catalina does not suppport superdrive

Hate to say it but there is a problem with Catalina and the Superdrive. I just purchased a new Superdrive. Catalina would recognize the drive and would allow me to play CDs, but it would not let me play DVDs. Took the drive to a third party Apple Service center. They confirmed my error, but then thought about trying it on a non-Catalina machine. The drive worked fine. They reset the DVD region using the non-Catalina machine and now it works fine. It appears there is an issue with region control, Apple Superdrive, and Catalina. You will need a non-Catalina machine to set your region code, or buy a third party drive. I have a third part drive from OWC and it works fine.

Hello, ripley500.

Welcome to Apple Support Communities.

I understand that your SuperDrive and Asus external DVD players aren't working since updating to macOS Catalina. I'd like to help and share some information with you. With macOS Catalina, the SuperDrive won't show up in the, Finder sidebar, Desktop, or Disk Utility unless a disc is inserted.

If you need to make sure that the drive is working on a software level, open System Preferences. The CDs and DVDs preference pane will only show up when the SuperDrive is connected. If this appears, then the Mac recognizes that the SuperDrive is attached on a software level. For hardware, check System Information > USB, and System Information > Disc Burning.

You may need to reach out to Asus for more information about their drive.

If this isn't the case with either drives, let me know in more details of what happens.

Cheers!

Try resetting the SMC: How to reset the System Management Controller (SMC) on your Mac - Apple Support

Next, log into another user account and see if the problem persists there in Photos. (This tells us if the problem is limited to your user account or is system wide).

Boot into Safe Mode (Use Safe Mode to isoloate issues with your Mac) and try playing there.

NOTE: Safe Mode boot can take up to 10 minutes as it's doing some system cache cleaning, volume verifying and directory repairing. 

Nope' both my LG desktop and portable CD/DVD drives that worked as far back as OS X Snow Leopard, still work today on my newer Mac's running macOS Mojave and Catalina.

I would reset your Mac's SMC and NVRAM, startup in Safe Mode followed by a normal restart and then retest your CD/DVD drives.

Google translation:

I have the same problem, I just bought the MacBook Pro 16plg and md makes a mistake "this device requires power, connect to the electricity network", I tested it on two machines of an Apple physical store in Mexico and I made the same mistake, they tested it on a computer 2018 or less, with Mojave or earlier and I work the superdrive without problem. You have to generate an update of Catalina so that it functions correctly (Apple, urgent)

Can you explain the statement in bold? Does that mean the Superdrive won't work on your MBP without it being connected to the power cube?

I rebooted my iMac and the System Report did not show any SuperDrive. I shutdown my iMac, during startup I attached the SuperDrive and inserted a current DVD (TurboTax 2019). The system can now see the contents of the SuperDrive.

Tengo el mismo problema, recién compré la MacBook Pro 16plg y md marca un error "este dispositivo requiere energía, conecte a la red Eléctrica", lo probé en dos maquinas de una tienda física de apple en Mexico y marco el mismo error, lo probaron en na computadora 2018 o menos, con Mojave o anterior y trabajo el superdrive sin problema. Tiene que generar una actualizacion de Catalina para que funciones correctamente (Apple, urge)

It appears that Catalina LOST the logic to allow you to plug the SuperDrive in while running. The boot logic still has the logic to see the SuperDrive, reset it and allow you to insert a DVD/CD. Apple needs to FIND the missing logic and put it back into Catalina.

Question directed to someone any one at Apple: Would there be any sort of update? I am a graphic designer and I need the hard drive to work, please.

They won't see it here. This is a user-to-user forum. To get your concern before an Apple employee, please use this feedback link:

Feedback - macOS - Apple

Feedback works. There have been a number of issues where high numbers of feedback link reports resulted in a fix.

It sounds like that particular SuperDrive is damaged and drawing too much power. If you can, see if you can test another SuperDrive in your USB ports.

If it's been less than 14 days or less since you purchased the drive you can return it to Apple for a complete refund no questions asked.

Let me tell you about another actualization. My took my iMac (27", Late 2015) running the latest version of Catalina (10.15.3) and plugged my older SuperDrive (Model A1379) into a USB port on my iMac. I could not insert a DVD nor does Disk Utility see the SuperDrive. My conclusion is the SuperDrive works properly only between a LIMITED number of Apple products.

The System Report shows an Apple USB SuperDrive but it has a Serial Number which does not match the one on the box that the SuperDrive came in. I tried attaching the SuperDrive to my old 17" MBP running High Sierra and it gave an error message that it is not supported. It already has an internal SuperDrive.

There are two lasers, one for reading and one for burning. Try a cleaning disc in the drive - one that uses only a brush. There may be some dust on the burn laser or it could be slightly misaligned. The cleaning disc can help the first of those two possibilities.

Already tried another usb-port? SuperDrive works on Catalina

I have been having problems with my superdrive since the Catalina installation. I went through troubleshooting with Apple Support and at the Genius Bar. My drive worked in the store but not on my imac. Anyone with a late 2012 mac and Catalina OS having trouble with their superdrive? Mine will not recognize the region of DVDs, freezes the Music app when trying to play the CD and freezes up when burning a CD.

Have you tried cleaning the drive with a dry cleaning disc?

Have you tried another SuperDrive or aftermarket CD/DVD player?

Have you tried your SuperDrive with another Mac or one at your local Apple Store?