New mouse/keyboard acting funny. What to do?

[jas9]

So I bought a new Logitech Keyboard Mouse combo. Keyboard and mouse both seem to be acting funny. When typing keyboard seems to get stuck/stops typing and then start to work again after a few seconds. Same with the mouse. When scrolling, it seems to skip or feels like it got disconnected for a few seconds and then starts working normally. This disconnection/stop-working/skipping only happens for a couple of seconds with both keyboard and mouse but its frustrating. The issue is occurring less frequently with the keyboard and a lot more frequently with the mouse. At first I thought batteries might be weak so I put in new battery but still the same. I tested it with Windows and it seemed to be working okay with Windows.

What could be the issue? How to fix it?

Logitech MK235: mk235-wireless-keyboard-mouse

 

[Fishrrman]

How are you connecting to the Mac?
Are you using the Logitech software?

IF you are using the Logitech software, you might consider removing it and using either "USB Overdrive" or "SteerMouse" instead.

 

[jas9]

How are you connecting to the Mac?
Are you using the Logitech software?

IF you are using the Logitech software, you might consider removing it and using either "USB Overdrive" or "SteerMouse" instead.

This is not bluetooth, so I guess no software is required. I just plugged in the 'USB receiver' and it connected both mouse and keyboard. No configuration of any sort was needed.

I can try using USB Overdrive and SteerMouse as well to see if it helps. Which one would you prefer among these two?

 

[jas9]

Can someone help me out with this issue? I haven't found a solution yet.

So I've had it for a week now. It works fine about 80% of the time. Or even 90% of the time. But all of a sudden, it starts to lag. And it lags like hell then. It feels like the computer is hanging or malfunctioning but when I use the trackpad, it works absolutely fine which tells me that the computer isn't lagging but the mouse is. I haven't been able to find any solutions. Then I am forced to use the MBP's trackpad and after a while (a few minutes), the mouse starts to work again normally. But its really a hassle when it starts to lag. I have also installed USB Overdrive from day one. I'm not sure if that has helped any.

 

[Fishrrman]

The Logitech keyboard is wireless, too?
Using the "unified receiver"?

If the answer to both questions is yes, more questions:
Which Mac do you have? (Mini, iMac, etc.)?
WHERE do you have the unifying receiver plugged in?

More questions:
Does the keyboard have an option to connect via USB?
If so, have you tried that?
Does the keyboard have any additional USB ports?

 

[DeltaMac]

You do realize that the unifying receiver uses 2.4 GHz, standard wifi?
You may be experiencing interference with your local wifi.
You could try changing your router, so it transmits 2.4GHz on a different channel.

Can you tell us exactly the model of MBPro that you have?

Another possible fix is to plug the receiver into a different USB port, particularly if you have a USB port on both sides of your MBPro. Another idea would be to use a USB extension cable (has male and female USB connectors), so you have the receiver a few inches away from the MBPro. You could also do this with an external USB hub.
Do you ever have anything else plugged in to USB on your MBPro? Some USB 3.0 devices can interfere with bluetooth devices. Probably not your situation, but it's a good thing to try unplugging other devices, just to eliminate that as a source of the problem.

 

[jas9]

The Logitech keyboard is wireless, too?
Using the "unified receiver"?

If the answer to both questions is yes, more questions:
Which Mac do you have? (Mini, iMac, etc.)?
WHERE do you have the unifying receiver plugged in?

More questions:
Does the keyboard have an option to connect via USB?
If so, have you tried that?
Does the keyboard have any additional USB ports?

Happy to answer all the questions.

The Logitech keyboard is wireless, too?
Yes.

Using the "unified receiver"
Yes, I guess the tiny usb receiver is called unified receiver.

Which Mac do you have? (Mini, iMac, etc.)?
MacBook Pro 13" 2017 laptop.

WHERE do you have the unifying receiver plugged in?
Its plugged into an adapter. Power cable (USB C) and HDMI cable is also plugged into the same adapter.

Does the keyboard have an option to connect via USB?
It does not. Its got no ports. Its powered with cell batteries.

