Samsung T5 SSD does not work with new M1 Mac

the usb-c 3.0 to usb-c 3.1 didn’t work for me BUT I found a much easier solution after spending 2 hours on the phone with 4 reps from apple.

Open disk utility when mounting your drive.

Thats it. For me atleast. When I did that it “unlocked” my other ports I guess 🤷‍♂️

My T5 would only mount to the thunderbolt ports and not the other two usb-c ports. I could also only mount my tethering cable and hdmi adapter to the thunderbolt ports before this. For whatever reason opening disk utility while mounting my drive “unlocked” the capabilities of the first two usb-c ports. I know it sounds dumb but I was floored when it happened. The rep couldn’t explain it and just said yea..sometimes stuff like that happens 🥴 🤷‍♂️ so now all 4 ports work like you’d expect them to. Hope that helps. If it doesn’t I’m sorry. This stuff is a royal pain

I had the same issue. Used my Samsung T5 drive on old (non-M1) MacBook without issue, then switched to pro 2021 and SSD no longer worked.

1. Start with the SSD connected
2. Log out as User
3. Log back in

That was it for me!

It feels like I'm cheating on Apple by posting a link to Samsung, but at the end of the day it's their product.

There's a few steps to go through

To allow third party software on almost all Apple computers, you must access your security and privacy settings to allow the software. This is the same for all third party software that are blocked by apple security.

Samsung does provide a guide on how to go through your security setting and gives an explanation of these possible security restrictions too. To follow Samsung's Guide please see the link below.

Now, if your Apple computer is not giving you the options to allow third party software.

You must contact Apple so that they can give the full permissions needed to the Samsung Portable SSD software 1.6.8. Samsung cannot provide the full permissions to the Samsung Portable SSD software 1.6.8, only Apple can do this for you as there are security setting in OSX that need to be changed, if the allow options are not being given to you by the Apple computer itself through its security settings.

Samsung's Guide and explanation - https://s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/global.semi.static/Troubleshooting+Guide+for+macOS+Compatibi...

Samsung's download page - (Please look for Samsung's Portable SSD Software Compatibility Troubleshooting Guide for MacOS)

- https://www.samsung.com/semiconductor/minisite/ssd/download/tools/

Apple own website, also mentions how System Extension from third party developers may be blocked automatically- https://support.apple.com/guide/deployment-reference-macos/kernel-extensions-in-macos-apd37565d329/w... 

On M1 Mac to get into this setting, when you start your Mac up, continue to hold the power button,

NOTE: There are guides that say hold CMD + R, this is not the way for M1 mac's

Follow the guide and you'll get there.

Alternatively, the T7's seem to have no issues running

Interesting related thread here: Cant read Samsung T5 on Macbook Air M1 - Apple Community

I CANT BELIEVE THIS WORKED.

After spending an hour booting into recovery mode and using the security utility etc. I tried this just to see what would happen and now I can access my T5. I'm shocked.

Thank you!

Can't tell you how annoying this is. Appreciate the solution!