Original post here: M4 mac mini port problems

Decided that I'd really like the Apple Extended Keyboard (A1243), USB-A & Logitech M100 mouse, USB-A plugged into one of the back ports, so I ordered this set of Anker USB-A to USB-C adapters directly from Anker on ebay. Received them today.

For starters, I've tried my WD MyPassport Ultra HD, USB-C in all three of the Thunderbolt ports on the back and all are functional.

With the mouse plugged into the USB port on the keyboard and the keyboard plugged into either the Amazon Basics USB-A to USB-C adapter cable or the Anker USB-A to USB-C adapter plugged into a Thunderbolt port on the back doesn't work.

The keyboard alone plugged into either adapter plugged into a Thunderbolt port on the back doesn't work.

The mouse plugged into either adapter plugged into a Thunderbolt port on the back works.

The mouse plugged into the USB port on the keyboard and the keyboard plugged into the Amazon Basics USB-A to USB-C adapter cable and plugged into a USB port on the front works. I didn't try it with the Anker adapter plugged into a USB port on the front but I imagine that it would work.

All I can surmise is that the Apple Extended Keyboard is incompatible with Thunderbolt ports.

Have you tried connecting both devices thru a powered USB hub yet?

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Tiangou
Have you tried connecting both devices thru a powered USB hub yet?

I don't have a powered USB hub to try and since I can get the keyboard to work with the front USB ports, I'm not going to pursue it further.

The reason I asked is that I did some googling and found one post on Apple‘s forums and one on macrumors, each with similar symptoms to what you’re describing. What I have not seen in either thread was that the person with the problem tried using a powered hub. A powered hub is usually the definitive solution to connectivity issues over USB. But I understand your reticence to invest more in this problem when you have a solution.

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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/28/2024 02:58PM by Tiangou.

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Tiangou
The reason I asked is that I did some googling and found one post on Apple‘s forums and one on macrumors, each with similar symptoms to what you’re describing. What I have not seen in either thread was that the person with the problem tried using a powered hub. A powered hub is usually the definitive solution to connectivity issues over USB. But I understand your reticence to invest more in this problem when you have a solution.

Thanks for doing the research, as it's good to know that I'm not alone. Since I've already bought the Amazon cable and the Anker adapters, and have proven that it's not the Amazon cable, I'm going to call it quits on the spending.

On my intel mini I have a 6 port USB hub and plug all the low speed USB-A stuff (Kb, mouse, keypad, etc) into that.

Hope to see if it still works with an M4 someday.