MBP M1 with Docking station - no support for USB ports anymore?

Question

Level 1

8 points

MBP M1 with Docking station - no support for USB ports anymore?

Hey dear Apple Community,

Maybe someone here has a clue.

Working from home, I used my former 2017 MBP 13' with a Dell D6000 Docking station and two screens via Display link. The docking station connected to my WD time machine backup drive, to my plantronic USB Headset. Everything worked like a charm on Catalina and Big Sur too.

A week ago, I upgraded to a M1 MBP. Whilst the displays are working perfectly, no USB device connected to the docking station is recognized by my new M1 Mac. The Ethernet cable is recognized, but it isn't being given an IP address and not shown as connected (weirdly, it works fine though).

I found out that USB Plantronic devices in general don't work with M1s anymore, as for now — but neither does the USB hard drive, nor my phone on lightning cable, nor any other device. When connected with a simple USB-C dongle, all devices nicely connect to the M1. Just not on the docking station.

Heck, even the Aux output of the docking station isn't recognized when I connect my headphones directly.

Now I wondered, did anyone experience the same issue? And even found a fix for it?

Thanks

Félix :)

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 11.1

Posted on Jan 22, 2021 8:02 AM

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Answer 1

Jan 22, 2021 9:12 AM in response to FFelyxorez

I would check with Dell on this matter, especially since they only spec

the device to work with Windows machines and no mention of Macs.

Personally I am using a Belkin USB-C dock and it is working just fine

with my M1 MacBook Air.

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Answer 2

Jan 22, 2021 12:10 PM in response to FFelyxorez

FFelyxorez wrote:

Thanks for your input.

Unfortunately, Dell states it doesn't officially support Mac devices - yet it worked flawlessly before. My suspicion is that it is M1 related, and I hope it doesn't extend to other USB-C Docking stations. Many offices of my companies have different branded docks at their workplaces, and I am dependent to be able to use them.

It's not rocked science or something that needs to be engineered device specifically.

FWIW, it is not just the M1 chips that make the new Macs different,

the are also using a new generation of Intel Thunderbolt/USB 4

chip as opposed to the older Thunderbolt/USB 3 chips.

This may also be the source of other USB device issues as well.

As to whether there will be macOS updates to address the issues

sooner or later only Apple knows for sure. If they are, considering the

literally 100's of thousands different USB devices in the world,

they may not solve all problems for all devices.

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Answer 3

leroydouglas

Level 10

200,706 points

Jan 22, 2021 10:58 AM in response to FFelyxorez

FFelyxorez wrote:

Thanks for your input.

Unfortunately, Dell states it doesn't officially support Mac devices - yet it worked flawlessly before. My suspicion is that it is M1 related, and I hope it doesn't extend to other USB-C Docking stations. Many offices of my companies have different branded docks at their workplaces, and I am dependent to be able to use them.

It's not rocked science or something that needs to be engineered device specifically.

Belkin mentioned above

See other options :

OWC/Macsales is well ahead of the curve all things Mac:

OWC Docks, Hubs, Docking Stations, and More

https://www.owcdigital.com/products/thunderbolt-3-dock-14-port

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Answer 4

FFelyxorez Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 22, 2021 9:24 AM in response to woodmeister50

Thanks for your input.

Unfortunately, Dell states it doesn't officially support Mac devices - yet it worked flawlessly before. My suspicion is that it is M1 related, and I hope it doesn't extend to other USB-C Docking stations. Many offices of my companies have different branded docks at their workplaces, and I am dependent to be able to use them.

It's not rocked science or something that needs to be engineered device specifically.

Reply