apple usb keyboard not working when connected to thunderbolt display

... and here we are 3 months on and the same thing just happened to me - been using the cable linked keyboard for months, with no problem, after ongoing problems with the bluetooth one. This morning I removed the USB link from back of the screen, intending to swap several around, but on reconnecting no response. Eventually, after reading some of the many variations on this theme here, I replugged it into a 4 USB mini-hub. The keyboard functions normally again! Mad isn't it? Or part of the Apple Careless syndrome maybe?

have you tried other usb devices on your monitor, could be the kb or the actual usb port

I believe I read that this can be fixed by using an apple usb extension cable for some unknown reason.

I have also experienced this problem and sometime changing the port on thunderbolt display works but not always. I have noted using the extension cable for USB it works fine. Yes, this is very weird but it does work. have also noted others thread suggesting the same thing and it works.

SOLUTION FOUND...

I had these same issues. I use a MacBook Pro, connected to a Thunderbolt display and extended keyboard. When I disconnected the MacBook Pro at the end of the day and reconnected the next day, the keyboard (which is always connected to the Thunderbolt display), would no longer function.

I read all the posts about this not-so-rare problem, and none of the solutions were long-term fixes.

I called Apple to discuss teh problem, but the person I spoke to was unaware of the problem. They had me try all kinds of things, such as hardware resets and reconficgurations of various types. In the end, they were scratching their heads and advised me to take it to the Apple Store.

I brought the monitor and keyboard to the Apple Store. They too were not very familiar with the issue. I told them to check out this discussion board. They kept my monitor for a few days, but told me they didn't need the keyboard.

Three days later they called to say that they couldn't replicate the problem, at which point I questioned them on why they wouldn't test the keyboard as I suggested as well. So I brought my keyboard and laptop in to show them the problem.

Long story short, they switched out the keyboard and the problem went away. This has always been an obvious step in the process of elimination to me, but what do I know?

Four weeks later, I am happy to report that the issue has never returned. It wasn't the cable, or the monitor.
IT WAS THE KEYBOARD!

If you are having this issue, don't waste your time with all these funky workarounds. (An extension cable may work—and hopefully long term— but there's a proper solution if you don't want to add ugly cabling to your desk). Take the laptop, monitor and keyboard to the Apple Store (make an appt first!), show them the scenario, and then suggest they swap the keyboard before doing anything else. They will give you a new keyboard if it's determined that the keyboard was faulty.

The end.

Very interesting finding Robert!

I was troubleshooting this issue on my TB display, and could isoltate that the USB port failed on a cold boot in the morning.

After the system is fully booted up, I'm usually able to un-plug the keyboard and plug into another usb port on the display, then it starts working.

I could draw a few assumptions from this, but for now I'll try an extender cable to see.

I submitted a but report for this as I actually already swapped 1 display in warranty (which may have been a moot activity).

Cheers!

Hello Folks,

As I write on my MBP keyboard because the USB keyboard does not work plugged into this Apple Display, I'd like to say that you may have been lucky and it may indeed be something with that keyboard you got changed, but on my side we have several desks equipped with Apple displays and usb keyboards (and trackpads). When moving from desk to desk with various MPB or MBA you may get keyboards to work - or not. It all depends on ... ? All displays are not the same year and some are even refurbs and all keyboards are not new either but age does not seems the issue as the station that always work is the eldest and most used.

What I noticed is when it does not work it is always when coming off a sleep mode never at boot.

I would think it has some to do with the display usb controller that will not power on for the keyboard. If you plug something else that wake it up (iphone for example and unplug-replug keyboard) it works ! (just did it again for checks).

Solution ? Hardware mystery ?

The beginning

Alain,

I was able to make this issue go away by using a USB extension cable connected to the display.

The cable that came with the keyboard:

http://store.apple.com/us/product/MB110LL/B/apple-keyboard-with-numeric-keypad-e nglish-usa?fnode=56

Sounds like you've got a bit more to worry about with all your varying devices.

Apple did state that the ticket that I opened was a duplicate, so they are aware of the problem.

Good Luck!

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 🙂

I had the same problem with my USB keyboard when connected to the Thunberbolt Display. I could not understand why sometimes keyboard works, sometimes not. At first I thought it was a fault of TBD, but other devices connected to the port worked fine, so it must be a keyboard. No, it was not a keyboard. I contacted Apple and they tried to help me, but it didn't help at all. They recommended me to replace the keyboard in the Apple Store. However, this did not make sense to me, because when I plugged the keyboard to the MacBook Pro, it worked every time. In the end, I found the solution. It turned out that it is a matter of a keyboard USB cable. In this situation you must connect the USB extension, which shall be attached to the keyboard (the cable should be in the box). The problem disappeared.

Kamilo.Amilo wrote:

(the cable should be in the box). The problem disappeared.

I know this issue is marked as solved, but you made a strong point. I had this issue tried some older USB extension cables and they did not work. Then I found the cable in the keyboard box, I had to use a little force to plug it into keyboard cable, and it sat firmly not loose like with the other older cables. Now all is working perfectly.

After four months of back and forth with Apple Support on this issue (probably the worst support experience I've had in my adult life) I've come to realize that Apple is aware of this issue, and that the only solution currently is to use an USB extension cable. They are now sending me one free of charge, while they try to figure out what this issue is about. I don't know how much I trust that they actively pursue this issue, since this thread is over a year old, and they have plenty of new computers on the market that doesn't seem to exhibit the same issue.

Anyway, cable on the way. They asked me to get back in touch and tell if it worked like they think, and we will keep in touch in case a solution appears.

Not sure I want to accept this solution, I'd much prefer they replace my computer. But what can you do.

As a FYI to any one troubleshooting this issue:

I've experienced the same problem with my mid-2014 13" Retina MBP when connecting the keyboard directly to the macbook.

I've had the keyboard for abt. four years (*), and I've used it with my old early-2011 MBP without any problems. About 3 months ago I got a new mid-2014 MBP, and the keyboard worked fine until a couple of days ago. Now I experience the same problem as described above (but with the the keyboard connected directly to the MBP). The strange thing is, that both USB ports work fine on the MBP, but the keyboard only works when plugged into the right-side USB port!?

Reading the posts above, I found the old usb extension cable and, with that attached, the keyboard works in the left side USB port again. I therefor suspect the issue is related to wear and tear, and is known by Apple, hence the USB supplied extension cable.

(*) The keyboard is like this http://store.apple.com/dk/product/MB110LB/B/apple-keyboard-with-numeric-keypad?f node=56 with Danish keys. "About this Mac" states it as "version 0.74"

Even though your issue is partially similar to mine, the issue I'm experiencing is not related to wear and tear. Both my USB ports behave the same way, and the issue has been there since the day I unpacked the computer, and I've tried 3-4 different Apple Extended Keyboards, of which one was brand new.