Hi friends! I am using the USB-A expansion card on my Framework 13. I don’t know if its the size of the yubikey or what but I seem to have issues getting yubikeys to seat properly in my USB expansion card. This can be irritating because I use hardware tokens extensively for MFA and other digital signatures and I constantly have issues with it disconnecting inside the USB port and I have to enter the PIN again to unlock it.
Is this a known fault with the USB port and if so is there a workaround such as replacing the USB port on the expansion card with one that is more robust?
I have the same Yubikey in a 5c model. You will notice it does not have the full shell around it like other USBA connectors. This means it is easier to not seat perfectly straight in the connector.
Try the same key on other slots outside of a framework computer and wiggle it left and right. If the symptom follows it then it is the key. Otherwise buying a replacement expansion card is an easy fix.
If you are doing a lot of plugging in and out I would consider getting the USBC YubiKey for a more solid connection.
I have tried it on other slots on other PCs and on my USB dongle and it seats there fine. I think it is because the Framework USB port does not have the internal flares to support the device up against the USB pins like most other usb ports have. Hence I was hoping there was a supported replacement usb port I could solder in.
If it is a matter of the pins not making contact on the USBA port: the expansion card may be worn out or possibly defective. If it has been tried with another Framework USBA expansion card then it is inherit to its design.
In order of increasing complexity/cost; some choices are:
A simple 3.0" USBA jumper is a cheap fix for this.
Using the USBC version of a security key does not have the same connection issue
Dismantling, sourcing, soldering, and reassembling a suitable USBA female socket for the Framework Expansion card
