Q: external mac keyboard not working with maverick on macbook air

Same problem here. No solution so far

I have the same problem and I am not aware of any solution so far.

same problem. logitech usb mouse works. CM storm mechanical USB keyboard doesnt. LEDs light up when I plug in but nothing happens

Same, only mine was working, fine and then just disconnected itself.  I happen to have two apple external corded keyboards so I swapped, and still nothing.  It's rejecting their own keyboard. maddening.

I recently purchased the latest Macbook Pro with Retina display. I am unable to use my external Apple keyboard with this machine, but it works on my homebuilt tower.

My external USB keyboard was fine, for a week after upgrading to Mavericks, then stopped working on one MBA 2012 port.

It still works on the other port and, after some experimentation, I've found it works on the other port if I plug it in via an extension cable or hub.

Really frustrating!

Me three.  The text entry keys work on the USB keyboard, but none of the control/ command/ function/ option keys do.  (Which is useless if you want to use ANY keyboard shortcuts.)

Does this have something to do with keyboard preferences and security stuff (about what is allowed to control the computer functions?)  In my keyboard prefs only the text keys are lit up; all the other keys are grayed out. 

Same thing here with Apple wired USB keyboard. It worked great under Snow Leopard, then Lion, then Mountain Lion but with Mavericks... I get it working from time to time but after many disconnect/connect operations. Really frustrating!

I have a new MacBook Pro with retina, 1TB SD, external 27" monitor (3 years old but works just fine).  I plug my apple wired keyboard into the usb of the monitor and the monitor into the Thunderbolt socket of the MacBook.  Most of the time I can not detect the external keyboard.  The only way around it is to disconect the keyboard, wait about 2 minutes, plug it back in again and I can use it.  It does not help if I just disconnect the whole display complete with keyboard by unplugging the Thunderbolt connector and putting it back in again.

It's not the end of the world but 'something' must fix this **** neusance!  Any ideas anyone??

Facing the same issue. I recently installed Mavericks on a mid 2013 mba. My external Apple keyboard worked for a while until it decided otherwise.

I observe the same results than Sean Mantey, when using the keyboard via a powered hub (e.i. it works).

I'm having a similar issue.  Macbook Pro, running 10.9.  If I completely shut down the system, I can plug in a wired/usb apple keyboard after boot and it is recognized.

If I unplug the keyboard, that's the end.  I try plugging the keyboard into the port on the left or right side of the laptop, it will not get recognized.

If I plug in my coworkers PC keyboard, it is recognized and it works.

Add me to the list of folks haing issues with an extermal USB keyboard on Marvericks.  In my case I have the Apple keyboard connected to a Thunderbolt Display.  I never had an issue with the keyboard not being recognized until upgrading to Mavericks.  Now, more often than not, when I connect my MBP Late 2011 to the display, I can't get the keyboard to work unless I unplug it for 20-30 seconds then reconnect it.  Sometimes I have to repeat this 2 or 3 times for it to finally start working.  USB attached harddrive works fine.  As someone said, not the end of the world but extremely frustrating.  BTW, in my case, rebooting does not cure the problem.  The only thing that seems to work is unplugging the keyboard a bit then reconnecting.