- Apple M4 Mac mini users report issues with USB-C connections
- Accessories such as keyboards would disconnect randomly
- Apple has yet to fix the issue, and the cause is unclear at this time.
Although Apple’s latest mini PC is considered one of the best Macs of all time, as our Mac mini (M4) review highlights, it’s currently facing a big problem that seems to be annoying many users.
Several users claim to experience random USB-C disconnections, as AppleInsider reports, with accessories such as keyboards suddenly disconnecting. This is supported by various user reports and a notable post on Reddit, which implies that the only way for the accessories to start working again is to disconnect the cable and reconnect it, which is an inconvenience to say the least.
It could also cause problems when transferring files between the Mac mini and an external USB-C drive if disconnections are as frequent as reports suggest. It’s not exactly clear whether this is a fault on Apple’s part, but all signs point to it being the case – as AppleInsider pointed out, some users’ errors come from the waking up the Mac mini from sleep mode, which may be fixed in the future. Apple software patch.
What is the best solution at the moment?
While there are many accessories that can only be used via direct connections, the best solution, for now, is Bluetooth – which is also another concern, as M4 Mac mini users have also reported Bluetooth problems last December in a MacRumors forum.
Issues like this can quickly start to annoy users and compromise some of the things the Mac mini does so well, so Apple needs to fix this issue as soon as possible.
In the case of an accessory like the Magic Mouse, you wouldn’t even be able to use it wired anyway – its USB-C charging port is placed on the bottom of the mouse, a huge point of criticism for many since ‘Apple stuck with this design from the previous model. Fortunately, it’s a wireless mouse, so it will suffice until Apple fixes the situation.
The M4 Mac mini only came out late last year, in November, so some weird bugs are to be expected. We’ll have to wait and see what the exact cause is, and just hope the wait doesn’t last too long.
