Nobody knows for sure, but it seems that if you connect the original charger directly to any of the MBA M1 USB-C ports, you should be safe. The issue *seems* to be related to USB-C Hubs with PD (power delivery).
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M1 MacBook Air won’t power on
- Thread starter wittgenstein
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OK, I got into the Apple store with my bricked MBA. When it first happened I called called support and they had me try turning it on with several hotkey combinations and there was no response. When I got to the genius bar the tech plugged it in and tried a SMT reset and it worked. We tried my power supply and it was fine. The battery was completely dead, although when it died on me it was plugged into the monitor that's supposed to provide 60 watts and I got no low power warnings. He ran some tests and everything showed up as ok on the test, but as soon as he unplugged the MBA it went dead. He said it had been plugged in long enough that it should have stayed on for a short while. They exchanged it for a new MBA and I had them wipe the disk, the tech said that it usually takes about 20 minutes to reinstall the OS but the progress meter was saying about 1hr 30 minutes.
So anyway, I came home with a new computer and restored my time machine backup. The tech didn't know what was wrong with it.
So anyway, I came home with a new computer and restored my time machine backup. The tech didn't know what was wrong with it.
I am glad you left with a new M1.
It is very strange that your M1 turned on for the tech. It sounds like the tech really didn't know what he was doing with the M1. He was treating it as if it was an Intel model. SMC is done automatically by the M1.
Tech support was guilty of the same thing as there are no hot key combinations to use for turning on the M1 (that I am aware of).
Glad to know it worked out for you in the end.
Have you tried connecting the replacement MBA to your LG monitor yet? I’d be wary connecting any USB-C PD based monitors to a M1 Mac at this point.
The LG is at the office so I didn’t try it yet. If it’s going to have problems I want them to happen soon. In the meantime I’m keeping it backed up.
In addition to a CalDigit TS3+, I've tested my M1 MBP with 3 Titan Ridge docks (2x HyperDrive Gen 2 TB3 docks and a Targus DOCK221USZ). Luckily, I haven't bricked my MBP, but I wonder if I've caused any damage.
I experienced sudden reboots with all of these docks when connecting or disconnecting the host cable to the MBP, but only 2 or 3 times with the CalDigit in almost of month and a half of solid use. This particular issue with the CalDigit seems to have gone away entirely after the last Big Sur update.
With the Titan Ridge docks, the sudden reboots were more frequent. I'd never get through a day of testing without this happening a few times or more. Also, plugging in peripherals or SD cards to the Titan Ridge docks, while connected to the MBP, could also trigger a reboot. Additionally, I was also occasionally experiencing having my MBP screen going black with only the mouse cursor visible after connecting the host cable to the MBP. When the screen goes black, the fix has been to hold the TouchID/power button until the machine reboots.
I've settled on the CalDigit TS3+ given the stability, but was really wanting a Titan Ridge dock I could use with my USB-C Dell work laptop.
I've had no rebooting issues with my MBP connected directly to a TB3 monitor with 91W PD.
I experienced sudden reboots with all of these docks when connecting or disconnecting the host cable to the MBP, but only 2 or 3 times with the CalDigit in almost of month and a half of solid use. This particular issue with the CalDigit seems to have gone away entirely after the last Big Sur update.
With the Titan Ridge docks, the sudden reboots were more frequent. I'd never get through a day of testing without this happening a few times or more. Also, plugging in peripherals or SD cards to the Titan Ridge docks, while connected to the MBP, could also trigger a reboot. Additionally, I was also occasionally experiencing having my MBP screen going black with only the mouse cursor visible after connecting the host cable to the MBP. When the screen goes black, the fix has been to hold the TouchID/power button until the machine reboots.
I've settled on the CalDigit TS3+ given the stability, but was really wanting a Titan Ridge dock I could use with my USB-C Dell work laptop.
I've had no rebooting issues with my MBP connected directly to a TB3 monitor with 91W PD.
See post 56 in this thread. It happened with just the original charger too.
Post in thread 'M1 MacBook Air won’t power on'
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/m1-macbook-air-wont-power-on.2272304/post-29479643
Technically yes, but if you read on you find that the circumstances were very special. Namely, the user had their iPhone connected to the other port, and the computer was not able to properly communicate with the iPhone. It was also not until the iPhone and charger swapped places that the bricking occurred.
I don't agree that those were very special circumstances. We are talking about the original charger and an APPLE iPhone.
This is wrong conclusion.
If you read the thread from the start there is a user (from Germany) who fried 2 M1 MBPs using them the same way and with the same peripherals.
This cannot be coincidence and will probably be batch or hardware revision issue - which can be replicated within the same circumstances.
