Wired AmazonBasics keyboards randomly disconnecting from Macs

We bought a bunch of 42-inch monitors at work, and plugged wired USB "Amazon Basics" keyboards into the monitors, which have a thunderbolt cable that will plug into a MacBook Pro in order to provide 90W of power, 4K video to the monitor, and USB hub access to the mouse and keyboard plugged into the monitor. Very cool.

What is uncool is that the keyboard stops responding a couple times per day until you unplug it from the monitor and plug it back in. This has happened to many Mac users on several different monitors and their accompanying keyboard. So it isn't an individual hardware problem.

What is going on?

Posted on Aug 20, 2024 10:23 AM

Similar questions

3 replies

Aug 20, 2024 10:32 AM in response to ranboii

Do you have the same issue if you connect the keyboards directly to the MBPs?

ranboii Author

Level 1

9 points

Aug 20, 2024 12:27 PM in response to IdrisSeabright

I will have to experiment with various configurations (different brand of keyboard; or plugging into MBP via dongle instead of via monitor's built-in USB hub). As far as I can tell, nobody with a PC has had the problem, but many employees with Macs have had the problem at many different desks with the same brand of monitor and keyboard. (The USB mouse keeps working even when the keyboard disconnects).

Aug 20, 2024 1:04 PM in response to ranboii

I don't know if it's true that Macs are fussier about hubs and dongles and such than PCs or if it just seems that way because, well I really only read about Macs here! But they do often seem to be the weak point.

I know that every time my work PC does an overnight update, it takes me forever to get the second monitor working again. It's plugged into a dock along with the laptop and another monitor.

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

Wired AmazonBasics keyboards randomly disconnecting from Macs