Apple launches Apple Store app in India

The Apple Store app provides customers with the most personalized way to shop for Apple’s innovative lineup of products and services. Learn more >

You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

User profile for user: Jotek
Jotek Author
User level: Level 1
16 points

Mac Mini M4 Pro - external drives become disconnected with no reason

Have a serious problem with external SSD and HD drives. They were perfectly working with iMac Pro and MacMini 2018. Now being constantly disconnected on MacMini M4 Pro.

Does not matter if connected with USB-C cable or Thunderbolt. I've used branded high quality cables - and cheaper - the effect is the same.

Did use various of external drives from branded exclosures with 2.5 HD up to Lacie and Samsung SSD. All becomes disconnected once I double click on the disk icon in finder or in Sidebar in Finder window.

After w while the disk is coming back and can open it and see its content... however if I will leave it untouched for another moment then open any folder in it or click on the disk icon... the disk becomes disconnected.

Mac mini, macOS 15.2

Posted on Jan 17, 2025 2:40 PM

Reply
7 replies
User profile for user: Jotek
Jotek Author
User level: Level 1
16 points

Jan 18, 2025 4:14 AM in response to Jotek

I did not mention about waking it up from sleep mode but regular usage. Just doing something in a web browser or another application, then want to open something from disk and it disappears with a message "Disk Not Ejected Properly, then coming back... can make some operations on it. When it is left for a few minutes... situation is perfectly repetitive.

Disk disappears even if I have the file open in application.

Discs I did try were directly connected to the MacMini

Reply
User profile for user: lanstrad1
lanstrad1
User level: Level 3
517 points

Jan 18, 2025 6:53 AM in response to Jotek

I have had this issue several times a day (and still have from time to time) similar issues since about a year and a half. In my case, I discovered that some drives with no activity may shut off by themselves (these have on-off switch). As I have several drives connected, when I don't really need these specific, I leave them OFF until I want my backup system to pick them. In my case, I also use a powered USB hub (Atolla). However, the two drives I have connected direct in the mac (in my case, intel-based 2018), never have this issue - but these have no ON-OFF buttons.


Just in case....

Reply
User profile for user: Jotek
Jotek Author
User level: Level 1
16 points

Jan 18, 2025 7:57 AM in response to hcsitas

It was the very first thing I've checked and had it as on your screenshot.. Thanks.


Was looking into Console and it seems it is USB-C over Thunderbolt issue. Not sure if on hardware on software level. But definitely Apple screw it up.


The other drive connected through TB2<>TB3 adapter (older Promise Pegasus2 R6 with TB2) is working with no issue.


Seems we are awaiting for update


Reply

Mac Mini M4 Pro - external drives become disconnected with no reason

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.
Learn more Sign up