GL_Philly
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: Thunderbolt Display USB Keyboard Problem Workaround

Hi everyone,

I've seen hundreds of messages related to the fact that the thunderbolt displays will occassionally not recognize a wired apple keyboard connected to the display when connecting to a laptop. I might have a workaround for those affected.

 

My 2103 15" MacBook Pro would never see the keyboard once I unplugged the unifed thunderbolt cable and plugged it back in. I've done everything from doing the switching USB ports dance, turning display off (pulling out power cable), connecting and reconnecting in various different steps, and even tried a new thunderbolt cable to bypass the built in one. Nothing ever worked, or a least, worked consistently. USB drives, iphone cables etc all work just fine, so I know the USB jacks are functioning.

 

I discovered that if you use the USB keyboard extender cable that Apple provides with some macs, and plug your keyboard into the the display through that cable, it will see the keyboard instantly. Everytime. We've tried it on a few computers at work and it solved the problem on those as well. I should note that the keyboards we are using are the latest apple ones with the launchpad key on F4.

 

If you are having problems, give it a shot. It just might solve the issue, until Apple gets it act together and acknowledges there is a problem.

 

Happy typing.

Posted on Jul 19, 2013 7:46 AM

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GL_Philly

Q: Thunderbolt Display USB Keyboard Problem Workaround

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  • by bobaeng,

    bobaeng bobaeng Jul 19, 2013 2:47 PM in response to GL_Philly
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 19, 2013 2:47 PM in response to GL_Philly

    So, where does one get one of these cables?  I just called apple and they don't have them (or they won't sell them).  They tried to sell me a bluetooth keyboard instead.

  • by GL_Philly,

    GL_Philly GL_Philly Jul 19, 2013 3:18 PM in response to bobaeng
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 19, 2013 3:18 PM in response to bobaeng

    Of course they did. Why spend $4 when you can buy a new keyboard for $50?

     

    They used to come with every PowerMac and MacPro's because they were towers, but I guess the never sold them separately. Maybe if you visit an apple store and talk to a genius you could get one. Alternatively, I would think that any USB 2.0 extender cable from Best Buy, Staples, etc might work, but I haven't tested them. I have an extension cable from Monoprice that was very cheap that I can test out next week and post the results.

  • by bobaeng,

    bobaeng bobaeng Jul 20, 2013 4:35 PM in response to GL_Philly
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 20, 2013 4:35 PM in response to GL_Philly

    I did try an extension cable I had laying around, and it didn't work.  Dunno, maybe it was a USB 1.0 cable.  So, I looked around online and ordered one made by apple.  I'll let you know if it works.

  • by kbeckman49,

    kbeckman49 kbeckman49 Oct 3, 2013 8:07 PM in response to GL_Philly
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 3, 2013 8:07 PM in response to GL_Philly

    No way...! I'd been struggling with this for a week or so and rebooted my 2012 MacBook Pro way too many times to get this working only to have it not work again when unplugging from the Thunderbolt. Adding that extension cable fixed it for me. Thanks for your post!

  • by GL_Philly,

    GL_Philly GL_Philly Oct 4, 2013 7:29 AM in response to kbeckman49
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 4, 2013 7:29 AM in response to kbeckman49

    Glad it worked for you. Occasionally the keyboard will still not be recognized, but I've found that if I plug in the power first, then the thunderbolt cable, it will recognize it again every time. Of course, your results may vary.

  • by cannell,

    cannell cannell Oct 7, 2013 2:32 AM in response to GL_Philly
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 7, 2013 2:32 AM in response to GL_Philly

    Awesome; worked first time. thank you very much for the post.

     

    I had the extender cable as part of the shipped Thunderbolt display pack.

  • by tbirdvet,

    tbirdvet tbirdvet Oct 7, 2013 4:52 PM in response to cannell
    Level 4 (3,003 points)
    Oct 7, 2013 4:52 PM in response to cannell

    Does nayone know from a technical point of view why this extension cable fixes the issue?

  • by pocket8077,

    pocket8077 pocket8077 Dec 3, 2013 5:47 AM in response to tbirdvet
    Level 1 (55 points)
    Dec 3, 2013 5:47 AM in response to tbirdvet

    Perhaps a poor connection caused by the keyboard's usb connector where the triangle shaped indentation is present to allow only the keyboard cable to use the usb extender (that happens to come with the keyboard by the way). I cannot think of any other reason.

     

    All I can do is confirm that I tried the extender myself and its working.