Finally no one cares how is it solved - as long as its solved, but calling it sporadic incident is not true.
I wouldnt care if my M1 MBP screen would go yellowis - I would still be able to work on it before replacing it - but suddenly having a brick is just not acceptible
I’ve never said it was acceptable just that it is relatively rare. No one should be afraid to use their MacBook as it was designed. If a problem occurs, there is a warranty and I’d rather find out sooner than later that my MacBook has a defect.
There is no such a thing as "relatively rare" when two same devices die with the same user who uses them in the same pattern which is NOT against how manufacturer advised.
To date - we only know that use of single USB-C port with original charger does not pose any risk.
Any other scenario that includes peripherals is far from called safe - simply as there is tons of different usage scenarios.
If you DO have actual Apple insider info - better state that problem is solved from XXX batch number or from XXX Big Sur version - but calling it relatively rare sounds like a time-left estimate told to a patient, when you are not even a doc...
We all like Apple - but we like our work more...it pays the bills and it pays Apple hardware...
I switched to Mac M1 from Surface Pro 7 and Mac destroys it in every aspect. Important for me - people swear that their Macs last for years...
But Surface has 0 accidents where it suddenly dies...
So from a work preservation point - I dont feel safer with M1 Mac until Apple communicates this is solved - and my device is covered too..
I call them special since the iPhone was not communicating with the computer. Of course, connecting your iPhone to your Mac while it is charging is nothing special, and I have done just that with my M1 MBA and iPhone without issues.
Yeah, even my M1 MBA freezes and restarts. It never occurred during the first month but now it happens almost once every day. And I did a fresh install about a week ago. Wiped the SSD and no time machine backup etc.
Maybe it's the new update, who knows. But I have been reading about these random reboots and T2 chips for years.
And what if Apple never communicates that “it’s solved” because there is nothing to solve except to improve their quality control? You are making a big deal over one report that it happened on two Macs by one user. Maybe that user has defective equipment.
There haven’t been enough reports to assume this is a general problem and not a manufacturing defect. To limit the use of your new M1 Mac out of fear is just not warranted at this point. Feel free to do what you want but I will keep pointing out that there are too few reports to draw any conclusions.
Again, if it is a manufacturing defect, I want to know sooner rather than later. And one great feature of USB-C is power delivery over the same cable as data and video. This especially true when your notebook has only two ports. I’m not going to give up on that feature out of fear.
The issue seems very real. It happened to me and this is definitely not the only thread about the issue.
They called me today to tell me that the MBA M1 is ready with a new main board and Touch ID (I understand both go in tandem for security reasons).
I will try to get more info, but guess will not get any.
They called me today to tell me that the MBA M1 is ready with a new main board and Touch ID (I understand both go in tandem for security reasons).
I will try to get more info, but guess will not get any.
I’m sure it is real. Just not sure if it is a common problem or just a manufacturing defect. You should ask them when you pick it up if it is ok to use a power delivery USB-C or Thunderbolt dock. I’d be curious as to their answer.
A small question, I have a small thumb size Samsung USB-3 to USB-C dongle that came with my phone. Would it be safe to use with M1 MacBooks?
Risk should be low considering it's passively powered and interfacing only single device. Anyhow, volunteered to be guinea pig and the same adapter with USB 3.0 thumbstick worked on both ports and MBA powered off/on without issue.
On a different note, someone mentioned clicking noise after failure. That's usually a sign that there's an electrical short that's preventing it from powering on. So, some component probably got fried and failed short. Should send to Louis Rossman to pinpoint. Might be an easy cheap self fix when out of warranty unless there's a service recall.
Thanks. I am still scared to use it. There is no Apple Shop in my country. So, if anything goes wrong I'll have to take to a 3rd party authorised service provider that would send back the faulty/bricked MacBook to Apple but the new machine may take number of weeks to arrive. Refund would be more problematic. I'll eventually try using Samsung dongle though but only after I am out of honeymoon period with my M1 MBP.
Here is an aged newbie. Just got a M1 MBA last week. Also bought a Plugable TB3/USB-C docking station but have not been using it yet.
So, does "USB-C PD" that we are talking about apply TB3 dock that provides power to MB as well? Anyone having an issue with Plugable docks? Thanks guys. You guys are awesome.
So, does "USB-C PD" that we are talking about apply TB3 dock that provides power to MB as well? Anyone having an issue with Plugable docks? Thanks guys. You guys are awesome.
Nobody knows for sure, but I would not use anything to power the MBA M1 other than the original power adapter connected directly to one of the MBA M1 USB-C ports.
That until this thing is clarified.
I will get mine back from the shop tomorrow.