Keyboard keeps disconnecting when connected to a USB hub. How to I make that stop?

Hello Paras,

This sounds more like an issue with your Hub if the 2 keyboards work fine plugged directly into your Surface.

Suggest possibly updating the firmware:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/surface/update-your-surface-dock-58d8723e-eae8-5e8d-c295-f870f7703633

You might find more help here:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/surface/identify-your-surface-dock-and-features-591c07f4-2784-24cf-6445-6fa059237461#:~:text=Surface%20Dock%202%20%20%20Surface%20model%20,%20%20Yes%20%205%20more%20rows%20

Regards,

Hi Paras,

Insider 20270 is out so also update to it.

Hi Paras,

Insider 20270 is out so also update to it.

I already did this, it didn't work. I removed it an reinstalled it. Still didn't work.

Perhaps the Dock is faulty. Suggest returning it to the vendor. If both your keyboards work properly when connected directly, there obviously is no fault with them.

Bottom line, do you get the same issue if running a Release version as I do not believe this is an Insider issue, rather a hardware problem. I would create a small partition and install Release to it for a temporary dual boot to confirm. Do you have another device you can connect the dock to and see if you get the same issue.

Regards,

OK, didn't realize you are getting same behavior from 2 different hubs. Kind of using the process of elimination here. Understand your frustration. You already tried different keyboards with same result.

Now it comes down to is this a possible Insider issue. Can you try these docks on any other devices, a friends maybe to see if it is consistent. As you mentioned it happened suddenly, do you recall what build of Insider this started on? Does this occur with a Release version as well? That is why I would like to determine if it is in fact an Insider issue.

Suggest you file a Feedback Hub report and share the link in this thread so that Eddie (MSFT) is aware of this. You might want to record the issue occurring in the report for the engineers.

Regards,

Edit: Does this exhibit the same keyboard behavior if you disconnect all the other devices from the dock? Perhaps it is overloading the power output of the dock. You do have a few items that would be drawing lot of power attached. 

 I've had similar experience with docks.  I've ended up unplugging something from one of the USB ports on the PC, plugging it into the dock, then plugging the keyboard into the USB port on the PC.  I know you said you didn't want to do that, but it appears you've got to weigh that against living with the disconnects and deciding which is best for you.  FWIW if you have external hard drives, they HAVE to be plugged into the PC and not a dock.

 Of course you could always try getting a wireless keyboard, but the only one of those that I have, the USB adapter is plugged into the PC's USB2 port.

OK, didn't realize you are getting same behavior from 2 different hubs. Kind of using the process of elimination here. Understand your frustration. You already tried different keyboards with same result.

Now it comes down to is this a possible Insider issue. Can you try these docks on any other devices, a friends maybe to see if it is consistent. As you mentioned it happened suddenly, do you recall what build of Insider this started on? Does this occur with a Release version as well? That is why I would like to determine if it is in fact an Insider issue.

Suggest you file a Feedback Hub report and share the link in this thread so that Eddie (MSFT) is aware of this. You might want to record the issue occurring in the report for the engineers.

Regards,

Edit: Does this exhibit the same keyboard behavior if you disconnect all the other devices from the dock? Perhaps it is overloading the power output of the dock. You do have a few items that would be drawing lot of power attached. 

Here's what I have found. When the keyboard is connected through the Anker hub to another computer, then it doesn't glitch out.
When the hub is connected to my PC, be it through the port on the Surface itself or the Surface Dock, then keyboard disconnects.
When the keyboard disconnects, windows doesn't make any sound, like it does for all other devices when connected/disconnected.
I unfortunately don't know anyone with any kind of surface device, so it is impossible to test out the Dock.

I have made a feedback entry on Feedback Hub

All these rules out the following:
1. The keyboards being faulty

2. The Anker hub being faulty
3. Power being the issue
4. Drivers (I uninstalled and reinstalled them)

I can safely assume that the hub isn't the issue.

Windows may be the issue, because when I reinstalled Windows, I was still enrolled into the insider program.

It seems as though my Surface is allergic to keyboards, by only when connected to hubs.

Any ideas that come to mind with this data?

 I've had similar experience with docks.  I've ended up unplugging something from one of the USB ports on the PC, plugging it into the dock, then plugging the keyboard into the USB port on the PC.  I know you said you didn't want to do that, but it appears you've got to weigh that against living with the disconnects and deciding which is best for you.  FWIW if you have external hard drives, they HAVE to be plugged into the PC and not a dock.

 Of course you could always try getting a wireless keyboard, but the only one of those that I have, the USB adapter is plugged into the PC's USB2 port.