External SSD keeps disconnecting after upgrading to Sonoma

Update: I have not observed the disconnect problem since I upgraded to Sonoma 14.4.1. Has anyone else using that version seen the disconnect problem?

I understand why you might ask that question, but I have experienced the same issue with the very hardware that Apple sells instore, although I bought it elsewhere.

Has anyone every check in the SMART status, if the drive also logs these unsafe shutdowns? AFAIR SMART should do that. Would be nice to check this. My drive doesn't support SMART unfortunately.

Also, I just made and sent a detailed report like the original post author said, and hopefully Apple will react to this problem.

the link to your feedback to apple does not work.

It may be a Mac hardware issue. I had the same thing happening 20 times a day on Monterey. It corrupted data on my external disks, fried one of them irrevocably. Apple eventually acknowledged there was an issue with the Thunderbolt ports and replaced them. Problem solved... until 3 months later when it started to come back. Rinse and repeat. Only this time Apple insisted it wasn't the ports, didn't replace them. They say it's a 'software issue' (I disagree), wiped my internal SSD and installed Ventura.

Only had it back one day, still getting to set up, haven't even installed most s/w let alone used it and ... Here we go again.

It could also be the drive accessory (not cable) you're using for IO between your laptop in the drive, for instance a Sabrent NVME enclosure.

(if you have been using it for a while) Maybe some FS issue or it could be disk has been used a lot and is reaching its lifespan, you can use some utility to check its life.

There is also a possibility the drive is dead, it happens even with new ones from time to time, you can check this by wiping it on some other device with a FAT partition and trying to use it. If possible.

It could be many things, so it's up to you to figure it for the most part. I just said what I think could help you!

There really is not way to fix this for people who have the issue - because it is not the hardware. For some reason, the issue disappeared on my Mac mini M2 and the Samsung SDD after a while - until I was stupid enough to update to Sonoma 14.1. Same issue all over again. I am so upset!

Yeah.

Almost the same problem.

Running M1, everything was smooth until I updated to Sonoma.

My problem is that I usually edit videos with files on an external SSD, it lets me edit everything well, but when I try to export something to the SSD, it completes the process, but, I cannot see the file on Finder, same problem with downloading anything from Chrome to the SSD directly, cannot find the file, then, I disconnect the SSD, connect again and voilá my files are in fact, inside the SSD.

So, it's very annoying to work like this, connecting and disconnecting the SSD constantly.

I work in a similar way, editing photographic files on an external SSD. I have also experienced exactly this on Monterey, reported it as an issue with the thunderbolt four slots, was told its software not hardware (which I still doubt), and was forced to upgrade to Ventura but the problem persists. It extends beyond files not displaying in Finder: I find images also don’t display properly in photographic applications such as Photoshop, Lightroom, and InDesign.

Here's my experience: Since upgrading to Sonoma i have a Samsung T7 not properly ejecting after sleep. This happens on both of my machines: a mini M2 Pro and a Studio M2 Ultra. It happens consistently, regardless of cables and ports used. I also have four (externally powered) Sabrent NVME enclosures, they stay always mounted even after upgrading to Sonoma. Hoping for a fix, because it seems this is an OS issue.

Same issue here... 4TB SSD external hard drive working fine on my macbook pro 2021 until the update. Tried multiple cables (Angelbird, KondorBlue, Kingston) no luck. Works fine on windows. I edit videos off of my SSD and this is a nightmare.

I've been into this with Apple repeatedly and also been told they haven't had any other reports. Guess either stock response, or maybe the bot only matches identical issues with specific h/w in specific O/S. I agree though, if every one of us on this thread reported it it might be helpful. I'll report again with less precise parameters.

Same story with Transcend 1TB SSD (ESD230C).

Initially used for photo backups (as exFAT), but then I've started to see these "not properly ejected" issues on Sonoma. I took a risk and deleted everything to get it reformatted to APFS. After that those random disconnection issues were gone for a while, but after ~24 hours got back again.

Thought the thing is broken and was going to replace it already, but then came across this thread. I see there are very similar issues with other SSDs (and not only them - HDDs are also impacted). So that seriously needs to be looked at.

To add, the SSD seems to be fine, as it can be recognised and accessed absolutely okay when plugged in to the iPhone 15 Pro. Can't sufficiently test on other laptops, as they are all on Sonoma as well.

I had been using a Mac Mini w Intel processor sunning Sonoma and 5 HD's (3- 3.5" and 1-2.5" portable , all SeaGate, AND 1 2TB SanDisk SSD. One HD was periodically unmounting. Ran TechTools and confirmed it was dying, so discarded it. All the rest were operating fine including an 8TB Time Machine Backup drive.

I then upgraded to a MacBook M3 Pro Max. Migration was a pain. It would not connect to my MacMini, so, I chose to migrate from the Time Machine backup. This when smoothly.

Then I connected my other drives. Soon, there were reported problems with ALL drive! Time Machine could not backup to the Time Machine HD. It reported that it didn't have permission. The other drives continuously got the Improper removal message. The SSD gave a message that it could not be repaired (never asked it to be repaired), that I could copy files from the SSD, but could not alter them

All drives were formatted in the MacOS Extended Journaled format. Connecting the 3.5" drives would take 10-20 minutes topper in the finder. Connecting the 2.5' Portable HD connected quickly, but them started reporting improper removals. The SSD mounted quickly, but with the aforementioned error message.

Spent two sessions with online Apple Support, reinstalled the MacOS Sonoma, removed all potential interfering software (Sophos Antivirus, PIA VPN, TechTools, etc), then went to the Genius Bar.

They confirmed everything I've reported, with no solution.

In frustration, I purchased a LeCie HD in the Apple Store, reformatted it to APFS, and it mounted immediately. So, I went home, set the LaCie drive as my new Time Machine drive, backed up my MacBook.

I've now spend a few days trying to solve the remaining problems. The original TM backup file could not be copied from the original drive to the new TM drive. Eventually I had to give up and reformat the old TM drive to APFS, losing years backups. BUT, that drive has been performing flawlessly for 3 plus days now. I transferred files from problematic drive to the recently reformatted drives, then reprobated to problematic drive , then repeated the problem with the ned problematic drive. Each time a drive was formatted, it instantly mounted when connected to the MB Pro. BTW, the SanDisk SSD could NOT be formatted to the APFS format, but was reformatted to macOS Extended and is also working just fine.

Fingers crossed...