Macbook late 2013- ethernet over thunderbolt problems

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Level 1

4 points

Macbook late 2013- ethernet over thunderbolt problems

I am struggling with the following issue. Any help appreciated. Many thanks in advance.

Thunderbolt ports do not detect ethernet as expected.

Adding "Thunderbolt 1" or "Thunderbolt 2" from the Network preferences pane does not create this as an option in the available list either.

Adding "Thunderbolt Bridge" does create an option but, as expected, does not work for internet.

Restarting and/ or renewing the DCHP Lease in advanced settings, or setting IVP6 to Link-local only do not work either. I have tried all the iterations of these approaches I can think of.

I have had this Macbook from new and have never used the ethernet adapter. I now need to do so. Ports have been carefully cleaned and I have no reason to believe they have been damaged in any way.

All the above tests have been carried out with multiple cables known to be working. I do not have another mac I can connect unfortunately.

Thanks.

Posted on Jan 1, 2022 10:56 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

BDAqua

Level 10

245,189 points

Jan 2, 2022 1:24 PM in response to D0gS0l1tud3

Safe Boot, (holding Shift key down at startup), does the problem occur in Safe Mode? Could take 10 minutes.

Safe mode attempts to repair Disks & clears lots of caches & loads safe Drivers, & prevents loading of 3rd party extensions, so if Safe Mode works try again in regular boot.

To find out if it's system wide or user specific, try this...

Open System Preferences>Users & Groups, unlock the lock, click on the little plus icon, make a new admin account, log out & into the new account.

Does it work in the new account?

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Answer 2

D0gS0l1tud3 Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 1, 2022 2:53 PM in response to BDAqua

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

Sadly, I can't set the service order because the ethernet to thunderbolt connection is not detected. No amount of trying to add one from the available list in the "+ ---> drop down" process adds one.

Oddly, it did so briefly yesterday (and even at one point named it "Router") but is simply not doing anything when it receives this instruction now. See below for screen caps displaying what I see. Between cap 1 and 2 I am instructing: + -> drop down -> Thunderbolt 2 after which the screen remains as in cap 1.

"System Preferences>Network>choose interface>Advanced>Proxies Tab, make sure none are set, like for HTTP & HTTPS."

I can't find "Choose Interface" anywhere.

Hope this all makes sense. Thank you.

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Answer 3

BDAqua

Level 10

245,189 points

Jan 1, 2022 11:21 AM in response to D0gS0l1tud3

Whilst not mentioning ethernet over thunderbolt specifically, see of thse steps help...

Make a New Location, Using network locations in Mac OS X ...

System Preferences>Network, top of window>Locations>Edit Locations, little plus icon, give it a name.

System Preferences>Network, click on the little gear at the bottom next to the + & - icons, (unlock lock first if locked), choose Set Service Order.

The interface that connects to the Internet should be dragged to the top of the list.

Sys Prefs>Network>highlight the Interface you're using>Advanced>TCP/IP>Configure IPv4: Using DHCP.

If using Wifi, instead of joining your Network from the list, click the WiFi icon at the top, and click join other network. Fill in everything as needed.

System Preferences>Network>choose interface>Advanced>Proxies Tab, make sure none are set, like for HTTP & HTTPS.

System Preferences>Network, unlock the lock if need be, highlight the Interface you use to connect to Internet, click on the advanced button, click on the DNS tab, click on the little plus icon, then add these numbers...

8.8.8.8

8.8.4.4

1.1.1.1

9.9.9.9

Apply.

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Answer 4

BDAqua

Level 10

245,189 points

Jan 2, 2022 8:12 AM in response to D0gS0l1tud3

I don't have that adapter, i do have SSDs plugged into both myTB ports, but i added the Thunderbolt 2 named as Thunderbolt 2 to the list as Thunderbolt Bridge 2.

So, that leaves me thinking the OS needs a reinstall, some 3rd party thing interfering, or mucked TB ports?

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Answer 5

D0gS0l1tud3 Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 2, 2022 12:29 PM in response to BDAqua

There's some weird behaviour in the drivers/ software (allowing or not allowing adding T'bolt connections for example). I'm near as dammit sure the cables, adapter and ports are fine. I've given the ports yet another clean now. I've killed any apps I think might block ports or comms (AV, router and Mac firewall etc. etc.)

Lots of other people reporting very similar things going back quite a few years imply to me it's a known issue that perhaps doesn't come up very often anymore (as people tend to prefer wifi on laptops). Solutions always seem to involve deleting preferences and rebooting. Eventually this should result in the service (T'bolt Ethernet) just offering itself in the preference list. No luck so far sadly.

OS reinstall is an option but I'd really rather leave this until last.

Thanks for your input again.

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Macbook late 2013- ethernet over thunderbolt problems

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