2015 1:36 PM in response to Ross Lindsay

    I have the late 2013 Mac Pro with dual Thunderbolt monitors. I had the USB keyboard issue as well (totally quit working). Plugged in the extension and everything started working again.

     

    Extremely annoying but luckily found this fix.

  • by mvecchia,

    mvecchia mvecchia Aug 19, 2015 5:30 PM in response to nrorg
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 19, 2015 5:30 PM in response to nrorg

    Hi folks.

    I just removed the original airport card from my MacPro 2008 and everything runs OK.

  • by Eid.,

    Eid. Eid. Aug 21, 2015 7:44 AM in response to nrorg
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 21, 2015 7:44 AM in response to nrorg

    Experiencing similar problem on Macbook Pro 13" Retina late 2013.

    Had a chat today with Apple Support and they recommended doing SMC reset (not the PRAM reset). I have a feeling this solved the issue, but really need to use it for couple days to test if this really solved it.

     

    SMC reset on my Macbook Pro with non-removabale battery:

    Macbook has to be off, mag-safe adapter plugged in.

    Press and release at once Left Shift + Control + Option + Power Keys.

    If you doing it correctly you'll see the magsafe indicator on the cord changes color.

     

    More info on SMC reset here:

    Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC) on your Mac - Apple Support

  • by mikeecottle1,

    mikeecottle1 mikeecottle1 Sep 26, 2015 10:35 AM in response to PoliticalNews
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 26, 2015 10:35 AM in response to PoliticalNews

    It's a strange solution but if you use the USB extension cable that came with the keyboard or any USB extension cable, it will work.

  • by vehovmar,

    vehovmar vehovmar Oct 21, 2015 2:28 PM in response to mikeecottle1
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 21, 2015 2:28 PM in response to mikeecottle1

    This is ridiculous BUG!!! I mean come on it's around over 2 years! Apple doesn't even bother to respond as it looks!

     

    I'm having issues with this constantly! Sometimes extension cable helps, other times it does not!!!! Restart doesn't help, nothing! And after few days it decides to start working again! Come on seriously!?!?!

     

    Late 2013 MBA, keyboard bought yearly 2015.

  • by antoniopedota,

    antoniopedota antoniopedota Oct 21, 2015 2:45 PM in response to vehovmar
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Oct 21, 2015 2:45 PM in response to vehovmar

    Hi Vehovmar. I tried everything and nothing worked. it seems that the KB somehow fails electronically. I took it to the apple store and paid 1/2 price for a new one and it`s working just fine. You guys don't waste your time. Go to apple and get a new one. Good luck.

  • by Eid.,

    Eid. Eid. Oct 23, 2015 2:14 AM in response to nrorg
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 23, 2015 2:14 AM in response to nrorg

    Ok, it might be partially irrelevant, because I'm on OS X El Capitan, but still had very similar problem with the keyboard. I contacted Apple Support (as I was writing earlier) and they didn't know the cause of the problem but suggested trying SMC reset, which worked for some time, but then the problem came back. When I called back to Apple Support they told me the keyboard has to be replaced. So what solved it was really replacing the keyboard with a new one (i was lucky to fit into 14 day window after purchase to replace the keyboard for free). It works just perfectly. No problems. I assume the problem is in the keyboard itself. Maybe. So, as antoniopedota suggests, yes, I also think the solution of the problem is to get a new keyboard.

  • by Papa2k,

    Papa2k Papa2k Oct 28, 2015 7:40 PM in response to nrorg
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 28, 2015 7:40 PM in response to nrorg

    OS X El Capitan

    Version 10.11.1

    21.5-inch iMac, late 2012

     

    Yet another confirmation of the USB extension cord trick on another of the Macs…new OS, same old problem.

     

    My wife just did the latest update for El Capitan. After the restart the wired Apple USB keyboard wasn’t reading no matter what port I plugged it into.

     

    The Bluetooth set-up window came up searching for the bluetooth keyboard that came with the iMac that we have stuffed in a drawer (why doesn’t apple make a full-sized bluetooth keyboard?).

     

    I found this post and tried the USB extension trick and the keyboard worked immediately.

  • by antoniopedota,

    antoniopedota antoniopedota Nov 2, 2015 7:24 AM in response to nrorg
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Nov 2, 2015 7:24 AM in response to nrorg

    This is so ridiculous. I just got my new keyboard from apple (40$) 2 months ago (the original one stopped working). It was working fine until today! I unplugged it to clean it. I used a cotton with a little alcohol. after I plug it back in and I WILL NOT WORK! ***! I tried the extension trick, nothing. Plugged it in my Mac Book Pro, nothing. This is so frustrating.

  • by antoniopedota,

    antoniopedota antoniopedota Nov 2, 2015 1:49 PM in response to Eid.
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Nov 2, 2015 1:49 PM in response to Eid.

    Guys DO NOT UNPLUG YOUR KB With the machine on at least! Glad I have my old KB.

  • by antoniopedota,

    antoniopedota antoniopedota Nov 3, 2015 5:32 AM in response to antoniopedota
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Nov 3, 2015 5:32 AM in response to antoniopedota

    Well today I plugged the KB back in to see what would happen and at least I can type something but most of the keys don`t work so know I know the only solution is to go to an apple store. But I assure you I won`t get a new one. Something electronic happens when unplugged and plugged back in. The truth is in ends up being a piece of trash. Good luck everyone.

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