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USB issues on M1 Macs—not enough power over USB?

superamit

superamit

macrumors member
Original poster
Mar 9, 2011
36
31
Brooklyn, NY
I have an Aukey USB-C hub that I used successfully with my 2020 MacBook Air with an external Kinesis keyboard and either two USB hard drives or an Elgato USB-HDMI 4K video adapter.

On my M1 MacBook Air, I often have issues with the video from the Elgato adapter freezes until I plug/unplug the hub or adapter. Sometimes the keyboard will stop functioning. Sometimes a drive transfer will fail.

I wonder if this is related to the USB-C port not providing the same amount of power as before? Or as consistently? Or some other issue with USB.

Anyone else seeing USB glitches on their M1 Mac?
 
I purchased an LG external DVD writer. It powers on when attached to the USB-A port of the Mini. When I attach it to the USB-C port via a USBA-to-C Apple adapter, it doesn't get enough power. Yet when I attach it to my Macbook's USB-C port with the same adapter, it runs fine. Thought maybe just a weird glitch but now not so sure...
 
@victoras the DVD writer works through a USB-C to USB-A adapter on your Intel MacBook, but not with your M1 Mac mini?

(Just making sure I had the architectures right.)
 
@victoras the DVD writer works through a USB-C to USB-A adapter on your Intel MacBook, but not with your M1 Mac mini?

(Just making sure I had the architectures right.)

Yes
 
I am having the same issue with my Elgato 4K Cam Link adapter. It works great when plugged directly into my Intel MacBook Pro, no issues. But when I plug it into my M1 MacBook Air it will randomly freeze every so often. Just often enough to make it frustrating. I will try and run it through a hub to see if that works, but when I did that with my Intel MacBook it would freeze even more, so I am expecting similar results.
 
JoB4031 said:
I am having the same issue with my Elgato 4K Cam Link adapter. It works great when plugged directly into my Intel MacBook Pro, no issues. But when I plug it into my M1 MacBook Air it will randomly freeze every so often. Just often enough to make it frustrating. I will try and run it through a hub to see if that works, but when I did that with my Intel MacBook it would freeze even more, so I am expecting similar results.
Click to expand...
Interesting, @JoB4031 ! I had no issues using a hub with my Intel-based 2020 MacBook Air, but the M1 MacBook via hub exhibits the intermittent freeze-ups you describe. Very frustrating!

Please report on what you learn when using a hub! Also keen to know which apps cause issues.

I'm in conversation with El gato support and would love to have more examples to share with them!
 
Any updates, while streaming the game capture freezes and I would have to unplug and plug back in just to work for like another 20mins, I feel like the issues started to come after the up 11.1 didn’t have this issue with macOS Big Sur 11
 
I'm having the same issue with a MBP 13" M1 and my external peripherals. I have a Razer Kiyo camera (not officially supported by Mac) but it works without any issues on my 15" Intel MBP, however it randomly freezes on the M1 (I have a USB C Hub). I'll be looking into the external powered hub.
 
manub said:
I'm having the same issue with a MBP 13" M1 and my external peripherals. I have a Razer Kiyo camera (not officially supported by Mac) but it works without any issues on my 15" Intel MBP, however it randomly freezes on the M1 (I have a USB C Hub). I'll be looking into the external powered hub.
Click to expand...

That's because the Razer Kiyo needs to have access to 2.5W power on it's own. The entire M1 chip utilises an average of 10-15W.
 
I have a MBP 13" M1 connected to a Cal Digit TS3 Plus and I have no issues with powering USB devices. I have a keyboard, elgato camlink 4k, usb headset, external dac. No issues with any of these devices. The Cal Digit has a dedicated power supply.
 
The top port of the MBP can initialize my eGPU case so I can use the external USB ports. The second port of the MBP can’t init the Thunderbolt device tree on the device so no USB, charging only.
 
GiantKiwi said:
That's because the Razer Kiyo needs to have access to 2.5W power on it's own. The entire M1 chip utilises an average of 10-15W.
Click to expand...
Thanks - that's helpful. Less helpful that Apple hasn't thought about external devices :(

Any recommendation on an externally powered Hub without breaking the bank? Possibly one which could also pass through USB C power (I do have the hub on one port and my external display on another port).
 
Fixed !!!!!!!!
I bought a caldigit thunderbolt 3 dock and everything now works with no issues at all I’m able to stream up to 3 hours no issues and have up 15 connection on this dock
 
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I've updated to Big Sur 11.2 and so far I haven't experienced the camera freeze anymore. Still early stages but will keep an eye on it. I'm thinking of getting a Docking Station regardless anyway but would be good if this is fixed via the newest version of macOS.
 
So I tried out the Cam Link 4K on my m1 MacBook Air again with Big Sur 11.2.2 and so far the device seems to be working now! I haven't done an extended use case (1+ hr) yet, but I have been using it on and off for a day now without any freezing. If I do get any freezing, I'll come back and post my misfortune.

Sine my previous post above, I purchased the EXVIST 4K HDMI Video Capture Card on Amazon and it has been recording at 4k without issue. Two nice things about this device is that it has an HDMI out for pass through and cost less. The only thing that the Cam Link has is that it is a smaller footprint.
 
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manub said:
I've updated to Big Sur 11.2 and so far I haven't experienced the camera freeze anymore. Still early stages but will keep an eye on it. I'm thinking of getting a Docking Station regardless anyway but would be good if this is fixed via the newest version of macOS.
Click to expand...
JoB4031 said:
So I tried out the Cam Link 4K on my m1 MacBook Air again with Big Sur 11.2.2 and so far the device seems to be working now! I haven't done an extended use case (1+ hr) yet, but I have been using it on and off for a day now without any freezing. If I do get any freezing, I'll come back and post my misfortune.

Sine my previous post above, I purchased the EXVIST 4K HDMI Video Capture Card on Amazon and it has been recording at 4k without issue. Two nice things about this device is that it has an HDMI out for pass through and cost less. The only thing that the Cam Link has is that it is a smaller footprint.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the updates! Excited that Big Sur 11.2 may have fixed this issue. Will give it another try!
 
JoB4031 said:
So I tried out the Cam Link 4K on my m1 MacBook Air again with Big Sur 11.2.2 and so far the device seems to be working now! I haven't done an extended use case (1+ hr) yet, but I have been using it on and off for a day now without any freezing. If I do get any freezing, I'll come back and post my misfortune.
Click to expand...
Any frame dropping at 4K?
 
One of the USB-C ports on my MacBook Air m1 went out last week. It didn't detect the charger. USB 2.0 external hard drive is detected by the port but not my Thunderbolt Display nor USB-C thump drive. Apple service center replaced the I/O port board. The part number is 923-03553W. Now everything is back to normal.
 
So came on this thread after searching. But wanted to post a weird workaround for my USB DVD drive I've found is that if I use both USB-C ports and USB-C to USB-A converters that I can use the splitter USB-Y cable. Definitely is a power issue, I don't understand how that is an issue in 2021
 
I noticed this with my M1 Pro MacBook Pro today trying to charge my iPhone. I was using a USB-A to Lightning cable with a USB-A to USB-C adapter. It charged faster on my Anker 20-Watt charger. It would be nice to have a table of what individual ports put out on Apple Silicon devices. I noticed that the front USB-C ports shut off when the system sleeps but I'm not sure about the back ports.
 
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