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

After a massive headache and many hours with support, Apple eventually agreed to refund the money for the incompatible dock (CalDigit TS3+ in my case). Too bad they won't also take back the laptop -- my 2015 air was far more stable/reliable (and didn't require carrying around a full bag of adapters). This is likely to be my last Apple product.

Having the same problem with a 2020 MacBook Air (i5, 16GB RAM) and a Kensington (K38625US) thunderbolt dock. I'm plugging into an LG 27GL83A-B as well as a Dell U2419HC. I've tried many fixes that have been listed by others here. It seems to be OS related. Happens on a daily basis.

I seem to be able to recreate it by connecting my laptop to the thunderbolt dock, docking my laptop by closing the lid and using it, undocking my MacBook by unplugging it (when I switch to docking my work laptop instead), and then plugging my MacBook back in to dock it. It always fails to dock properly, and when I unplug it and open the lid, it crashes and tells me "Intel CrashLog recorded due to unexpected reset" on reboot.

Very similar issue here. All USB devices plugged into my CalDigit TS3 Plus aren't recognized until restarting. Luckily, I don't see the crashes when unplugging/replugging the dock, but doing so doesn't resolve the issue.

MBP 13 2020

i5 10th-gen

macOS 10.15.6

I've been having issues described here with v10.15.6 as well, and like others, I have the 2020 13" MBP with a TS3+ dock. The only thing I'd like to add regards the OS version and behavior. I've been tracking an issue on this laptop for a few months now (back when it was running v10.15.5), and as I wrote (paraphrased) in my notes:

There exists a repeatable problem that happens a couple times a week (sometimes twice in one day). It seems to be correlated to using the dock, but this isn't very well defined. At some point, I plug my computer into the dock and the external USB keyboard stops working. Once the keyboard stops working, I have to use the laptop keyboard until I reboot the computer. Once the above issue with the keyboard is seen, the computer will keep working for some number of minutes or hours, and then will crash to a black screen that says (in 6 languages), "Your computer restarted because of a problem. Press a key or wait a few seconds to continue starting up."

As far as I can tell, the only difference between v10.15.5 and v10.15.6 is the delay between when the failure occurs, and when it actually crashes the OS.

I submitted this issue to Apple Care and they ran a "full 6-hour diagnostic test" overnight and found no fault with the hardware. So they reformatted the laptop and reinstalled macOS (v10.15.6). I brought the laptop home (installed only Firefox and Vivaldi from the initial state) and reproduced the crash the very next day. I just made it happen again 5 minutes ago.

This is maybe obvious to everyone, but just in case it needs to be clear; this is utterly unacceptable. I bought this laptop on the hope of stability.

Of course this is not an issue with the dock. Nothing new. Already been confirmed.

I have multiple thunderbolt docks at work and all of them shows the same issue, however all of them works just fine with older Macbooks. So yeah, it's already obvious this is software related and only related to the (13") 2020 MBP...

I found a partial workaround. Your mileage may vary.

I have 2020 13" MBP with an Elgato Thunderbolt 3 Pro Dock and experience both the kernel panic (system crash) and non-working ports that many others have described.

After systematically testing with separate user accounts, I can now avoid the system crash, by changing a setting in System Preferences under Security & Privacy in the General tab. I had set it to require password "immediately" after sleep or screen saver begins. As far as I can tell, on my system, changing this setting to anything else, e.g., 5 seconds prevents the system from crashing. But I still have a problem getting the Ethernet port to connect when reconnecting the dock. This still requires a reboot.

I hope this might help others avoid system crashes.

^ Unfortunately this did not help me. I always had it set to "immediately", unfortunately no dice for me. When I disconnect the dock, close macbook, connect it again, ports does not work, disconnect and I get kernel panic and restart.

100% reproducible all the time even with the "immediately" require password after sleep or screen saver begins. So this does not do it for me. :(

What does it for me is changing my laptop to Dell. This works. I can recommend it to others, because Apple so called support is unbelievable. I've got fully loaded MBP for 2k USD, yet I can't keep uptime longer than 1 day and I must reboot every time before I reconnect Apple-recommended docking station. Well done Apple.

I've now raised a case with Apple.

It's very important we all do this.

The support guy I spoke with said he couldn't find any specific notes about this issue on their system. So I've sent him a link to this thread.

He said he would get it escalated with the Engineering department, and thought it sounded like firmware update would be required.

Perhaps the more people that raise a case, the more likely this will get resolved sooner.

I've had a case open with Apple with three weeks. My tech tried to blame my docking station until I was able to prove it happened without it. Best of luck. I hope your tech is more helpful than mine has been.

I am glad I am not the only one. I have the same issue with a OWC Thunderbolt 3 Dock (https://www.owcdigital.com/products/thunderbolt-3-dock-14-port) on my new MBP 13 2020 going to my Dell 4k display. I am very unhappy with apple about this as it seems they need to resolve this. I am very tired of seeing: Intel CrashLog recorded due to unexpected reset

I created a ticket. They want me to reproduce the problem in safe mode. I will do that shortly.

As with others, the conversation always assumes it's the dock that's the problem despite my sharing this thread. I don't understand how dock manufacturers are in touch with Apple engineers but this isn't documented anywhere.

I am having the same issue. I have a MBP2020 13" attached to CalDigit T3 Plus. The dock is connected to 2 external monitors, an audio interface, an external web camera, and an external mic. Occasionally, I would connect an external SSD to it.

When I first set up my CalDigit T3 Plus in July, every thing was working fine, and up powering on the CalDigit T3 Plus, it wakes my MBP and turns on everything. This has been the set up I ran since I purchase the items in July. However in Aug, when I power on my CalDigit as normal, I realized that my Audio Interface was not connected (via USB). I unplugged the cable to my MBP and my MBP crashed. However, upon restarting, everything was ok. I thought that this is a once-off issue but ever since the issue continued.

I thought it was the CalDigit issue and I contact CalDigit. They did some checks and told me that they will replace my unit. Upon receiving the new unit, I tried the set up again and it did not work. Contact CalDigit and they recommended me to contact Apple. I contact Apple and they changed my logic board. However, upon receiving my MBP (after 2 weeks), the issue was not resolved. I contact Apple and CalDigit again. Apple recommended that I factory reset my MBP but that did not help. CalDigit shared that it seems to be an issue related to a macOS Incompatibility issue. That is how I ended up here and also sharing my experience.

I am still waiting for a response from Apple since last week. I really hope something can be done to resolve this soon...

True. However, I believe this is something that Apple maybe aware of but may not be a priority item to address on their list? I think they then not to conduct hotfix for such issues - unless we have greater outcry in the Apple community. But currently, I don't think there's a lot (in my observant). However, CalDigit is aware and I understand they have communicated it with Apple. In my email with CalDigit, they state:

"Therefore, we recommend to wait until Apple releases its new macOS version (Big Sur) later this year because the issue should be addressed in this new release. We cannot guarantee the issue will be solved right at the first release so therefore we advise to make sure your MacBook is running on the latest macOS version at all times."

I tried option 1 (or rather that's how I have been using the MBP2020 with CalDigit since i purchase them in Jun/Jul) and it does not work. As long as you turn off the power for your CalDigit (and naturally put your MBP to sleep), the issue will surface and requires a restart. My personal experience.