MBP 13 2020 won't recognize USB devices from TB dock after sleeping and connecting to the dock. After unplugging the dock MBP crashes and does SMC reset

I've been having this issue w/ my 13" 2020 MBP since I started using it a couple of months ago, with different dock models.

TL;DR

• Issue reproduced on 2 different 13" 2020 MBPs running 10.15.7, one running a clean macOS install (no additional software installed), w/ 2 different TB docks.
• 13" 2018 MBP works fine in all of the (same) tested configurations.

Details:

Since I have the benefit of having multiple MBPs and docks to test with, I'm (not that folks here require convincing) incredibly confident this issue isn't due to some people having faulty hardware (e.g. logic board, dock, whatever).

• I was easily able to reproduce the kernel panic ("Intel CrashLog recorded due to unexpected reset") on a freshly installed 13” 2020 MBP (clean macOS installation- zero software installed).
• This is consistently reproduced w/ 2 different 10.15.7 builds ((19H2 and 19H15 - didn't bother to test 19H4 and/or 10.15.6).
• 10.15.5 (19F2200) works fine.
• 11.0.1 (20B50 - didn't test 20B29) works fine.

I tested 2 different setups:

• OWC TB3 dock, with 2 devices connected to it- Dell U2719DC monitor (DisplayPort) and Logitech K120 USB keyboard:

                     +---------+
                     |   MBP   |
                     +----+----+
                          |
                          |
                         TB3
                          |
                          v
                   +------+-------+
                   | OWC TB3 dock |
                   +----+-----+---+
                       |     |
                      USB    DP
+---------------+      |     |      +--------------+
| Logitech K120 +------+     +------+ Dell U2719DC |
+---------------+                   +--------------+

• Apple Thunderbolt Display, w/ an Apple Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter:

                     +---------+
                     |   MBP   |
                     +----+----+
                          |
                          |
                 Apple TB3/TB2 adapter
                          |
                          v
                 +--------+---------+
                 | Apple TB Display |
                 +------------------+

It's quite silent here since Christmas. Everyone got this fixed already?

Just to check-in - I've "resolved" this by replacing my thunderbolt dock with the USB-C DisplayLink-capable dock. It's a downgrade as DisplayLink can't play DRM content and the display performance is not that good and also I have to connect my second monitor separately with display port to thunderbolt cable separately, because DisplayLink has problems with screen rotation unfortunately. So yep, definitely a downgrade, but still an improvement, because I don't have to reboot my Macbook every single day.

Thanks Apple.

Hello,

I'm experiencing something similar on my MacBookPro13 (2020-touchbar) model Catalina.

The USB devices connected from the Thunderbolt3 dock are not recognized properly, and the audio interface may or may not produce sound.

The problem is not only with CalDigit's Thunderbolt3D dock product, but also with other audio interface manufacturers.

Apogee.

[Alert: Apogee Thunderbolt devices and 2020 MacBook Pro 13″ and MacBook Air].

Dec 16, 2020

https://knowledgebase.apogeedigital.com/pending/alert-apogee-thunderbolt-devices-and-2020-macbook-pro-13/

AntelopeAudio

[Macbook Pro 2020 Clicks & Pops on Catalina and Later]

11 Feb, 2021

https://support.antelopeaudio.com/support/solutions/articles/42000083672-macbook-pro-2020-clicks-pops-on-catalina-and-later

Same here, Big Sur 11.1 fixed it for me as well (2020MPB13).

If you can, upgrade to Big Sur.

I had all those same issues, and I upgraded to Big Sur about a month ago and all issues have been fixed.

I'm running into this issue as well.

I've been working with a senior advisor for two weeks now trying to diagnose the issue with my 13" 2020 Macbook. I use a Henge Dock/Brydge docking station. Apple tried to tell me there was no issue with my machine and it must be the docking station. I reached out to the Byrdge and I was in the process of mailing back my dock so they could take a look at it.

Over this past weekend, I plugged my Apple Thunderbolt displays directly into my computer and ran into the same issue three more times, so it's not the docking station. I also lose the ability to use my USB keyboard when I plug into my dock after it's been asleep over night. It's most definitely an issue with the Macbook/software.

One solution that has kinda worked for me is that if I leave my computer connected to the monitor and just unplug my power supply, I can usually come back the next morning and not have an issue.

I purchased my Macbook on June 12 of this year, and have had the issue since I got it.

I have a somewhat similar issue with my dock + the update from CalDigit support

TLDR: First update from CalDigit, then I will describe by problem for posterity in case other people have similar issues:

Our team has been in communications with Apple regarding this issue. We’ve seen user’s experience USB’s getting disabled and restarts on the 2020 MBP with our docks and other brands. We have also been able to replicate the restarts and have reported our findings to the Apple team

[...]

Apple is aware of this problem and this should be resolved in a later addition to the operating system.