  • by Rene Xavier,

    Rene Xavier Rene Xavier Dec 10, 2013 6:24 AM in response to pocket8077
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 10, 2013 6:24 AM in response to pocket8077

    Just got my Thunderbolt Display along with a brand new 15 MacBook Pro Retina and can attest to this issue. Currently have my wired keyboard plugged in directly to my MBPR, the Display didn't recognize it, can't find my extender cable

  • by GordonW1985,

    GordonW1985 GordonW1985 Dec 18, 2013 12:51 AM in response to GL_Philly
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 18, 2013 12:51 AM in response to GL_Philly

    Hi,

     

    ive got the same issue and now...

     

    the Keyboard was conntected via USB on onboard USB (rMBP 2013/10 / OSX Mavericks latest) and runs at first time. After connecting the Keyboard to Thunderbold HUB the Keyboard does not run anymore direct on onboard USB. Only via Thunderbolt it runs so far. After this i switched another (new) Keyboard from a identic system and the same thing happen. Plug into internal USB of rMBP it runs on all Ports, than Plug into Thunderbolt HUB and after this the Keyboard runs no more on internal Ports. This happens on the other identic systems....

     

    Apple Support has no answer to this. Local Premium Reseller have no idea too...

     

    The Hardware USB-Ports and Keyborads are fine and any other device works on the Thunderbolt USB and internal USB Ports of my rMBP Systems

     

    - SMC and VRAM / PRAM are alredy reset

    - delte the com.apple.keyboard...plist

    - start the keyboard asisstent etc.

    - connecting other USB-Devices to test the internal USB

     

    I think this is a Software BUG when switching the external Keyboard to a Thunderbolt diplay. Is permanent connected to Thunderbold USB-HUB

     

    Is there any one having same problems or a sulution?

  • by johan.vn,

    johan.vn johan.vn Jan 23, 2014 11:06 PM in response to GL_Philly
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 23, 2014 11:06 PM in response to GL_Philly

    Hi,

     

    Thanks for this info, amazing that something stupid like an extender cable can fix this issue.  Interesting how other users also "by accident" found the same cure for this or similar problems MichaloM.  All I can add is that before I used the USB extender cable (original Apple) my ritual was to firstly connect the magsafe to the rMBP, then the TB cable and only then flip open the display.  This worked 99% of the time... this morning though nothing would solve the problem except the USB extender.  Also I might add that I had (two instead of only one as per usual) other devices plugged into both of the Apple keyboard USB slots, both wireless receivers.

     

    One of the reasons for moving over to Apple, apart from feeling the urge to spend quite a lot more money on hardware, was to keep with one brand and be assured that all their products were compatible and would work first time every time.  Shame on me for assuming this...

     

    I'm sure that there are many more such issues, its a blatant shame that Apple won't acknowledge the problem and try to get a fix for this... especially when there are so many users experiencing this problem.

  • by SandersL,

    SandersL SandersL Jan 31, 2014 2:23 AM in response to GL_Philly
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 31, 2014 2:23 AM in response to GL_Philly

    My working solution:

    - FIRST connect the Macbook with the power cable

    - after that, connect the Thunderbolt cable.

     

    Solved! (in my case at least)

  • by Maschinsky,

    Maschinsky Maschinsky Mar 8, 2014 6:09 AM in response to GL_Philly
    Level 1 (13 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 8, 2014 6:09 AM in response to GL_Philly

    I have encountered the problem described a few days ago, maybe it came with the 10.9.2 OSX update, but I am not sure. I have used another Apple wired keyboard on my setup (2013 MBP Retina + Thunderbolt Display) for about 2 months and had no problem at all. Then I gave the keyboard away to my dad, because he trashed his and got a new keyboard. It worked for 2 o three weeks until suddenly it started the bahaviour described hier: It's not recognized by the MBP after a cold-start. I usually run my MBP in clamshell-mode, so I lift the display to reach the power-button and close it right away. I have to experiment with different rituals. I can make the keyboard respond again, by plugging it in another USB port on the display, but I can reproduce the problem with any of the display's ports, so that's not it.

  • by GordonW1985,

    GordonW1985 GordonW1985 Mar 8, 2014 8:40 AM in response to GL_Philly
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 8, 2014 8:40 AM in response to GL_Philly

    Hi there,

     

    on two systems MBPr with Thunderbolt-Display i use the USB extension-cable thats shipped in the keyboardbox. All things fine and working now!

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