Whereas the brand new Mac mini M4 has impressed us all with its small measurement and processing energy, a USB-C connectivity difficulty has baffled many early adopters.
How he noticed it AppleInsiderposts on a number of totally different boards from individuals who purchased the Mac mini however are having issues with USB-C gadgets related. In lots of instances, gadgets cease working or don’t work in any respect. Publications have appeared within the Apple Assist Neighborhood, MacResourceand reddit. The difficulty doesn’t seem to have an effect on any of the opposite M4 Macs that had been launched on the similar time.
One sample that seems within the numerous publications is that customers join USB-A gadgets utilizing a USB-C adapter right into a rear Thunderbolt/USB-C port. They expertise inconsistent connectivity, however as soon as they swap to a entrance USB-C port, the gadgets work wonderful. Some customers report points with gadgets drawing energy from the rear ports. In some instances, unplugging the system after which plugging it again in fixes the issue.
The Mac mini M2 had a pair of USB-A ports, however Apple eliminated them when it redesigned the Mac mini with a smaller design, therefore the necessity for USB-C to USB-A adapters.
The problems apparently do not have an effect on the Mac mini’s entrance ports, that are simply USB-C and never Thunderbolt ports. This may very well be an indication of an issue between the adapters speaking with the multipurpose nature of the rear ports. The adapters could also be insufficient to take care of the sign required by the rear ports to make a connection.
Apple has but to touch upon the difficulty. If it is advisable use a USB-A to USB-C adapter to attach a tool to a Mac, belief merchandise made by respected corporations, resembling Apple’s personal provide. It is simple to seek out low-cost adapters on Amazon from corporations with meaningless-sounding names, however in our expertise, it is price spending a number of additional {dollars} on merchandise from well-known corporations. Take a look at our guides on The perfect USB-C hubs and adapters and the The perfect Thunderbolt and USB-C docking stations.
Apple Mac mini (M4)