Possible fix for MacBook Pro 2014-2015 random shutdowns on Catalina 10.15.5

[utahman130]

Thanks to combining advice from this post from /u/afroeskimo over in /r/MacOS, a comment from /u/ASentientBot and this MacBook Pro random shutout fix instruction website, adapted from this MacRumors thread , I have (hopefully) fixed my MacBook Pro 2014 15” when it kept randomly shutting down on 10.15.5 Catalina.

When it shuts down due to this problem, the computer suddenly goes completely dead, like the battery has died. I have ran Disk Utility and both volumes of my disk (Macintosh HD and Macintosh HD - Data) are fine and I replaced my battery six months with no effect on the random shutdowns before performing the below workaround.

For a while (since at least Mojave), I’ve had to rename AppleThunderboltNHI.kext to AppleThunderboltNHI.kext.BAK to keep my computer from shutting down randomly. It's an annoying workaround to have to do every time my Mac updates, but it works with no random shutdowns.

After accidentally updating to 10.15.5 (I turned off automatic updates but I must have clicked on the notification to update after a restart), I renamed AppleThunderboltNHI.kext to AppleThunderboltNHI.kext.BAK, but also had to rename IOThunderboltFamily.kext to IOThunderboltFamily.kext.BAK for my computer to stop randomly shutting down (for now).

Disclaimer: This worked for me but may not work for everyone. Not responsible for any possible damage to computer, etc. etc.

Here are the steps I followed:

1. Restart Mac in recovery mode by holding command + r while starting up. While in recovery mode, open Terminal by selecting it from Utilities in the menu bar.

2. Type csrutil disable in Terminal, press enter, enter your password if prompted.

3. Reboot to normal

4. Once logged in, open Terminal and type sudo mount -uw /

4a. Press enter, then enter your password

5. Type killall Finder

5a. Press enter

6. Open Finder, navigate to the the "Go" menubar at the top of the screen and then select "Go To Folder" (command + shift + G).

6a. Go to /System/Library/Extensions

7. Once in the Extensions folder, rename AppleThunderboltNHI.kext to AppleThunderboltNHI.kext.BAK

(alternate Terminal method: sudo mv /System/Library/Extensions/AppleThunderboltNHI.kext /System/Library/Extensions/AppleThunderboltNHI.kext.BAK)

and rename IOThunderboltFamily.kext to IOThunderboltFamily.kext.BAK

(alternate Terminal method: sudo mv /System/Library/Extensions/IOThunderboltFamily.kext /System/Library/Extensions/IOThunderboltFamily.kext.BAK)

8. Restart in recovery mode, open Terminal and type csrutil enable

9. Reboot into normal mode and the problem should be fixed.

Note: I am still able to plug in my external monitor via Thunderbolt and it works even with those kext files disabled. I don't believe Ethernet via Thunderbolt works with the kext files disabled, but I haven't tested it myself as I don't use Ethernet.

 

[vicentecastror]

Sup man. I just want to say massive THANKS for this. I thought I was going to have to sell or even throw away my Macbook Pro Mid 2014 15''. I tried this and it worked. I don't use Ethernet either, so I have no issues with disabling it. Thanks again, you are the man!!!

 

[trevhart3]

so far so good man ! Unreal !

 

[mediclips]

After reading and trying MANY possible fixes for this issue, I was able to follow your instructions to the end: I could finally rename both files to BAK. Hopefully, this will be the solution to this problem I have had for years. I will keep you posted. Thanks!

 

[rosenbergread]

Thanks to combining advice from this post from /u/afroeskimo over in /r/MacOS, a comment from /u/ASentientBot and this MacBook Pro random shutout fix instruction website, adapted from this MacRumors thread , I have (hopefully) fixed my MacBook Pro 2014 15” when it kept randomly shutting down on 10.15.5 Catalina.

When it shuts down due to this problem, the computer suddenly goes completely dead, like the battery has died. I have ran Disk Utility and both volumes of my disk (Macintosh HD and Macintosh HD - Data) are fine and I replaced my battery six months with no effect on the random shutdowns before performing the below workaround.

For a while (since at least Mojave), I’ve had to rename AppleThunderboltNHI.kext to AppleThunderboltNHI.kext.BAK to keep my computer from shutting down randomly. It's an annoying workaround to have to do every time my Mac updates, but it works with no random shutdowns.

After accidentally updating to 10.15.5 (I turned off automatic updates but I must have clicked on the notification to update after a restart), I renamed AppleThunderboltNHI.kext to AppleThunderboltNHI.kext.BAK, but also had to rename IOThunderboltFamily.kext to IOThunderboltFamily.kext.BAK for my computer to stop randomly shutting down (for now).

Disclaimer: This worked for me but may not work for everyone. Not responsible for any possible damage to computer, etc. etc.

Here are the steps I followed:

1. Restart Mac in recovery mode by holding command + r while starting up. While in recovery mode, open Terminal by selecting it from Utilities in the menu bar.

2. Type csrutil disable in Terminal, press enter, enter your password if prompted.

3. Reboot to normal

4. Once logged in, open Terminal and type sudo mount -uw /

4a. Press enter, then enter your password

5. Type killall Finder

5a. Press enter

6. Open Finder, navigate to the the "Go" menubar at the top of the screen and then select "Go To Folder" (command + shift + G).

