Q: Thunderbolt Display USB Keyboard Problem Workaround

I heard about that workaround, but that's just—a workaround. There has to be a firmware-fix to this, no?

Confirming that adding the usb extension cord works as a work-around.

First off, THANK YOU GL_Philly for taking the time to share your solution!  (this worked for me straight away)

Second, this looks widespread.  Any class action lawyers around here??  ;-)

Hi,

this also drove me nuts, but I used the USB extension cable and now it works.

Amazing - this also works for me. Thank you.

The extension cable solution is working for me also.

Thanks a lot!

This solved my problems I had with two MacBook Air and their Thunderbolts as well (using the Apple supplied USB extension cable)

This worked for me as well, with a caveat. Just before typing this post, I unpluged the extension cable to look a the female end. When I plugged the male end of the USB cable back into the extension cable, the keyboard was no longer recognized. I tried this a few times, then plugged it into the extension cable, unplugged the extension cable from the thunderbolt monitor and plugged it back in. This finally worked. I wonder if the "dimple" in the cable connector and in the corresponding groove in the male USB keyboard cable have something to do with this solution. Why is this fold in the USB connectors on the keyboard and extension cables? What does it do?

hello, i faced up with this problem and discovered that contacts in Apple usb cables, and that extension cable that helps, does consist contacts that are placed a little deeper in the USB-plug than in wireless USB keyboard receivers and other peripheral, in which for minimizing, contacts starts right from the end of the pad. So - when plug such a USB devices into back USBs of TBD, do it not to the end, but leave some space. So - contacts are on it places and everything works without extension cables. But its really weird to meet such a featurebugging states on apple device, which costs 1 thousand dollars, because this thing with space between contact and the end of the pad considered in macbook pro own USB ports

Amazing, but the workaround of using the extension cable solves the problem!   Thank you!  I use my MBA 11" with Thunderbolt display for work, and having to disconnect/reconnect it multiple times just to get the keyboard recognized was extremely annoying and business impacting.

The extension cable hanging off my desk does not look pretty, but at least it works!   Thank you for the workaround!

I also had the same problem, I installed the extender cable and everything is back to normal. Been fighting this for 7 months and its fixed NOW!!

Thanks for sharing this fix.  It's working for me on a MacBook Air connected to Thunderbolt Display and I appreciate you spreading the word.

Thank you GL_Philly

This workaround solved it for me too, luckily I still have a USB cable extension!!

Thanks!

I've been also struggling with this one until I found out a sequence that works.

Once your macbbok is running, close the lid, plug the power and then the thunderbolt cable.

My apple wired keyboard is then recognized.

Hope this helps.

I had this issue as well and tried the USB Keyboard Extender Cable.  This worked for a while, but now I am experiencing the same issue again.  Very frustrating.  Has anyone found another resolution?