Hopefully we will see a solution in the near future.

-----------------------------

My actual problem:

I have 2 identical setups at home & at work, 2x Acer 2K monitors + Caldigit USB-C dock + Logitech wireless mouse + keyboard combo + ethernet cable + several USB-A peripherals via USB Hub ( phone charger, watch charger, thumb drives) .

Every time I move my laptop ( which is daily) from work to home, or from home to work, and re-connect it to CalDigit Dock (either at home or at work), my external  mouse & keyboard are unresponsive (monitors connected via DPs and other USB devices seem to work fine). They only way I can get them to work again, is to reboot macbook. 

This is a brand new MacBook 2020 13 inches. Before that I had a MacBook 15 from 2015, that died in a battery explosion :( That was the best laptop ever.

So I have an update/confirmation on this issue

I was still within return period for my MacbookPro 13, 2020. So I exchanged it for a MacBook Pro 16" 2020, and paid the difference. Updated new machine to Catalin 10.15.6 Restored from timemachine backup.

Tried it at the office... Behold it works with the CalDigit usb-c dock! Came back home and connected to my CalDigit usb-c dock, and it works too! Only been running for a day, but all the issues with USB & wireless Logitehc Keyboard/Mouse combo connected via Caldigit dock - have disappeared.

This is def an issue with Macbook Pro 13" / Air and MacOsx Catalina 10.15.6 . Not the the hardware issue with docks.

p.s:

I am a bit disappointed, because I wanted to use a smaller laptop with the replacement, but the annoyance of having to reboot my laptop twice a day to have my external devices work with the dock, and then restoring all my applications to working state, is not worth it. The new macbook pro 16 was only $200 more - smaller drive, but everything else is the same or better. Plus I can use 16 cores instead of 8 when compiling.

Device: MBP 13" 2020 i7

Catalina 10.15.7 (19H2)

Display: Apple recommended LG Ultrafine 5k with integrated dock

I have the same issue as the OP, and it is ongoing since I got my MBP2020 end of May.

Disconnecting the display usually works, using the MBP unconnected (except for power) afterwards as well, but when reconnecting the next day to the display I almost every time get a kernel panic, later "explained" by "Intel CrashLog recorded due to unexpected reset".

Or I have to manually restart to make USB (external Apple keyboard and Apple Touchpad) work again.

Or I get a total lockup where the external display shows nothing but what I now call the Psychedelic Beach Ball Of Death because it's the normal BBOD but spinning like crazy and colored in the orange/magenta range only. In this case, only forced shutdown (holding down touchID button > 10sec) helps.

The LG Ultrafine 5k is as close as it is possible to get to an "Apple" TB3 dock - they said they "worked with LG" back in 2016 to make this the best display for the then new TB3 MBPs.

It is definitely an Apple issue. And while it got really reproducible with the new MBP2020, the TB3/USB stack in macOS was unstable since the MBP2016, also in the MBP2018 and now in the MBP2020 to various degrees.

It looks to me as if Apple is just dukt taping this and that over time, shifting problem zones a bit, causing some uses cases to get working while ruining others, but apparently is not really able to find and fix the underlying problem at the root :-(

FWIW I tried out Big Sur Beta a few weeks ago and it didn't help. But I read on reddit of some users saying the latest beta update of Big Sur 11.0 were having some success with the Thunderbolt issue and docking. I figured what the heck, I was on Catalina went to Big Sur, back to Catalina, and yesterday I went back to Big Sur and so far I've gone 3 days with no errors or reboots. There is another update to the beta 11.1 but I'm hesitant to update, as this version has been solid, and has fixed the dock issue.

I installed Big Sur over the weekend - MBP 13 i7 2020.

Tried 10 times unplugging display, plugging back in and no restart. Before in Catalina I think I would have already had at least 3 restarts in that many tries so for now it looks like the issue has been solved with Big Sur!

eurosys wrote:

Anyway, I have not experienced any problems since connecting the official Macbook power adapter directly to my Macbook as well as my Dock. No more Intel Crashlog related restarts, no more USB devices not being connected until reboot, and no more long logins. It's a pain I'm having to use 2x power adapters, one to the dock and one to the Macbook but hey at least the reboots have gone and I can actually use my dock.

Unfortunately your solution does not work for me.

Tried opening the lid, connecting official MacBook USB-C power adapter, THEN connecting the thunderbolt dock but the issue was there nonetheless. USB devices connected to the dock were not available so I had to restart as usual.

Shame :(

It seems the issue is fixed with the latest macOS Big Sur Developer Beta 10, released today, I have done some initial tests and no panic errors so far.

Update: 6 days with BS Beta 10, no crashes 🤞

Anyone seeing that the 11.4 update just pushed seems to have fixed this issue? I’ve had my Buffalo drive on the adapter now for almost 24 hours (gasp!) and no crashes or reboots. Solved??