M1 MacBook Air - USB ethernet problem

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Level 1

35 points

M1 MacBook Air - USB ethernet problem

I have read posts about this several months ago. If have an M1 MacBook Air. Everything works flawlessly except that no USB ethernet connection will work properly. I've tried multiple brands with different chip manufacturers and the same thing happens: network settings recognizes the USB ethernet adapter, assigns it an IP address and it works fine for all LAN activities. However, all connections to the internet time out. WiFi works fine for everything, and when I default back to an old Thunderbolt 2 - ethernet dongle, connected to another thunderbolt 2 - thunderbolt 1 dongle that works fine too. It just is kind of clunky for travel, etc. When I go into safe mode internet access is perfect with a USB to ethernet adapter. I have tried disabling or uninstalling everything that starts up on log-in including prime suspects lime me Intego firewall, all to no avail. Assigning a fixed IP address rather than DHCP (something suggested in posts late last year) didn't help either. There was a time when ethernet through USB worked intermittently but for the last few weeks (with no new software installed), it hasn't worked at all. I can live with the situation, but it is inelegant. I do not believe a re-install of MacOS would help since my existing version (11.3.1) does work fine in safe mode. I just can't figure out what is gumming up the works. Any suggested fixes would be greatly appreciated.

Posted on May 4, 2021 2:42 PM

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Answer 1

judysings

Community Specialist

May 5, 2021 11:46 AM in response to EthanW6258

Hi EthanW6258,

Thank you for using the Apple Support Communities. We understand that you are having problems with the internet timing out when using a USB ethernet adapter and that it works fine in safe mode, is that correct? If so, have you tried to set up a new user account to try to figure out if it’s a software issue in your current user account?

Set up users, guests, and groups on Mac

You may also want to Use Apple Diagnostics to help check for hardware issues.

Have a good day!

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Answer 2

chris_g1

Community Specialist

May 7, 2021 6:20 AM in response to EthanW6258

EthanW6258,

Thank you for using the Apple Support Communities. It sounds like you had the same problem in another user account and that the diagnostics screen did not work. At this time we would have to recommend that you contact Apple Support for more help.

Take care

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Answer 3

EthanW6258 Author

Level 1

35 points

May 8, 2021 12:33 PM in response to chris_g1

I contacted Apple support. They suggested re-installing MacOs which I did. Did not solve either the diagnostics screen problem or the USB ethernet problem. I then updated the firmware using Congifurator 2 on my iMac and putting the MacBook Air into DFU mode. See https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/apple-configurator-2/apdd5f3c75ad/mac. That solved the diagnostics screen problem. Ran a diagnostic and no trouble with the ports. Unfortunately it still did not solve the original USB ethernet problem. It must be some piece of software that I am running. Having tried unloading or disabling all that I am aware of, though, I guess I will just have to wait for the mystery software to be updated some time in the future. Since re-installing MacOs didn't help, it isn't a piece of Apple software causing the problem. WiFi works fine and is almost as fast as ethernet, so I can live with this minor issue. However, any further suggestions would be appreciated if for no other reason than to solve the puzzle. At least if any of you out there have a problem with your diagnostic screen freezing up, I found a solution to that.

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Answer 4

EthanW6258 Author

Level 1

35 points

May 6, 2021 4:07 PM in response to judysings

I created a new user with no other configuration. Same problem. Tried to test diagnostics 3 times (twice on line, once off) but the system freezes on the screen that says "Checking your Mac... about 1 minute remaining". Keyboard and trackpad don't work. Only way to get out of it is hold down power button long enough to re-start. I also removed all the start-up software (even uninstalling some) from my usual user account (such as Intego software). None of this helped. Only in safe mode does it work. So I can't identify the offending kernel extensions or software. Don't know why the diagnostic screen doesn't work either, but that's another issue.

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M1 MacBook Air - USB ethernet problem

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