6a. Go to /System/Library/Extensions

7. Once in the Extensions folder, rename AppleThunderboltNHI.kext to AppleThunderboltNHI.kext.BAK

(alternate Terminal method: sudo mv /System/Library/Extensions/AppleThunderboltNHI.kext /System/Library/Extensions/AppleThunderboltNHI.kext.BAK)

and rename IOThunderboltFamily.kext to IOThunderboltFamily.kext.BAK

(alternate Terminal method: sudo mv /System/Library/Extensions/IOThunderboltFamily.kext /System/Library/Extensions/IOThunderboltFamily.kext.BAK)

8. Restart in recovery mode, open Terminal and type csrutil enable

9. Reboot into normal mode and the problem should be fixed.

Note: I am still able to plug in my external monitor via Thunderbolt and it works even with those kext files disabled. I don't believe Ethernet via Thunderbolt works with the kext files disabled, but I haven't tested it myself as I don't use Ethernet.

Hello, just want to say thank you for this solve. It really did work for awhile. That being said, every time an update went out, I had to do it all over again, but that wasn't too much of a hassle. But now I'm in macOS Big Sur and "The root volume is now a cryptographically sealed apfs snapshot" meaning that the above instructions stop working at step #7. You can't rename the system files as they're read-only, even after disabling csrutil. (

https://twitter.com/x/status/1275454103900971012

) That's thread is French as far as I'm concerned, but the shutdowns continue and I don't know what I'm supposed to do next. Have you figured anything out?

 

[Dlaj]

Hello, just want to say thank you for this solve. It really did work for awhile. That being said, every time an update went out, I had to do it all over again, but that wasn't too much of a hassle. But now I'm in macOS Big Sur and "The root volume is now a cryptographically sealed apfs snapshot" meaning that the above instructions stop working at step #7. You can't rename the system files as they're read-only, even after disabling csrutil. (

https://twitter.com/x/status/1275454103900971012

) That's thread is French as far as I'm concerned, but the shutdowns continue and I don't know what I'm supposed to do next. Have you figured anything out?

Hi, i am in the same position as you are/was. Have you found a solution to renaming the files on Big Sur?. Highly appreciate it if you could share!

 

[rodrigocon]

For long three years (bought it second hand), I struggled with this issue, and I was hoping to have the budget to change the laptop. But as the saying goes: every cloud has a silver lining, the laptop began to misbehave due to a suspicious app that was being blocked by the security system. Then I dropped my laptop on the floor which made me think I needed to think about replacing the battery altogether. Turns out, I didn't, but I went back to research about the problem. I still don't understand why this thread and similar ones didn't came on my screen back then, but after this struggle, it feels so comforting that it actually feels like I literally bought a new laptop. I then went and checked the SSD speed and realised that MacBook Pro 2015 has a fine speed that is still on par with today's speeds, 10 years later. Go figure. Big thank you to the contributors of this thread. And for those using Monterey, please use Gemini and you will get a more precise answer to how to persist the change so that the drivers are really disabled. Also there are other ways that will play nicely with SIP protection, like the patcher booter that can even load Sonoma on old laptops, but I won't bother the hassle. I trust I won't click on anything nasty, and my unarmed MacBook (with no SIP) will live for at least 2 years more, my prediction as safari is beginning to have issues with some websites, but long enough to save for a newer laptop. To apple, lack of presence unfortunately, it seems such a small fix, that could have been done a long time ago. Innovation is not easy, but responsibly done should cause more good than bad. I have a battery at 60% capacity due to the large number of reboots, ie, restarting a laptop connected, or leaving it connected while performing critical operations to avoid a larger business crack, really diminished battery life, in my opinion. If there was another technology that could play nicely between laptop phone iPad and cloud, I would change. In the meantime, I will continue following the apple dynasty, for what is worth.

 

[rodrigocon]

For long three years (bought it second hand), I struggled with this issue, and I was hoping to have the budget to change the laptop. But as the saying goes: every cloud has a silver lining, the laptop began to misbehave due to a suspicious app that was being blocked by the security system. Then I dropped my laptop on the floor which made me think I needed to think about replacing the battery altogether. Turns out, I didn't, but I went back to research about the problem. I still don't understand why this thread and similar ones didn't came on my screen back then, but after this struggle, it feels so comforting that it actually feels like I literally bought a new laptop. I then went and checked the SSD speed and realised that MacBook Pro 2015 has a fine speed that is still on par with today's speeds, 10 years later. Go figure. Big thank you to the contributors of this thread. And for those using Monterey, please use Gemini and you will get a more precise answer to how to persist the change so that the drivers are really disabled. Also there are other ways that will play nicely with SIP protection, like the patcher booter that can even load Sonoma on old laptops, but I won't bother the hassle. I trust I won't click on anything nasty, and my unarmed MacBook (with no SIP) will live for at least 2 years more, my prediction as safari is beginning to have issues with some websites, but long enough to save for a newer laptop. To apple, lack of presence unfortunately, it seems such a small fix, that could have been done a long time ago. Innovation is not easy, but responsibly done should cause more good than bad. I have a battery at 60% capacity due to the large number of reboots, ie, restarting a laptop connected, or leaving it connected while performing critical operations to avoid a larger business crack, really diminished battery life, in my opinion. If there was another technology that could play nicely between laptop phone iPad and cloud, I would change. In the meantime, I will continue following the apple dynasty, for what is worth.

four days later, it went back to the shutdown... not the greatest experience