Does the keyboard have any additional USB ports?
No.
[doublepost=1552772466][/doublepost]

You do realize that the unifying receiver uses 2.4 GHz, standard wifi?
You may be experiencing interference with your local wifi.
You could try changing your router, so it transmits 2.4GHz on a different channel.

Can you tell us exactly the model of MBPro that you have?

Another possible fix is to plug the receiver into a different USB port, particularly if you have a USB port on both sides of your MBPro. Another idea would be to use a USB extension cable (has male and female USB connectors), so you have the receiver a few inches away from the MBPro. You could also do this with an external USB hub.
Do you ever have anything else plugged in to USB on your MBPro? Some USB 3.0 devices can interfere with bluetooth devices. Probably not your situation, but it's a good thing to try unplugging other devices, just to eliminate that as a source of the problem.

Yes, this keyboard/mouse does use 2.4 Ghz wireless connection (as mentioned on the box). And no I don't realise that it may be have some issue with my internet wifi. If the local wifi IS causing this issue, shouldn't it happen like all the time? As I mentioned, this issue comes up only about 10% of the time and goes away after a few minutes.

Changing the router might not be an option at all. Its a Huawei modem supplied by the ISP and I can't change it.

I have MBP Pro 13" 2017. Model A1708.

It only has two USB C ports. I've plugged an adapter into one and the receiver is plugged into the adapter which is about 5 inches away from the laptop at all times. The only two other things plugged into the adapter is HDMI cable and Mac's USBC power cable. I also tried plugging it in the Mac directly using a USBC converter but that didn't fix the issue either.

 

[DeltaMac]

You can check to see what channel your router is transmitting: Hold your Option/Alt key, then click on the WiFi icon on the menubar. You will see a variety of information about your WiFi connection, including the channel, and the frequency being used. If it says 5GHz, and NOT 2.4 GHz, then that's not going to be your issue (the unifying receiver only operates on 2.4GHz)

 

[dwig]

The Logitech receivers use the same 2.4GHz band as wireless phones, microwave ovens, WiFi, and Bluetooth. Dongles of all 3 types can have issues with some USB3 ports, which can "leak" noise in that frequency range. You need to "round up the usual suspects":

• Try moving the receiver to another USB port
• Put the receiver on a USB extension cable or hub, preferably USB2.0, to move it away from the computer and to possibly put it a position less blocked by other stuff & nonsense (metal computer cases, monitors, metal desks, ...)
• Switch to using 5GHz WiFi to remove any possible interference in the crowded 2.4GHz band.
• Move any cordless phone away from the receiver's location.
• Don't pop popcorn in a microwave within 5-6 feet (~2m) of the mouse, keyboard, or receiver, at least while using them.

I've always had good luck with Logitech mice and keyboards. My current setups all use Logi mice, though all have the receiver plugged into a USB2 hub (iMac: in the wired keyboard's hub, Dell desktop: in the monitor's USB2 hub, and Surface Go: in a USB2 hub connected to a USB-c multiport dongle's USB3 port). I have no performance issues with any of the 3, nor does my wife with her mysterious (read: only she can sort out that rat's nest of wiring) setup including 2 Windows notebooks and an older MacBook.

The only one of the machines that has any added software Logi software is the Go, and it was installed to manage and customize a Logi K380 Bluetooth keyboard. Logi's software is not a necessity unless you need to pair one of their universal receivers with a new device or do some other customization.

 

[jas9]

You can check to see what channel your router is transmitting: Hold your Option/Alt key, then click on the WiFi icon on the menubar. You will see a variety of information about your WiFi connection, including the channel, and the frequency being used. If it says 5GHz, and NOT 2.4 GHz, then that's not going to be your issue (the unifying receiver only operates on 2.4GHz)

It says Channel 8 (2.4 GHz, 20 MHz).
Can we be 100% sure that this is the issue before I try to get my modem changed? I'm not even sure if changing it would be an option by the ISP.
[doublepost=1552852979][/doublepost]

The Logitech receivers use the same 2.4GHz band as wireless phones, microwave ovens, WiFi, and Bluetooth. Dongles of all 3 types can have issues with some USB3 ports, which can "leak" noise in that frequency range. You need to "round up the usual suspects":

• Try moving the receiver to another USB port
• Put the receiver on a USB extension cable or hub, preferably USB2.0, to move it away from the computer and to possibly put it a position less blocked by other stuff & nonsense (metal computer cases, monitors, metal desks, ...)
• Switch to using 5GHz WiFi to remove any possible interference in the crowded 2.4GHz band.
• Move any cordless phone away from the receiver's location.
• Don't pop popcorn in a microwave within 5-6 feet (~2m) of the mouse, keyboard, or receiver, at least while using them.

