External USB Keyboard/mouse randomly stops working on New MacBook Air Early 2020 model running Catalina 10.15.4

I had the same problem with my old usb 2.0 drives, connected to a MacBook Pro 2018 with two different small docks. The first is an OWC travel dock which dropped the drives pretty often. Now I use an Satechi dock and I had it disconect only twice. I am always on the latest OS.

These external drives are directly connected though. I do have a USB dock from Anker that I use for some other things, but the Mac seems to operate just fine when those are plugged in by themselves. It's only when the external drives are plugged in that I'm having issues.

And point of fact, it's now happened with a new USB 3.0 drive I bought. I'm not sure what's going on.

Having the same issue with my MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports) w/ Catalina 15.5.5. I am using the CalDigit USB-C Pro dock via TB3 to connect to my keyboard (Logitech G513) and my mouse (Logitech G502). At intermittent intervals both devices stop working at the same time, and I have to disconnect and reconnect the TB3 cable for them to reappear and continue working. Additionally, the keyboard is connected to a USB A hub (UGREEN USB 3.0 Hub 3 Ports USB Sound Card 2 in 1 External Stereo Audio) where as the mouse is connected directly to the CalDigit hub.

Same problem here but on a MacBook Pro 13 2015 model with Mac OS Catalina 10.15.5 and use of external USB-hub with power and Logitech Unifier receiver for my Logitech MX wireless keyboard and Logitech dongle for Logitech G603 mouse.

After a pause without using the machine it lose contact with both mouse and keyboard. Only way to fix is restart of Mac.

I am pretty sure this problem arose with the update to 10.15.5.

Hi, I have also been having this issue with my recently purchased 2020 MBP 13'' (4 ports). I have followed the same steps as the original poster to no avail. I have this issue with a USB2.0 keyboard regardless of which of my two usb-c hubs (Anker and Novoo) I use, and which port I use. Unplugging the entire hub typically fixes the issue but the timing between subsequent failures seems to be largely random.

If I do not use the keyboard for ''a while" it is likely to occur - sometimes I will not use the keyboard for hours and it will still be connected, whereas other times I don't use it for <5 minutes and it disconnects. This is an extremely annoying issue, especially given that this is a new device.

I have Catalina 10.15.5 on both laptops , and it have the exact same docking hub for both.

I have 5 connections plugged into the docking hub:

1) Monitor

2) Ethernet cable

3) USB 2.0 Logitech G502 Hero mouse

4) USE 2.0 Logitech G810 Keyboard

5) USB 2.0 Logitech G633 Headset

Nothing happens when I use the MBP 15 2019 even for weeks without disconnecting it.

However, when I connect the MBP 13 2020, it barely last for an hour, and when the issue occurs, only the 3 USB 2.0 devices freeze and stop responding, while the monitor and ethernet cable still function. (Sometimes the whole laptop reboots).

I simply cant use the MBP 13 2020 with USB 2.0 external keyboard, mouse and headset, I have this laptop for about 2 weeks.

Same problem here with a brand new MBP 13'' 2020 running Catalina 10.15.5

My USB DasKeyboard cabled keyboard and cabled mouse stop working randomly (every few hours).

Disconnecting ALL the USB-c ports from the laptop and reconnecting them again seems to solve the issue, but of course it is not a long-term solution.

In my case the set-up can be trickier because I am using a USB3.0 Sharing Switch selector hub (UGREEN brand) in order to share my peripherals between my MBP and a desktop gaming PC. Since the output of that switch is a USB-A connector, I then add the Apple USB-C to USB-A adapter to the equation.

In any case, and since many other people have the issue, it seems that Catalina has some issue when handling multiple connected USB devices.

I forgot to mention that on other two thunderbolt-3 ports, I connect two Dell Monitors, via two Thrunderbold-3 to Mini-Displayport adapters.

Just to add to the conversation.

I'm having the same issue on a MacbookPro 2020 13" with 4 thunderbolt ports.

I have a bunch of peripherals but I hardly think it's a problem on my end because there was no issue with my previous macbook pro (mid 2012), which I was using up until a week ago.

I really hope it's a software issue and can be solved easily via a patch or something.

I found this:

https://9to5mac.com/2020/06/17/users-reporting-usb-2-0-compatiblity-issues-with-2020-macbook-pro-and-macbook-air/

I continue to troubleshooting... based on the link above, USB2.0 devices could be the culprits.. in my case I use speakers that are 2.0 and also the mouse it's 2.0.

Just want to chime in. Using an anker hub with a few peripherals plugged in. Struggling with same problem on macbook pro 2020, a connected bluetooth usb logitech mouse shuts off randomly and I have to unplug and replug the USB-C connection from my hub to my computer for it to work again (and usually only for a temporary amount of time). Stay strong everyone. Hopefully apple is figuring it out since we can't be the only ones complaining.

I do not feel Apple is meeting its usual standard of responsiveness to customer experience here. I am sitting at an apple keyboard, and attaching it to an apple device from the simplest of USB-legacy to USB-C converters, as well as a range of docks and hubs, and it is quite clear there is a problem with software. Reading around makes it obvious the problem is widespread, and affects anyone whose hub or converter sends USB-2 into the USB-C endpoint. If your hub or device up-lifts the USB-2 into USB-C its fine, and this may explain why mixed-mode devices such as display port and other technologies in the dock work fine, when the mouse and keyboard do not: they are being "passed through" as-is.

The lack of respect inherent in asking us to repeat warranty call debug paths up to and including re-install is simply unacceptable. You should be publishing a public statement "there is a bug in the USB-2 implementation" and let us move on.

Butterfly keyboard all over again. Do you not learn?

I have the same problem

15" MacBook Pro 2020

3 non USB-C devices. An apple keyboard, an old 8 button mouse and a plantronics headset.

About once a day they all freeze only a reboot fixes it.

2 of the devices are plugged into a usb-c port replicator thingy which isn't affected, nor is the cdmi monitor plugged into it

Haven't bought any USB-C devices yet

Agree with the comments about apple not admitting there's a problem but thats how Apple operate so we shouldn't be surprised

An SMC and NVRAM reset normally puts the problem off for a couple of days

Always seems to freeze at the worst time too.

Yes, it would be nice if Apple were a little bit more transparent and issued some sort of statement letting us know that, yes they're aware of the problem, there's no need to return your 2020 MacBook Pro, and that they're working on a software fix. 🙏 Leaving us all in the dark is not a good customer experience, especially given the price of these products. ☹️

Same issue here with the 2020 MacBook Pro 4 thunderbolt. Just came off the official chat support and they have told me I should get the MacBook checked up for USB issues, even after sharing links to this thread. I connected 3 types of dongles and mouse, keyboard and audio interface disconnect randomly - most importantly - during recordings! Hope a software fix will be deployed soon...

I have the same issue here. I connect USB 2.0 hub to Anker USB type-c hub, and Anker USB type-c connect to MacBookPro 2020 13 inch. Keyboard, mouse, mic and usb headphone which connect to the USB 2.0 hub freeze once an hour. When I have the issue, I remove the Anker USB type-c hub from MacBook Pro once, then wait 10 secs, then re-connect again.

MacBookPro 2020 13inch

USB type-c hub: Anker AK-A83460A2

USB 2.0 hub: Digio usb2.0 hub UH-2214SBK