imac 2012, usb keyboard not recognized

This simple fix of an extension usb did the trick! Having a mid-2011 iMac, this problem started appearing about 3 years ago. Early on rebooting the SMC would fix, but hello Apple Bot, trying to do your next step of four successive keystrokes to fix a problem when the KEYBOARD DOESN'T WORK tells me your logic is seriously flawed.

I used to have to turn off the iMac and wait overnight; that invariably fixed it. Sometimes just turning it off for several hours fixed it.

But now with upgrading to OS High Sierra, even that doesn't work. Many thanks for the forum and the usb cable extension trick. Mac was on when I added it, and voila, all was well. So simple.

So, if you're listening, Mac Support, please address this issue. It is not new, affects a lot of people, and is persistent. It would be nice to see the fix announced, or at least addressed in the official Apple support area with the cable workaround until it is fixed.

Hi Armand,

I hear USB is prone to interference, as a test try turning off Bluetooth, bit it sounds like a flaky connector on the KB's USB cord.

Hi. I have discovered the same thing. I work at a school where we have 50 iMacs, and have found that the latest of these that we have bought, have started doing this. At first I thought it was just students wrecking the keyboard cable, but because it was happening so often, started to suspect the USB plug connectors. Sometimes it was possible to go and plug the unrecognised keyboard into the machine next store and it would work!!!

I decided to try cleaning the USB plug contacts as best I could, but this didn't really solve the problem. Then I thought I would try using the Apple USB extension cable that came with the wired keyboards, as I knew they had a very 'firm' connection and made excellent contact.

Bingo, two newish keyboards that I was ready to bin, suddenly were working again!

This confirms to me that a lot the issues that people are having are 'driver' or power related, but are simply that the USB plugs are not making contact with the USB port on the back of the iMacs.

I believe Apple has a problem here, as it only seems to be the keyboards from our newest machines that are having connection problems. Either the pins inside the plug are wearing very quickly, or are recessing into the back of the plug somehow so they are not quite contacting firmly, if at all.

Hope this helps

SurfDive45

Sorry, I meant to say in my comment, that problems people are having are possibly 'Not' driver or power related.

The reason for my thinkng being that if my problem was power related, then adding a USB extension cable would only make the matter worse due to losses and increased voltage drop caused by the extra resistance of the extension cable.

Hope this also helps lots of others!!

SurfDive45

SurfDive45 -

I agree with your assessment. I, too, was only able to get the full-sized keyboard to work with the extention cable. I wonder if Apple just made a poor attempt at a full keyboard or they just didn't test them on the newer machines. I have a 2012 iMac but the keyboard was made a while before this was released.

Thanks.

I know this is an old post, but I am having the same exact problem. I have two iMac's. The late 2012 iMac's keyboard works intermittantly on the 2012 iMac it came with. BUT, when I plug it in to my early 2009 iMac, it works fine ALL the time.

The 2009 keyboard also works fine all the time on the 2012 iMac. I don't get it. I plug both directy into the USB ports in the back of the iMac.

If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know.

Thanks!

Don't throw the keyboard out! I believe the problem is with the USB connector. On some machines, the plug and socket fit snuggly, but on others, a proper connection is not made. I verified this on our iMacs by connecting an Apple USB ext cable between the Keyboard and the iMacs. I did this knowing that the Apple USB ext cable has very, very firm connections. This saved me throwing out 4 keyboards!

I can't be sure, but I think that these USB ext cables came with the keyboards? If you have got one, or can get one, I would give it a go.

All the best

SurfDive45

Hi. I have the identical problem. 2012 iMac, Apple USB keyboard. Keyboard works without problems in my 2013 MacBook Pro. Won't work in the iMac. Putting a short USB extension on the keyboard fixes the problem.

Thanks for the info! I was wondering if it might be a USB issue and whether or not I should take it for repair.

I can confirm this on an iMac 27" Late 2013. The USB-keyboard only works with the USB extension. Directly plugging in the keyboard USB will result in keyboard not being found. Same thing happened in a Mid-2011 iMac. Incredible but apparently true.

Didn't work for me. New 27 inch iMac, bought last week. Corded Apple keyboard with extension cable or without and it says not recognized.

Well it worked for me. I have had this problem on and off since December 2012, when I bought my 27in iMac.

I cheap USB extension cable and the problem disappears. I had always been able to plug in an HP Windows USB keyboard and get going again so obviously its plug is a snugger fit than the more expensive Apple keyboard.

Thanks SurfDive45.