external mac keyboard not working with maverick on macbook air

MacBook Pro Retina, 13-inch, Late 2013

Processor 2.6 GHz Intel Core i5

Software OS X 10.9.4 (13E28)

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I have this same, extremely frustrating, problem.

Yesterday, my wireless bluetooth Apple keyboard suddenly stopped working, and then when I looked into the control panels I found that this Mac is unable to connect to the keyboard- and yet it was working just fine two days ago and I haven't run any update since that time. cable to connect it.

So what is the fix?! It's a bluetooth keyboard, so I can't use a physical USB to connect it.

And yes- the batteries are good, the keyboard is powered on, and I have gone through all the requisite system prefs and control panel settings.

I wish this would be fixed, because it's killing my productivity today and this is a very expensive, new set-up I have to not be able to use a keyboard to type. **** this machine!

I found a fix for this and it did work for me. It's som simple I cn'at believe no one has posted it to this thread. Apple support, come on!

http://clkoerner.com/2012/06/11/how-to-pair-an-already-paired-apple-bluetooth-ke yboard/

Had the same problem on a MacBook Pro with 15 in Retina Display, the Apple USB keyboard suddenly went dead after Sleep mode. Tried both usb ports, restart, nothing.

Then I connected the Apple USB extension cable (which comes with the keyboard) and it magically works. I don't know why, but somehow it is working.

Infuriating problem!! I've got a MacBook Air, bought in July 14. Keyboard worked fine for maybe 6 weeks and then started to have issues if I ever disconnected it (as you do, you bought a laptop to be mobile after all!!) and sometimes just after having gone to sleep. The first time it happened, I restarted and it was fixed. Second time, nothing would work - reboots, plugging and unplugging, different usb post.

Then I found this thread, saw the tip about the extension cable and thought 'I don't have one to try'! But then somebody mentioned that one comes with the keyboard so I searched my desk drawer and there it was. Plugged it in and it WORKS!! Thanks to whoever found this gem but, more to the point, Apple should be responding to let us know what the real issue is and how to fix it. Do we all have dodgy keyboards?

Can also confirm that the trick with Apple USB extension cable works to get the wired keyboard connected again. Have a brand new MacBook Pro with Mavericks. Really annoying. If I try a Win/HP keyboard it works, but my Apple keyboard just wont be found. I wonder if there is bad connections on the USB connector from the Apple keyboard. Happened to me twice now, and I am glad to have found a working solution (workaround). Lets hope that Apple looks into this connection problems with their external wired keyboards.

In case anyone needs help as i've just solved this thanks to the advice here...

Was experiencing this intermittently on Mavericks. Upgraded to Yosemite today and neither USB port on my 15" MBP retina worked.

Tried PRAM and SMC reset - nothing.

Tried the keyboard in a PC - worked fine, so not a hardware issue. Plugged the keyboard back into my MBP - still nothing. Reset, shut down, restart - multiple times, all nothing.

As soon as i used the extension cable that came with my wired mac keyboard - lo and behold, it's absolutely fine!!

Not idea why the **** the extension cable that came with the keyboard should make it work, but it does. For all those experiencing this, try it with the extension cable.

Apple - please address this issue!

Hi

Solve the problem – Your power cord must be connected to a socket with Earth (Protection Earth typical marked PE).

I read a lead where a guy said that static electricity build-up (in you) can trigger the macbook's internal USB controller, because it can sense the transient voltage spike as an over-current condition and will therefore shut down (suspended) the offending devices on the associated port.

I have had this problem for a long time without solving it, besides unplugging a million times. But reading the thing about static electricity... rang a bell for me "EARTH Connection" I was only connected with 2 pin connector (Phase and Zero) I was running without protection Earth. I replaced my power cord with a 3-pin cable (Phase, Zero and PE) and connected that to a 3-pin socket. It worked right away. Why because PE eliminates static electricity besides being a protection against hazard electrical chock.

Folks,

Just to pile on. New maxed out Air. Came w/ Mav. and uped to Yosemite. Wired keyboard will not work consistently with USB3 powered hub over the long haul. It will work fine going through an old "dumb" splitter I got as swag at a conf. years back. I think I have tried all the tricks here. Plugging it into another mac, extension cable, PRAM and SMC reset, etc. but it will only work consistently when connected directly to the laptop and not through the powered USB3. Been on the phone and the genius bar twice. Last time they swapped out the keyboard for a new one. Problem returned.

It has worked for a day or two on the powered hub then dies. I have been through multiple hubs including the house brand from BestBuy and currently a well reviewed Anker powered 7 port. Everything else works on the hub. Passport drive, usb for Android phone, Ipod., USB powered small speaker, etc.

One interesting side note. When it does work, System Information shows the keyboard on the Hi speed Bus NOT coming through the HUB hub where it is plugged in.

Wish this was all reproducable but it is completely random.

More of the same. I figure it can only help get Apple's attention if this thread gets longer.

mid-2010 21.5" iMac, Yosemite 10.10.1. Using a 11 month-old Apple USB extended keyboard.

About 2 weeks ago, after restart, the Apple USB extended keyboard couldn't be recognized. Didn't work in any USB port on my iMac, but did work in my wife's MBP. Other USB peripherals recognized fine in my iMac. Tried PRAM and SMC resets. Eventually, I got it to recognize in my iMac, but I think it was just random after a few resets. Continued to work fine as long as I didn't restart my Mac. Today, after an unavoidable restart, no luck regardless of the resets. Came here and found this thread. I'd buy a drink for the person who figured out the USB extension cord trick!

1 year warrantee on Apple keyboards, so I'my going to see what they'll do for me.

My wife is another 'where did the cabled keyboard go to' victim. As others have said, quite random...can be working away, no problem, then, no keyboard. When the problem arises, changing usb port can sometimes cure it. Also allowing 20mins sleep, then try again and it may work. Very dodgy. Early 2014 macbook air 13". I also briefly had the same problem with my Mac book pro 13" retina early 2014, but that has not recurred. All running Mavericks.

To follow up with a little more info. After a couple of sleep cycles, all devices on the powered USB3 hub(Anker 7 port) fail to be recognized including the wired external keyboard. The several sleep cycles appear to be random, greater than one and less than 5.

The fix is to disconnect the USB hub from the Air unplug the power from the hub, count to some large number and plug everything back in. All is up and fine however the drives connected to the hub yell at me to say they were not ejected properly and their feelings were hurt.

I had the same issue. Extension cable worked fine, but i hated the mess. After putting a USB device (iPhone 6) in the USB port on the keyboard, the keyboard started working again. Still works after removing USB device.

(MacBook Air (13-inch, Mid 2013), Yosemite 10.10.1)

I just wrote my first post here with same wireless mouse and keyboard disconnecting...

Has been dropping on and off this evening, I disconnected my 27" display and both mouse keyboard connected like right now, going to keep the 27" display disconnected and contact Apple support on Friday.

Joe

I have the same issue. It started out as a one-time occurence. Just switched to another port and the keyboard worked again. Over the course of 2 months it happened more often. Since today it does not work at all anymore. Rebooting, switching ports nothing works except adding the extension cable. After that the keyboard works without any problems.

Updare: Since my keyboard was still under warrantee, I took it to an authorized repair center. They replaced it with a new one without testing the old. I have been using the new keyboard without an extension for a few weeks with no problems.