Hi everyone.
I seem to be having some annoying problem with my Macbook Air. It keeps ejecting my usb soundcard and my SD card and other usb devices randomly . I tried reseting the SMC many times, but only works for a while. Can anyone give me an advice?
MacBook Air 13", macOS 10.14
Try running the Apple Diagnostic.
Make sure the laptop is plugged into the power adapter for all the tests. Make sure no other devices are connected to the laptop during these tests. It would also help to restart the laptop after every test, but especially after a problem is seen (and before trying the other port). If a restart is insufficient to recover after the issue, then make sure to always do an SMC reset before the next test of any port.
Does the USB sound card have the issue on both USB ports when connected directly to them without a hub?
Does a USB flash drive have issues on both USB ports when connected directly without a hub?
Are the USB devices sliding into the port smoothly all the way into the port? Are the devices loose in the ports?
Do you have a USB keyboard and/or mouse to try on these ports?
Are you having any other issues or symptoms with this laptop?
Make sure you are using a good name brand USB hub with external power supply.
Is this the 2018 model or one of the older MBAirs? The 2018 Macs with the T2 chip have issues with USB audio devices at the moment.
Are you connecting the USB device to the left side? If so, try the right side to see if you have the same problem. Also see if a USB drive works.
Thanks for the reply.
Well no issues were found after the diagnostic.
As for the other things, i actually use mostly one particualar DJ sound card which is always connected directly to the port.
When i use the USB hub which is not that ofter i use another USB sound card ( so both in the same time as i am recording ) and a DJ controller . I usually eject the SD card as i thought it was the problem.
I haven't had any troubles with a USB flash drive actually.
As for the ports, depending on the cable but usually everything is sliding smoothly, however i don't use the most expensive cables for the soundcards and they are a little loose. But i belive the cables are the problem here.
No USB keyboard is being used nor mouse .
No other issues with the laptop though.
I used to thing that because i have the SD card always plugged in just to increese my memory it may be causing some troubles. And actually it was just the SD card that was ejecting randomly and and causing the sound card to eject as well. Recently even without the SD card plugged in, whenever i try using the other devices plugged in the hub it ejects everything after a while .
To update:
I just tried switching to the other usb port just be sure, but the pboblem occured again. It seems to be happening when i plug in the hub or if i have the SD card in. So I suppose it may be the my main sound card's cable or the hub in some way. The weird thing is that i have been using this setup for many hours and didn't have any troubles, the only troble i had before was with the unexpeted ejection of the SD card.
Well i am using HAMA usb hub, i am not sure for the model. As for the T2 chip, my Macbook is 2017 model so no problem there.
However, last night i tried using all devices plugged in the hub and it worked fine. I will do few more tests, but it may have been some sort of power problem i guess...
Yeah i am using the Macbook with power supply. I will do a few more tests to make sure.
Does anyone know how can i check if i can update the usb drivers as i am not really aware how to do it ot a Mac ?
Well apparently even with everything plugged into the hub, the problem still appears.
I am not sure if it's not some sort of a drivers problem actually, but i am not used to fix that ot a Mac ( i have been usting a PC for many years), so i have no idea how to check that and perhaps update or reinstall the drivers.
Well both sides actually. I also use a usb hub sometimes and problem appears really random. I thought the SD card is the problem for a while but it stil happens even if i remove it.
Actually one more thing, the problem always seems to be fixing on its own just a minute or two after it occurrs .
However, last night i tried using all devices plugged in the hub and it worked fine.
I will do few more tests, but it may have been some sort of power problem i guess...
Sounds like it.
Is your laptop using a power adapter when this happens?
Using a good (well respected brand) powered hub for all of your USB devices is a good idea. The hub can help as a buffer and is able to supply the power your devices may need.
Macbook Air keeps ejecting usb devices