- Apple M4 Mac mini users report issues with USB-C connections
- Accessories such as keyboards reportedly disconnect at random
- Apple has yet to address the situation and it is not clear what the cause is at this time
While Apple’s latest mini PC is hailed as one of the best Macs ever, as highlighted in our Mac mini (M4) review, it’s currently facing a major problem that seems to be vexing many users.
Several users claim to experience random USB-C disconnections as reported by AppleInsider, where accessories like keyboards suddenly disconnect. This is corroborated by various reports from users and a notable post on Reddit, which implies that the only way for the accessory to start working again is to disconnect the cable and reconnect, which is a hassle to say the least.
This can 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 entirely clear whether this is an error on Apple’s end, but all signs point to it being the case – as AppleInsider pointed out, some users’ errors stem from waking the Mac mini from sleep, which can be resolved by a future software patch from Apple.
What is the best solution right now?
While there are plenty of accessories that can only be used via direct connections, the best solution right now is Bluetooth – which is also another concern, as M4 Mac mini users also reported Bluetooth issues last December in a MacRumors forum .
Issues like this can quickly start to annoy users and undermine some of the things the Mac mini does so well, so Apple needs to fix this as soon as possible.
In the case of an accessory like the Magic Mouse, you wouldn’t even be able to use that cable anyway – its USB-C charging port is located at the bottom of the mouse, a massive point of criticism for many since Apple stuck around. with this design from the previous model. Fortunately, it’s a wireless mouse, so that’ll do while you wait for Apple to address the situation.
The M4 Mac mini was only released at the end of last year in November, so strange bugs are to be expected. We’ll have to wait and see what the exact cause is, and let’s just hope the wait isn’t too long.
