Keyboard Maestro is a powerful automation tool that Mac power-users rely on to streamline tasks, control system functions, and boost productivity. From text expansion to complex multi-step workflows, it empowers users to orchestrate nearly anything on their Macs with a few keystrokes. However, a particularly frustrating problem can occur when Mac systems go to sleep and wake up again: macros that once executed flawlessly suddenly begin to fail — seemingly without cause.
TL;DR
If you’re a Mac user who relies on Keyboard Maestro and notice your macros failing after your computer wakes from sleep, the problem might lie with USB device triggers losing their connection. This issue arises because macOS often disables or resets USB ports upon waking. The solution? Implementing a USB device trigger reset that reinitializes the device—restoring reliable automation after sleep. Read on to learn how it works and how to set it up.
Understanding the Problem: Automation Breaks After Sleep
Imagine this scenario: you’ve built an elegant sequence using Keyboard Maestro that fires off as soon as you connect a specific USB device — perhaps mounting drives, launching apps, or syncing folders. Then, after a period of inactivity, your Mac goes to sleep. When it wakes up, the same USB device is still connected, yet your macro no longer triggers. There’s no error message, no system alert, just… silence.
This has baffled many users. The macros work perfectly before sleep. Keyboard Maestro itself is still active. So what gives?
Diagnosing the Root Cause
The problem stems from how macOS handles USB peripherals when entering and waking from sleep. To save power, macOS may:
- Put USB ports into a suspended state
- Temporarily disconnect or reset certain USB devices
- Change internal IDs or states that Keyboard Maestro depends on for device triggers
As a result, Keyboard Maestro no longer detects the “device connect” or “device event” it watches for since from the system’s perspective, nothing new has “connected” after sleep—it’s already there, simply reawakened in a slightly altered state.
The Key to Restoring Functionality: USB Trigger Reset
The breakthrough came when some users realized that by manually unplugging and replugging the USB device, their macros magically came back to life. This pointed toward a potential fix: simulate a USB reconnect event after sleep.
The solution involves a clever trick — emulating what the system sees as a “fresh connection” after the Mac wakes up. There are several ways to do this depending on your setup, but the most reliable involves using either Keyboard Maestro itself (with added logic) or a helper script to reset the USB device or emulate its reconnection.
Working Solutions for USB Trigger Recovery
Option 1: Use a Keyboard Maestro “After Sleep” Trigger
Keyboard Maestro comes with several built-in triggers, including one called “System Wake.” Here’s how to leverage that:
- Open the Keyboard Maestro Editor
- Create a new macro with the “System Wake” trigger
- Add an action that resets your automation environment
While Keyboard Maestro can’t reset a USB port directly, it can be used to:
- Restart the USB device’s accompanying app or driver
- Unload and reload scripts that rely on the device
- Even send a simulated “disconnect” signal via command-line tools (see Option 2)
Option 2: Reset the USB Device from the Terminal
macOS includes tools like system_profiler and ioreg for identifying devices and interfaces. With the right permissions — and care — one can use pmset or I/O Kit commands via scripting to toggle USB connection states.
For example, a helper shell script could be triggered on wake:
#!/bin/bash
# Replace with your USB device’s vendor and product ID
# This script could forcibly reset a USB port using a command (examples vary)
# Optional: Restart a plist or app associated with the USB device
launchctl kickstart -k system/com.example.driver
# Or use a command/tool like usbreset (requires install)
Note: Apple’s system integrity protection (SIP) might prevent deep USB resets from userland processes. In that case, workarounds with helper daemons or external scripts may be required.
Using Hardware Workarounds
If software hacks aren’t reliable or feel too invasive, consider intelligent hardware solutions. Certain powered USB hubs with switchable ports can be turned off and on via a button or command-line utility, effectively doing a “soft unplug.” Even better: some USB devices have watchdog chips that reconnect themselves after detecting power loss or sleep states.
Creating a Reliable Failsafe Loop
To ensure that your workflow continues running without fail—even after your Mac sleeps—you might build a macro loop like this:
- Trigger: On System Wake
- Action: Run Shell Script to verify USB state
- If USB not detected: Force restart application or notify user
- Else: Re-initialize macros dependent on device triggers
Why This Matters for Workflow Stability
Automation thrives on reliability. When a single macro hiccup breaks a cascade of tasks, your time-saving pipeline is no better than manual execution. Macros run in the background, so it’s easy to miss the misfires—until they cause friction like unsynced files, unlaunched tools, or delayed responses.
By incorporating a USB trigger reset after system wake, you reinforce the integrity of your automation environment. It’s the equivalent of giving your macros a fresh start after each sleep, ensuring they’re as ready to respond as you are.
Future-Proofing: Will Apple Fix This?
As of the latest macOS versions, Apple hasn’t introduced a native method to reinitialize USB event states after wake in a way that Keyboard Maestro can detect them as “new” events. It’s unlikely this changes soon, since macOS sleep management prioritizes energy conservation over peripheral continuity. That puts the responsibility in users’ hands to work around it effectively, which makes solutions like USB trigger reset all the more valuable.
Conclusion: Restore Your Automation Confidence
When Keyboard Maestro macros fail after a Mac wakes from sleep, it’s seldom a bug in your macro—it’s typically a USB device trigger that silently failed to reinitialize. Fortunately, setting up a USB trigger reset, whether through software or smart hardware, solves the problem elegantly.
Not only does this restore functionality, but it offers peace of mind. Automation shouldn’t leave you guessing. With the right strategy, your macros can greet you every morning—just as ready to work as you are.
Happy automating!