USB Keyboard Plugged into Monitor Often Doesn't Work

Same problem. Sometimes unplugging and replugging the keyboard into the monitor USB works, most of the time it does not. Much less frequently, the Display Ethernet isn't working. It seems ( I need to confirm 100% ) from memory that it doesn't matter whether the machine is waking from sleep or initially powering up.

Unplugging and plugging the monitor fixes everything every time.

This reminds me of the last time Apple released a device without even a "soft" powerswitch... that was a headache too.

Note to apple: if you're going to release a device without a power switch you need to put more engineering and testing into the firmware ...

Any resolution to this? I'm continuing to have the exact same problem as described above.

I would like to confirm that not only is this issue still happening, I can also confirm that often the ethernet does not work as well, but it is very intermitent, maybe only 5% of the time whereas the keyboard issue is 100% of the time. Apple, do you read these forums??? Do you not have a macbook, a thunderbolt, and a usb keyboard? If you do, this issue would be driving your NUTS every time you go home and back to work!!!

I have a 27" Apple Cinema Display (DisplayPort, pre-Thunderbolt), and I've been having the same issue since upgrading to Lion. Now on Mountain Lion, and I'm still having the same issue. C'mon Apple!

Don't miss this update, which might help:

http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1612?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US

My issue has settled down and it's rare that my keyboard stops working. So one of the updates along the way must have fixed it.

The update was incompatible with my system. Although, I did find a recent update for my LED Cinema Display:

http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1613

USB ports on the back of my display work fine, but keyboard still isn't recognized 😟

I can offer a pragmatic approach to making it work, though it's not really a "fix."

I summary, if I walk into my office and plug in my Thunderbolt monitor without opening my MacBook Air, odds are none of the attached USB devices or Ethernet will work.

"Solution":

1. Open the laptop and wait for the screen to come up.
2. Plug in the Thunderbolt
3. Wait until the Thunderbolt screen begins to come up (blue at first), and close the laptop.

In my hands, all the devices connected to the Thunderbolt monitor now work every time.

It's a pain in the arse, but until Apple fixes the problem for real, it's a practical work-around.

I have a late 2001 MBP and an Apple extended USB keyboard plugged into a Thunderbolt display. Up until today I've been able to get the keyboard to work by unplugging and replugging or by restarting or by doing any of the variations listed so far in this thread. Today, however, nothing short of plugging the keyboard directly into the MPB works. Tried the update - my system didn't need it. It's getting really frustrating.

Same problem here.

One additional work around that works some of the time...

Unplug the wired keyboard from the back of the TB display and plug it directly into my MBA and the keyboard works. After typing a bit then I can plug it back into the TB and it works again but not every time...

This is getting tiresome! Please help Apple.

Same issue here, but none of the work arounds fix it. Big sad face...

Just an update: I have NOT had the problem since upgrading to Mountain Lion. Same hardware.

I'm on Mountain Lion but still have an issue.

Yes -- I've seen this problem just as described -- sometimes works, sometimes doesn't. I don't see this problem at all at home on my Thunderbolt Display with Apple keyboard with numeric keypad. Got 14 Thunderbolt displays and numeric keyboards at work and I've been seeing this problem with interesting results.

To try and figure out what was going on, we tried various combinations without any reboots. We'd get different results using combinations of different Thunderbolt Displays with different Apple keyboard with numeric keypads hooked up to various laptops. (Thunderbolt Displays are new and already have firmware update).

Scenario: Laptop 1 plugs into Thunderbolt and keyboard (Dock 1) - works everytime no problem. Next day plugs into a different setup (Dock 2) and keyboard doesn't work unless plugged into laptop directly. Dock 2 has been problematic for a couple people. Laptop 1 plugs into Dock 3 and shows no problems. Keyboard from Dock 1 is plugged into Dock 3 and has no problems with either laptop. Keyboard from Dock 3 is plugged into Dock 1 and shows no problems. Keyboard from Dock 1 is put back into Dock 1 and shows the problem again. We put keyboard 1 away and grab a new keyboard and plugged it into Dock 1 -- no problems.

So, various combinations seemed to have different results with a keyboard not working with one display, but working fine with another display. I'm not sure if the problem is isolated to the Thunderbolt Display, the keyboard or if various combinations of display, keyboard and laptop can cause the problem. I've seen plugging and unplugging the keyboard work on one setup while not working on another. Totally confused and sad that Apple hasn't sorted this out. Afraid they'll ignore and build a new thin replacement thunderbolt display and never address the issue for the older ones.

It's A USB problem, no the keyboard. And It's Anoing !

Apple Fix it Soon !

Macbook Pro 17" Early 2011, and TD 27"

Same problem here,

USB keyboard, Macbook Pro 13" Mid 2012, and TD 27"