No keyboard input available at login on Tahoe

pmjd7 wrote:

This is not a hardware/pairing issue.

The Apple keyboard works when the Mac is in safe mode.

• The Apple keyboard works when there is a fresh install with no data restored.

• No keyboard, Apple or Logitech, is recognised after data is restored. Even a wired USB keyboard is not recognised.

This clearly shows you have some third party software installed which is causing problems. @Barney-15E is correct to first suspect the Logitech software since there have been a lot of issues with the Logitech software over the past year or two usually following macOS update patches.

Make sure you check for updates to your Logitech software and make sure it is fully compatible with the current version of macOS you are running (including the minor point version). If you are running the most recent version of the Logitech software, then you should uninstall the Logitech software by following Logitech's instructions. This will allow you to confirm whether the Logitech software is the source of the problem. If it is the problem, then you will need to contact Logitech for support since they will need to provide an update to their software.

Edit: If updating and uninstalling the Logitech software does not solve the problem, then run the third party app EtreCheck and post the complete report here so we can examine it for possible clues.

How to use the Add Text Feature When Posting an EtreCheck Report - Apple Community

Start in Safe Mode.

Make sure that you still have the Time Machine backup available.

From System Settings->General->Transfer or Reset choose Erase All Content and Settings.

After this your mac will start as if for the first time. Elect to migrate “from another mac, disk or Time Machine backup”

BUT CRUCIALLY

choose ONLY the user accounts, not any applications, settings or other files.

pmjd7 wrote:

Unfortunately as there is no keyboard input I cannot• login to remove any apps, Logitech or otherwise.

Yes you can -- you can log in via Safe Mode and uninstall the Logitech software, drivers etc. Barney suggested that.

Clean reinstall, followed by user files only. Reinstall all apps after.

I'd prefer not to have to do a clean install, due to the having various apps accumulated over the years.

So this thread has been continuing for more than 18 hours. I have done complete erase/format followed by migration of user accounts and files only. Followed by installation of apps one or two at a time. It took me less than 4 hours total, and that was on a much slower Intel Mac laptop. It WILL solve your problem, UNLESS you have a hardware problem. So I vote with Luis and Owl-53 for the complete wipe/erase, reinstall of MacOS clean, followed by migration of user accounts and files ONLY. Then install apps just one or two at a time, test after each app install, I suggest leave Logitech until last and make sure you have a driver that Logitech indicates works with the latest version of Tahoe.

Since no one else seems to have a solution to this, I will make a suggestion. You stated earlier "I can mount that volume another way and remove any problematic files or files that might force macOS to reset the keyboard inputs to their default state."

If you are able to access the startup drive, I suggest going to your user folder/Library/Preferences. Scroll down until you find "com.apple.Keyboard-Settings.extension.plist", "com.apple.keyboard.plist", "com.apple.keyboardservicesd.plist", and "com.apple.KeyboardViewer.plist". Remove those files from the Preferences folder, but save them to a safe location just in case. Then try starting up the Mac as usual. In theory, MacOS will replace them with new, uncorrupted versions.

When you reinstalled everything, did you also reinstall the Logitech driver? The fact that the Apple Wireless keyboard works in Safe Mode indicates you have a system modification installed. That logically would be the Logitech driver.

Though it seems odd that all keyboard input is affected, not just the Logitech keyboard. That's why I'm wondering if it is something more systemic like a central file for keyboard input.

You stated the keyboard worked in Safe Mode. That immediately removes any doubt that it is a third-party software and not something systemic.

If you can startup in Safe Mode, download their uninstaller and remove the software from Sade Mode

pmjd7 wrote:

Just to clarify, I can hold the power button, force the Mac into the initial Safe Boot menu. I can select the volume, run disk check etc. and use the Apple keyboard. However, after going the next step and actually booting the Volume into Safe Mode and getting to the login screen no Apple keyboard input is accepted. That’s why I think it’s a system level issue, rather than a Logitech issue and why I cannot remove any thing from the system.

That’s not Safe Mode. That’s the Options startup (essentially Recovery for Apple Silicon). Hence the confusion.

You never actually started into Safe Mode at all, so the conclusions we made are no longer valid.

The only way you will be able to isolate the problem to hardware is to erase the drive and reinstall as you intended to do.

As evidenced by your statement " No keyboard, Apple or Logitech, is recognised after data is restored. Even a wired USB keyboard is not recognised "

This would directly point to some softwares that Were Installed during the time that the Backup was done

When Restored from that backup

It reintroduced the softwares issues back into the otherwise Pristine and Virginal Clean Installation

pmjd7 wrote:

Yes that's the conclusion I came to.

Do you know of any way to remove any keyboard related files to reset the system?

Yes though is may require a Wipe and Installation

Caveat - Reinstall ALL applications from Scratch ie from the Developer or from the Apple Apps Store

pmjd7 wrote:

Just to clarify, I can hold the power button, force the Mac into the initial Safe Boot menu. I can select the volume, run disk check etc. and use the Apple keyboard. However, after going the next step and actually booting the Volume into Safe Mode and getting to the login screen no Apple keyboard input is accepted. That’s why I think it’s a system level issue, rather than a Logitech issue and why I cannot remove any thing from the system.

As the others have mentioned, this is not Safe Mode. Here is an Apple article with instructions for booting into Safe Mode:

Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support

Short answer

Apple Bluetooth Keyboards or Mice can be Pair to 1 Device at a time - Full Stop

To use the above mentioned devices on another computer ?

You have to UnPair ( Forget this device ) in the bluetooth setting

Then and only then Setup the same mentioned device con the Second Computer as a New Device

For reliable Pairing use the suppled Apple Cables and connect the KB and Mouse to the new computer.

To forget a Bluetooth device on an Apple computer, open System Settings, select Bluetooth, click the 'i' info icon or right-click the device, and choose "Forget This Device". This removes the saved pairing, requiring you to re-pair the device if you wish to connect it again.