macOS Catalina 10.15.6 Update Solves Problems Related To USB 2.0 Accessories

Apple recently released macOS 10.15.6, which contains fixes to a problem related to the use of USB 2.0 accessories.

Cupertino tech giant Apple has rolled out macOS 10.15.6, the latest update to macOS Catalina. The new update brings enhancements to Apple News, optimizations for video streaming and fixes for an issue related to changes to the computer name. More importantly, it “resolves an issue where certain USB mouse and trackpads may lose connection,” the company said.

This fix is very important as previous reports revealed that 2020 MacBook Pro and MacBook Air users have complained about not being able to use their external keyboards and mice on the devices, even when these do not have any damages or other issues.

What was the problem?

Previous reports indicate that the said Macs do not work with the accessories simply because they are USB 2.0. Users who looked into the issue have found the following:

• Catalina has a problem with USB 2.0 devices

“Apple has a USB 2.0 issue with either the chipset they are using or a Catalina bug regarding the handling and refreshing of USB 2.0 devices,” an engineer said in Reddit.

This means Macs running on the previous macOS version will have issues with USB 2.0 devices.

• The issue happens anytime

The users claimed that their USB 2.0 keyboard and mouse stopped working when connected to the Mac via a USB hub. The time of malfunction varies, with some saying the devices stopped working within a few minutes of plugging them into the hubs, while some said it happened hours later.

• The problem cannot be fixed using common troubleshooting techniques

Some users tried common fixes, such as restarting and starting the Mac in safe mode, but couldn't fix it. Some even tried resetting NVRAM and SMC to no avail.

• The devices should be connected to “terminating” proxies work

An engineer found that when the USB 2.0 devices are connected to a hub that “terminates” the USB 2.0 input then presents them to the Mac as USB 3.0 devices, the issue doesn't occur. Terminating proxies include CalDigit's $250 TS3+.

Thankfully, users can now download macOS 10.15.6 to fix the issue and hopefully get their USB 2.0 accessories to work on their MacBook Pros and MacBook Airs.