macOS Catalina 10.15.6 Successfully Fixes USB 2.0 Issues Experienced by 2020 MacBook Pro and MacBook Air Users

[tothemoonsands]

Glad to see this update/fix because I am extremely happy with my 2020 13” MBP and this was one small issue I was aware of. I wasn’t affected per se, hardly use my ports let alone USB 2.0, but it was still in the back of my mind.

The 2020 13” MBP is truly a perfected device in my opinion! Could not be happier that I dove in deep with a loaded model (2TB SSD + 32GB RAM + i7). That said, will be awesome to jump to ARM a few years down the road when the kinks have been worked out and all of my required software is up and running.

 

[automatic99]

Does anyone know if this fixes an older issue with USB 2.0 audio interfaces? My understanding was that there were audio dropouts when connected directly to a port and that using a Thunderbolt hub was the only known solution (besides upgrading to a TB3 interface).

 

[hkflaneur]

Not yet...after upgrading, my connection to a VGA LED display is failed. Apple Support didn't offer any working solution except those that can find in the internet (like open in the Safe Mode, new account log in, reset NVRAM, reinstalling macOS, etc) and as expected they don't admit a software problem after all that.
Connection to other devices like iPad and LG display has no problem. The VGA LED display has no problem when connecting to a PC.
Seems I have to wait for a new update to fix this new issue hopefully.

 

[theorist9]

I'm on High Sierra now, and my feeling is that Mojave is now a safe upgrade, and am about to upgrade my SSD and put Mojave on it. Would you agree with my assessment, or do you think I should stick to High Sierra?

I've stuck with High Sierra b/c it's the last OS that implements sub-pixel anti-aliasing natively, and thus the last OS in which text looks sharp on my sub-retina 27" 4k monitor (which is 160 ppi, as compared with 220 ppi for a retina screen). So I can't comment on Mojave; but from what I've heard people say, it's now considered to be a stable upgrade.

You'll just want to make sure you don't have any mission-critical apps that Mojave breaks. If you want to test this and/or try out the OS to see if you like it, you could create a separate partition (using Disk Utility) and install Mojave there. I always do that before upgrading to a new OS. I use 100 GB for my "test" partition, but you could probably get by with less.

 

[Populus]

Which is why (unless you're having serious issues with the current OS, and can't deprecate to an earlier one*), the most hassle-free update path has become to go from x.6 to (x+1).6, rather than x.0 to (x+1).0.

I.e., update to a new OS in the summer, when the last version of the current OS is released, rather than in the fall, when the first version of the next OS is released.

*Relatedly, the one exception might be when the next OS is a "stability" release (e.g., Snow Leopard and High Sierra). These tend to be the best ones.

I was seriously considering this, and I think I will do it this way at least with iOS. With macOS there’s the possibility to update in holidays when the .2 or .3 versions are released, which usually are pretty good.

 

[Dustman]

Great. Now fix bluetooth on the Mac Mini.

 

[Logic368]

It hasn’t fixed my issue with my class compliant usb 2.0 audio interface randomly dropping out after sleeping.

 

[dickie001x]

*Relatedly, the one exception might be when the next OS is a "stability" release (e.g., Snow Leopard and High Sierra). These tend to be the best ones.

I disagree that High Sierra was a stability release. It introduced APFS and was far buggier than Sierra and Mojave were for me. YMMV.
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I'm on High Sierra now, and my feeling is that Mojave is now a safe upgrade, and am about to upgrade my SSD and put Mojave on it. Would you agree with my assessment, or do you think I should stick to High Sierra?

I agree - Mojave is (& was) far more stable for me than HS.

 

[Bug-Creator]

Mouses, keyboards, printers,... Literally anything not storage related uses USB 2

Input devices are mostly still USB 1.1.

No idea wether those where also effected by the issuevat hand.

 

[amartinez1660]

Well, it seems to have taken out the speakers on my 16" MacBook Pro, I updated and then it wouldn't output sound when I logged into my current meeting. I'll try a reboot after the meeting, maybe that will clear the issue....otherwise it's an email to support so they can fix the problem.

how and where do you send email support? The support communities is incredibly lackluster, even though the people there do try to do their very best, except the Apple Support person that sometimes rears its head with a blanket statement like “please make sure your USB is properly connected, if further problems arise please visit this troubleshooting guide” with more generic advices.
Would be great to have an actual ticket/support/issues systems somewhere where people could upvote on more recurring and critical bugs.
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Not yet...after upgrading, my connection to a VGA LED display is failed. Apple Support didn't offer any working solution except those that can find in the internet (like open in the Safe Mode, new account log in, reset NVRAM, reinstalling macOS, etc) and as expected they don't admit a software problem after all that.
Connection to other devices like iPad and LG display has no problem. The VGA LED display has no problem when connecting to a PC.
Seems I have to wait for a new update to fix this new issue hopefully.

