iMac Pro Keyboard unresponsive during boot

[ajmichmac]

iMac Pro 2017 27" running Mojave 10.14.2 -- My mac keyboard does not work at all during boot process; IE, it does not respond to ANY boot options like Option Command P R, etc. NONE of the boot hot keys do anything at all -- the system simply "hesitates" a bit then goes right to the desktop. Have tried USB keyboards, both wired and wireless, but they didn't work either. I have reset the bluetooth pairing and the keyboard & mouse work fine within the fully booted OS. But I cannot access any boot options. Help!

 

[chabig]

You need to press and hold the keys until you see the white Apple logo. Sometimes that takes a while.

 

[ajmichmac]

Pressing and holding, but no difference...

 

[chabig]

See https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201255

Are you using a firmware password?

 

[ajmichmac]

No, no firmware password. I contacted Apple and they want me to bring in my system for troubleshooting. It's a three hour drive... drat! But at least it's still under warranty.

 

[TonyKL]

Very odd, I can get the boot options on my iMac Pro but only if the keyboard is plugged in using the supplied lightning cable, it doesn't work over bluetooth. If this doesn't work for you then sounds like something is amiss.

 

[winkbaufield]

I’ve had the same issue for many (6+) months, ajmichmac, and, as TonyKL has described, the only solution I’ve found is to have my the iMac Pro keyboard permanently tethered to my machine via lightning cable.

Both Bluetooth a Bluetooth-connected Apple keyboard and third-party keyboards connected by USB used to respond during the iMac Pro boot process, but a system update seems to have killed the functionality (for no reason?).

Definitely save yourself a useless trip to the Apple Store and instead communicate to Apple Suppot that this is a known bug.

 

[ajmichmac]

Thanks... I have tried connecting the lightning cable but it makes no difference.

I just noticed that the glitch is erratic, IE, I was able to use command R to access the recovery mode today, but the "Option" key does not work, I cannot switch operating systems at boot (using bootcamp for Windows 10).

Well, I will definitely contact support again and ask about the known bug factor. I'd hate to drive six hours round trip for nothing (to have the Genius Bar nerds look it over).

 

[winkbaufield]

The erratic nature of which keys do or do not respond does sound bizarre.

If worse comes to worse regarding accessing your Windows partition, you can always assign it as your default startup disk (as opposed to Macintosh HD) in System Preferences > Startup Disk; when you restart the computer, it’ll the automatically boot to Windows, and you can directly reboot into macOS via an icon on the Windows task bar.

That’s far from ideal, but it served me as a temporary solution before I discovered the lightning cable trick.

It’d be wonderful if Apple could refrain from breaking once-functional features with each subsequent system update, but that’s wishful thinking, I know.

 

[ajmichmac]

The erratic nature of which keys do or do not respond does sound bizarre.

If worse comes to worse regarding accessing your Windows partition, you can always assign it as your default startup disk (as opposed to Macintosh HD) in System Preferences > Startup Disk; when you restart the computer, it’ll the automatically boot to Windows, and you can directly reboot into macOS via an icon on the Windows task bar.

Yes, thanks, I've been using that method as a workaround... at least it works consistently.
[doublepost=1546555870][/doublepost]Decided to roll back to High Sierra... but the keyboard problem remains. I give up. I'm NOT going to drive six hours round trip to the nearest Genius Bar, it's just not worth it.

 

[mikehalloran]

Get a wired keyboard. It won’t be Space Grey but it will solve your problem.

 

[ajmichmac]

Get a wired keyboard. It won’t be Space Grey but it will solve your problem.

I have one (wired USB) but it still won't work -- for example, for reset of the NVRAM (Option, Command, P, R).
[doublepost=1546612985][/doublepost]PS: Have rolled back from Mojave to High Sierra but the problem remains.

 

[TonyKL]

One thought, have you tried a different USB port (assuming you are connecting directly into the Mac) ?
Might be a USB issue rather than Keyboard ??

 

[ajmichmac]

One thought, have you tried a different USB port (assuming you are connecting directly into the Mac) ?
Might be a USB issue rather than Keyboard ??

Thanks -- Yes, I have tried other USB ports, including removal of my USB hub and plugging the keyboard directly in the back of the mac. No difference. Meanwhile, Apple seems unsure what might be the cure but they are shipping a new space gray bluetooth keyboard to see if that clears it up. Somehow I doubt it will.
[doublepost=1546693300][/doublepost]

Get a wired keyboard. It won’t be Space Grey but it will solve your problem.

I am considering buying a wired USB Apple keyboard -- can anyone recommend a good one? Does not have to be Apple brand but would prefer a black KB.

 

[ajmichmac]

The erratic nature of which keys do or do not respond does sound bizarre.

If worse comes to worse regarding accessing your Windows partition, you can always assign it as your default startup disk (as opposed to Macintosh HD) in System Preferences > Startup Disk; when you restart the computer, it’ll the automatically boot to Windows, and you can directly reboot into macOS via an icon on the Windows task bar.

That’s far from ideal, but it served me as a temporary solution before I discovered the lightning cable trick.

It’d be wonderful if Apple could refrain from breaking once-functional features with each subsequent system update, but that’s wishful thinking, I know.

Thanks for the workaround... in the meantime I did go to the nearest Apple store/Genius Bar (6 hour round trip)... essentially the tech said the official "fix" is to plug in the charging tether cable, essentially making the wireless bluetooth keyboard act like a wired USB. It works. I'm glad to have finally seen an Apple store, but, damn, that was a LONG drive for a not very satisfying answer. They ran some proprietary Apple diagnostics on the system, and of course all items checked out A-OK. At one point the "genius" even suggested getting a wired USB keyboard, and when I asked for one gratis, he was embarrassed to admit they didn't stock them anymore. BUT I had already gotten a free replacement keyboard via my phone tech contact and he said I could keep it even though it didn't solve the problems. So it's on eBay now... at least I'll get recouped for the gas it took to make that drive. Oh, also, the tech said it is a matter of exact timing when to press the special keys during boot... the bluetooth support needs a few nanoseconds (or whatever) before it will recognize the keyboard... too soon or too late and it doesn't respond, goes straight to the desktop. Anyway, thanks to everyone for your comments and I did tell the phone tech that this might be a known BUG, but he said there was no record of that. Hmm. For a $5K system I'm disappointed.