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External SSD keeps disconnecting after upgrading to Sonoma

In order to replicate the issue just connect any external SSD wait for a while and it will be disconnected with message "Disk Not Ejected Properly". SSD is connected to M1 MacBook Pro. It's neither a cable issue because I tried multiple cables, nor an SSD issue as everything worked just fine before upgrade.

Posted on Oct 4, 2023 12:23 PM

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Posted on Jun 5, 2024 12:28 PM

I have the same happening, Sonoma 14.2 but with my external HDD. I used a WD mobile drive 5TB for years and it recently disconnected more and more often, until in the end it could not even be mounted anymore. Disk utility could not fix it. I thought the drive is the problem and got a new one, now a LaCie 5TB.


But the same thing happens. It keeps disconnecting once or twice a day, even when in the middle of a backup process.


This is a major bug.

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Jun 5, 2024 12:28 PM in response to DimitryD

I have the same happening, Sonoma 14.2 but with my external HDD. I used a WD mobile drive 5TB for years and it recently disconnected more and more often, until in the end it could not even be mounted anymore. Disk utility could not fix it. I thought the drive is the problem and got a new one, now a LaCie 5TB.


But the same thing happens. It keeps disconnecting once or twice a day, even when in the middle of a backup process.


This is a major bug.

Apr 22, 2024 6:11 AM in response to ryanp83

I have the Kingston XS2000, it keeps unmounting and won't stay mounted long enough to back it up. How did you back it up?? Did it stay on for a period to allow you to do it.


This whole unmounting thing is driving me F crazy, I'm really afraid of losing my data. And please don't say back it up, that's just the problem it won't let me. Apple wtf are you playing at??


May 28, 2024 1:11 PM in response to VictorSerban

Do do do report it!


  • Official Apple Support
    • Easy route: Get Support > Start Now (bottom of page) > pick device > Live Chat. This has proven efficient lately in my experience. 💡Insist on MAC support or (again, my exp) even when Mac specified, you can waste time with a generalist or iOS person who has no knowledge of Mac or Mac O/S.
    • Why bother*? Because if it continues 2-3 times a week you may end up with corrupted data and fried drives (as I did). Also not a bad idea to get it logged early on so there's a record with Apple in case it becomes a major issue requiring hardware intervention.
  • Product Feedback - Apple (no replies there, just for the record).


*Wish I'd reported it so as soon as the problem arose, insead of thinking it was everything but my MBP and losing a screen and 2 disks. Genius Bar was unable to replicate it, so the tech leaned towards the idea that it wasn't a Mac fault. The Mac was finally replaced, but it was a long battle that cost me dearly in time, data loss, stress and hardware.


As others have said, Apple will only take this seriously if they receive numerous reports about it.




Nov 28, 2023 11:31 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Not sure why you're replying to me with all that, but it's really rubbing me the wrong way. I am a video editor for a living and I use SSD drives every single day of my life. I would like to think I have a pretty firm grasp of how to use, initialize, and format them. Everything was working fine for YEARS until this recent update.. it is without a question a macOS software issue.


By the way, control clicking 'Get Info', will tell you in plain english what the drive's format is.

May 28, 2024 12:03 PM in response to DimitryD

Well...same. Currently, thank God, I only have this annoying "Disk Not Ejected Properly" when using my external SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD - 2TB. I've been using it for a year on my previous 2018 MBP with Mojave...and I NEVER HAD A SINGLE PROBLEM. But ever since I paid a fortune for a new max spec MBP with M3 Max and all that...I've started to get random unsafe ejects. Thankfully it doesn't happen during transfers or etc...or I've been very lucky.

It only happens ever once in a while...every X days. But it's truly annoying. ;((( After paying like like €6500 on a Mac, I get this stuff...It's sickening.

Jun 7, 2024 5:03 PM in response to DimitryD

I'm having the same problem. All my external SSDs suddenly disconnect without the computer ever going to sleep mode. I keep getting the "Disk did not eject properly" message ALL THE TIME. This sucks. I need to run a program from an external drive, this obviously makes the program crash and I lose my work. Macbook Pro M2 Sonoma 14.5. Will this be fixed?

Apr 12, 2024 5:27 AM in response to Juedne

The only thing I know, is that the issue appears since I've upgraded to Sonoma and only when I use nvme drive. My machine is m1 MacBook Pro, and I've never experienced such issues with intel mac's. When I use slower ssd's 2'5 + external enclosure -> everything works fine. Not sure whether it's a hardware or a software issue but it's somehow related to thunderbolt ports.

Oct 5, 2023 12:52 AM in response to ku4hx

Seems like First Aid is a useless option after all, it can help in 1% of cases out of 99%. Tried both options and both do not work. Formatted SSD using APFS option. The disk stays mounted for a while but when you try to access it let's say 5 minutes later then the same 'Disk Not Ejected Properly' issue happens. So it disconnects when you open it.

Dec 14, 2023 8:20 AM in response to DimitryD

Same issue here. A Samsung T7 which was working fine under Ventura, but since updating to Sonoma has displayed the "Disk Not Ejected Properly" notification at random times. Oddly enough, the disk is, sometimes, still accessible through finder even after the message has been displayed. So, whatever anyone else says, I genuinely believe that this is a Sonoma problem.

Dec 21, 2023 8:43 AM in response to DimitryD

When you post here, Readers are other users like you. Apple does not troll the forums looking for issues. Apple does not understand the urgency of this issue unless a LARGE number of Users let them know it is an issue.


Be sure you have either contacted support here, in hopes of getting more help:


Support


or posted a product feedback of type "bug report" here (but these are Not tracked and no response will be forthcoming):


Product Feedback - Apple


External SSD keeps disconnecting after upgrading to Sonoma

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