Yes, that attitude is enraging. They are definitely told not to accept mistakes at all levels, I hate it when it’s blatant... I had issues with Powerbeats and beats X, I don’t think they are that sweat resistant as it would stop charging or lose sound on one side after 6 months sports use. But the Apple genius guy would say “hmm, that’s a very rare one, have never seen this ever before, no worries we will fix it for you” even at my third replacement instance, the forums packed with that and YouTube videos about how to attempt self repair.
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This was not only affecting 2020 MacBook Pro and Airs. This was widely affecting all USB-C only Macs we have in our office (2017 + 2018 MacBook Pros and 2019 MacBook Air). According to the first reports the issue seems fixed on at least the MacBook Pros.

Only big issue that seems to be left now is a problem with third party headphones that use the headphone jack.

What’s that issue? I seem to have stumbled upon one yesterday, didn’t have wireless earphone battery and decided to plug a headphone with mic for a conference, after unplugging, the output audio seemed to have been muffled out a lot on that display (if audio is output from other displays it works).
(iMac 19 + 2 TB Displays).

 

[Internet Enzyme]

macOS Catalina 10.15.6 successfully fixes a frustrating bug that prevented some USB 2.0 accessories from working properly with 2020 MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models, according to MacRumors readers and users on Reddit.

Apple in the release notes for the macOS Catalina 10.15.6 update said that the update "resolves an issue where certain USB mouse and trackpads may lose connection," and people who were experiencing that particular problem have confirmed that their accessories are now able to successfully connect.

The bug was first noticed earlier this year by MacBook Air and MacBook Pro users who purchased one of the new 2020 machines. The Mac notebooks were unable to properly work with USB 2.0 accessories connected to their machines through hubs or adapters.

Problems included lost connections, freezes, and a failure to work entirely, and those affected were unable to find any kind of fix with methods like SMC resets, safe mode, Disk Utility repairs, and more. The only suitable fix was using a more expensive Thunderbolt 3 hub instead of a USB-C hub.

Though Apple's release notes mention mice and trackpads, the problem affected all kinds of devices, including keyboards and other accessories, though it appeared to be limited to USB 2.0 devices rather than USB 3.0 or 3.1 accessories.

There have been numerous reports from those who were experiencing the issue that confirm macOS 10.15.6 addresses the issue for all kinds of accessories. The fix doesn't appear to have been implemented in macOS Big Sur, however, so some users may still run into USB issues on the newest update until Apple adds the fix to Big Sur as well.

Article Link: macOS Catalina 10.15.6 Successfully Fixes USB 2.0 Issues Experienced by 2020 MacBook Pro and MacBook Air Users

this bug is absolutely debilitating in Big Sur on my iMac. My usb mouse will literally stopresponding for like ten seconds

 

[Mchuv]

macOS Catalina 10.15.6 successfully fixes a frustrating bug that prevented some USB 2.0 accessories from working properly with 2020 MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models, according to MacRumors readers and users on Reddit.

Apple in the release notes for the macOS Catalina 10.15.6 update said that the update "resolves an issue where certain USB mouse and trackpads may lose connection," and people who were experiencing that particular problem have confirmed that their accessories are now able to successfully connect.

The bug was first noticed earlier this year by MacBook Air and MacBook Pro users who purchased one of the new 2020 machines. The Mac notebooks were unable to properly work with USB 2.0 accessories connected to their machines through hubs or adapters.

Problems included lost connections, freezes, and a failure to work entirely, and those affected were unable to find any kind of fix with methods like SMC resets, safe mode, Disk Utility repairs, and more. The only suitable fix was using a more expensive Thunderbolt 3 hub instead of a USB-C hub.

Though Apple's release notes mention mice and trackpads, the problem affected all kinds of devices, including keyboards and other accessories, though it appeared to be limited to USB 2.0 devices rather than USB 3.0 or 3.1 accessories.

There have been numerous reports from those who were experiencing the issue that confirm macOS 10.15.6 addresses the issue for all kinds of accessories. The fix doesn't appear to have been implemented in macOS Big Sur, however, so some users may still run into USB issues on the newest update until Apple adds the fix to Big Sur as well.