I've always had good luck with Logitech mice and keyboards. My current setups all use Logi mice, though all have the receiver plugged into a USB2 hub (iMac: in the wired keyboard's hub, Dell desktop: in the monitor's USB2 hub, and Surface Go: in a USB2 hub connected to a USB-c multiport dongle's USB3 port). I have no performance issues with any of the 3, nor does my wife with her mysterious (read: only she can sort out that rat's nest of wiring) setup including 2 Windows notebooks and an older MacBook.

The only one of the machines that has any added software Logi software is the Go, and it was installed to manage and customize a Logi K380 Bluetooth keyboard. Logi's software is not a necessity unless you need to pair one of their universal receivers with a new device or do some other customization.

Try moving the receiver to another USB port
I have. I have currently plugged it into the adapter but I have also tried plugging it in directly on the USB C port of the MBP (using a converter).

Put the receiver on a USB extension cable or hub, preferably USB2.0, to move it away from the computer
Its currently connected to an adapter where I use power cable and HDMI as well. Its about 5 inches away from the MBP.

Switch to using 5GHz WiFi to remove any possible interference in the crowded 2.4GHz band.
I don't think it will be easy at all to manage this. ISP provides their own modem and the only thing I can do is maybe connect a separate router with it with 5GHz.

Move any cordless phone away from the receiver's location.
Nothing cordless near it.

Don't pop popcorn in a microwave
No microwaves nearby.

Two questions.
1. If the 2.4GHz local wifi is the problem, shouldn't I experience this issue like all the time? Or at least most of the time? Why does it occur only about 10% of the time?
2. Does this issue also effect internet speed?

 

[Fishrrman]

OK, here's my suggestion:

Order one of these "extension cables":
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=usb+c+ex...843497&tag=googhydr-20&ref=pd_sl_55ndexqkzc_b
(numerous items shown, take your pick)

Plug the unifying receiver into the female end and plug the male end into a USB port on the Mac.
You may need a USB-c to USB-a adapter for your unifying receiver, unless you have a UR with USB-c already.

Now, position the unifying receiver "as close to" the keyboard and mouse as you can.

Does this change anything?

Yes, it's a "kludge".
But it just might work for you, when nothing else does.

My only other suggestion:
If the Mac/wireless keyboard interference issue cannot be resolved, perhaps you ought to try a WIRED keyboard instead.

 

[dwig]

OK, here's my suggestion:...
Plug the unifying receiver into the female end and plug the male end into a USB port on the Mac.
...

Good suggestion.

Two things may the be issue:

• The "adapter" could be getting swamped with data periodically, and/or the MB's host circuits could be getting swamped, and the video and/or another service is getting priority over the data from the USB ports where the receiver is connected
• The "adapter" could be interfering with the receiver's radio communication.

Try Fishrrman's suggestion of using an extension cable on a separate port directly on the MB. Then try using a USB mA<>fA extension cable between the "adapter" and the receiver. If only the first experiment works then the issue is likely in the adapter<>MB data capacity. If both work, then the issue is likely radio interferrence, though I would expect radio interferrence to cause much more frequent problems than a mere 10% of the time.

 

[AlphaCentauri]

I had the same problem with my iMac and Logitech MX Master. It can be Bluetooth interference but there is also well reported issue with inadequate shielding of USB 3.0 ports which disrupts Logitech Unifying Receiver. In my case, using 30cm (1 foot) USB 2.0 extension cable helped. Now I’m using Logitech G513 keyboard and Receiver is plugged into it - no problems. So I agree with other people - you need to move Logitech receiver further away from the computer.

Also, every Logitech wireless mouse will enter sleep mode after period of inactivity (to save the battery) and it will appear not working or lagging before it fully wakes up.