MacOS – Intermittent detection of USB 2.0 keyboard thru Anker hub on macOS Catalina

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I am encountering a very frustrating issue since purchasing a MBP 2018.

I have a USB 2.0 Apple Keyboard.

As new MacBook models only have USB-C ports, I had to purchase a USB hub (Anker 7-in-1).

However it is it and miss whether or not my keyboard is detected. I haven't yet been able to isolate a fix-sequence (e.g. connect keyboard to hub, connect power to hub, connect hub to MacBook).

Hub, but no keyboard plugged in:

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Keyboard plugged in but not sending keystrokes:

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After reboot, keyboard is detected and sends keystrokes:

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I notice strange USB device enumeration also — Those screenshots display 3x USB 3.1 bus, but MBP has 4 USB-C ports. And Anker appears underneath two of these, but There is only one Anker hub.

Is there some known issue with USB on these new machines?

Best Answer

I have the same issue. My USBC hub is Deltaco USBC 1266.

You probably don't need to reboot, just move the keyboard from one slot to another or move the whole dongle from one port to another. This usually resolves it for me.

I had this problem when the computer was new in 2016. Whatever the OS was then. And I got it again after upgrading to Catalina.