Article Link: macOS Catalina 10.15.6 Successfully Fixes USB 2.0 Issues Experienced by 2020 MacBook Pro and MacBook Air Users

It wasn't a USB 2.0 BUG it also was I USB 3.0 / 3.1 BUG, I always had problemas with my HP SSD USB3.1 , every time my 15" 2020 MacBook Pro entered into sleep mode, I had to cross my fingers , because the "normal" wakeup was a reboot. I was very disappointed with Apple because of this bug, another problem was that the SSD randomly got freezes for 30 seconds. I hope these update will fix this issue, but i will wait to see more comments about this update, I don't want to install it an had new bugs or problems.

 

[adamw]

Good to hear that this update fixes the USB 2.0 issues. Hopefully will fix my USB hub issues.

 

[chucker23n1]

Does it fix the PowerNap-related kernel panics? Or Mail losing messages when you move them between folders?

 

[AMTYVLE]

Does it fix the PowerNap-related kernel panics? Or Mail losing messages when you move them between folders?

Same here. Kernel panics on a brand new MBP here happening every night, hot happy. Haven't had one yet since upgrading to 10.5.6. 🤞

 

[MauiPa]

Bugs suck, I'll admit, but USB 2.0. All hail the longevity of really old tech still working. Personally, I haven't had anything USB2 in a long long time

 

[chucker23n1]

Personally, I haven't had anything USB2 in a long long time

You probably do and don't realize it.

The internal keyboard+trackpad is USB 1.1. All Bluetooth devices are passed through USB (not sure about 2.0, maybe 1.1). The iSight webcam used to be USB, but I think now uses a simpler bus.

 

[MacClueless]

This is one reason I won't be buying ARM-based Macs right out of the gate... New hardware revisions on the existing platform end up having little glitches like this... Imagine an entirely new platform.

Meh, most people don't use USB devices let alone a USB hub. Truly an edge case.

 

[rjg125]

Several people in my office updated and now experiencing random restarts/crashing several times a day. Maybe don't upgrade yet...

 

[Juicy Box]

Although I must admit USB 2.0 should be rare these days

Really?

Maybe I am not the norm, but most of the accessories I have plugged into my Macs are USB2. Some that come to mind are one of my printers, my Blu-Ray drive, DVD Drive, mic/headphone jack, video input dongle, turntable, lightning cable, many mice and keyboards including the one I am typing on now.

The only USB3 and newer specifications I use are storage or dock related devices, although, I still have a few usb2 storage devices around like thumb drives and some external SATA drives.

 

[mr_vinjah]

Which CalDigit dock do you have and what quirks does it display? I have this one. It mostly works pretty great. Occasionally I have to open my MacBook lid to get it to wake up. Other than that I'm pretty happy with it.

I have the TS3+ dock from CalDigit less than a year now. Recently upgraded from a 2017 13" MBP (2 port) to a 2020 13" MBP (4 port) and found many differences between how the dock passed signals to an Apple TB display connected to the TS3+ dock via an Apple TB3->TB2 adapter. All the problems were wait the 2020 MBP.

After waking, the BT magic keyboard display brightness keys (F1-F2) stopped working and even worse, the TB brightness could not be adjusted through Sys Pref of the TouchBar on the Mac. Audio dropouts when sending audio to the TB display. I'm just testing now and it seems like the Apple TB display won't even stay connected right now and after flashing a couple times, just shuts off and leaves me with the laptop display. Ugh. A weekend of troubleshooting awaits...

 

[4487549]

Which is why (unless you're having serious issues with the current OS, and can't deprecate to an earlier one*), the most hassle-free update path has become to go from x.6 to (x+1).6, rather than x.0 to (x+1).0.

I.e., update to a new OS in the summer, when the last version of the current OS is released, rather than in the fall, when the first version of the next OS is released.

*Relatedly, the one exception might be when the next OS is a "stability" release (e.g., Snow Leopard and High Sierra). These tend to be the best ones.

Preach! This is what I tell all my colleagues, and take it one step further: wait for the litany of supplemental updates that follow the .6 update. I imagine with 10.15 being the last OS X release before 11.0 that will be especially true this year. Timing wise that's effectively when the new release ships (Sep/Oct). Then you're running the absolute last and most stable build Apple's engineers have touched.

 

[creativesmith]

Does this remedy the "crash upon awakening from hibernation" when a keyboard is connected via either port on the right side of a 2016 13" MBP?

 

[Yebubbleman]

As someone has been planning to get a four-port 13" Pro (and yes, even with Apple Silicon transition looming; I need native x86), I'm glad to see that this was something resolvable with a software patch and not something that required a hardware replacement.

 

[Confuse123]

Greatest bug fix EVER! I've struggled with this bug since I've owned my Macbook Pro 2017 when connecting to a Cable Matters usb w/Display Port hub to be able to connect my monitor with one cable.

Very happy for this fix!