Are USB 3.1 (2nd gen) ports which the MacBook Pro (2019) uses compatible with the external wired Apple keyboard?

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Are USB 3.1 (2nd gen) ports which the MacBook Pro (2019) uses compatible with the external wired Apple keyboard?

I'm currently using the MacBook Pro 2019 and would like to use it with my external (wired) Apple keyboard (A1243) via Apple's USB-C to USB adapter.

But unfortunately, that MacBook regularly doesn't recognize that keyboard (it doesn't show up in System Information). Using a different adapter or resetting the SMC or NVRAM doesn't solve it either.

Since that keyboard (it uses USB 2.0) works perfectly fine on my old MacBook Pro (2011) which has USB 2.0 ports, I'm thinking that this could be the reason why these problems occur on my new MacBook which uses USB 3.1 (2nd generation) ports. Moreover, I've heard that USB 3.1 isn't backward-compatible. But isn't it irrelevant when I use an adapter?

So, is it known if the ports of the MacBook Pro 2019 aren't compatible with USB 2.0 cables connected via an adapter? Or is it the adapters that are causing these issues?

MacBook Pro 13", macOS 10.13

Posted on Oct 24, 2019 10:29 AM

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Answer 1

Oct 24, 2019 1:32 PM in response to Eti2d

That adapter should work exceptionally well. If it supports a mouse, but not your keyboard, then maybe there is a problem with the keyboard. There is no known incompatibility. It should work fine.

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Answer 2

Eti2d Author

Level 1

9 points

Oct 24, 2019 11:38 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Thanks for the quick answer. But as I've mentioned in my question, I've already reset the SMC and also NVRAM. Furthermore, I've used the safe mode and another account to see if that problem still occurs. But unfortunately, it did occur.

What's even more strange is that my mouse which also uses USB 2.0 works perfectly fine. Do you think that problem still has something to do with the compatibility btw. the different versions of USB's?

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Answer 3

Oct 24, 2019 11:08 AM in response to Eti2d

That adapter should work fine.

When hardware disappears, try an SMC reset:

How to reset the System Management Controller (SMC) on your Mac - Apple Support

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Are USB 3.1 (2nd gen) ports which the MacBook Pro (2019) uses compatible with the external wired Apple keyboard?

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