Latest macOS Sonoma update is breaking some USB hubs in monitors
According to some scattered user reports, updating macOS to Sonoma 14.4 is causing some USB hubs embedded in monitors to stop working and there doesn't seem to be a clear fix.
macOS Sonoma 14.4 update breaks USB monitor hubs
On Tuesday, AppleInsider reader Matt wrote to alert us that after updating his MacBook to macOS Sonoma 14.4, his monitor's USB hub no longer works. As it turns out, Matt isn't the only one with this problem.
Reddit threads show that users seem to have the problem on Dell, Samsung, and Gigabyte monitors so far. While the problem seems to mostly affect the USB hubs in monitors, a few users have reported that the update has caused some monitors as a whole to become unresponsive.
More reports have also been found on X, formerly Twitter.
Love that macOS 14.4 has completely killed the use of my display KVM. Just not picking up any USB devices plugged into my monitor (or even that my monitor is a USB hub too).
-- Rhys Morgan (@rhysmorgan)
There's no fix that seems to work for all users. However, a few have found luck by completely powering down their monitors and restarting them, or re-enabling the "allow accessories to connect" prompt in system settings.
How to allow accessories to connect on macOS 14.4
- Open Settings
- Click Privacy & Security
- Click Allow accessories to connect
was not able to duplicate the problem with Apple and LG monitors that rely on USB-C or Thunderbolt connections. The problem does not seem to extend to standalone hubs either. It's not clear what the commonalities are between reports.
For the time being, if you rely on a USB hub in a monitor, it may be wise to wait to update if you haven't already. The update in question was released on March 7.
Read on AppleInsider
Comments
Last but not least, Apple moved from making 'insanely great' products to 'making money' as their internal priority (aka Apple has become 'insanely boring' these days). With 'iPhone growth' having reached it's natural ceiling (aka there are just not enough people with enough money on hand), it boils down to saving money, by reducing legacy support (Intel), by dropping innovative technologies (MicroLED, Car), by filching customers (subscription models, ad's galore in the App Store, that everybody is forced to use, etc).
The bean-counter CEO Tim Cook has run out of ideas that remained from the Steve Jobs area and goes the way of others (like Boeing sacrificing quality on the altar of shareholder value).
Yes there is the Vision Pro thingy, but that likely takes years to take off (if ever) ... then again it's introduction was proof of my thesis. There is simply no 'killer app' for that thing and it's introduction was very boring, no 'oh wow' moment like we had several on the introductions of the first iPod or the first iPhone. I have serious doubts about Apple's innovation machine these days and certainly hope the next CEO will be a product guy again instead of a bean counter.
It's a powered OWC dock. It now can't support all the devices connected it to it for two years complaining of a lack of power.
Is Sonoma 14.4 actually "breaking" these devices, or the devices just no longer work with Sonoma? Big difference. Accurate reporting is important.
I've noticed that with 14.4, I was no longer able to launch an Intel app from an external drive. That was my only minor inconvenience, as copying the app to the internal drive allowed it to launch normally.
Increased security checks?
Sorry to hear about your woes. Keep in mind that your experience might not be global for everyone. If you're experiencing "bricking" with "each" release, it sounds more like a hardware issue, or you have some uncommon kexts (kernel extensions) installed that don't survive an in-place upgrade?
Did you check to see if there's a firmware update?
Just to point out, if these devices still work with Ventura, Monterey, Big Sur, etc., that seems to put the blame on Apple.
This is why I delay upgrading my Apple devices until Q2 the following year. That's right, I'm still on Ventura on my two Macs as well as the previous OS for my iPhones and iPad.
And this year will be different. I am delaying all OS upgrades until early June, just before WWDC. That pretty much guarantees that I will get a mature operating system.
To clarify: I am happy with Apple's hardware and its software ONCE THEY WORK. However this moment no longer exists in September/October. And it hasn't for YEARS.