My iPhone has connected perfectly until today, when it started doing the same thing as the iPad. All other USB devices work fine, and my iPad and iPhone both connect with the windows computers at work just fine. I've tested with both USB ports on my MacBook, and with several known working cords, both Apple branded and not.

I've done a lot of searching, and haven't found any definitive answers or solutions, but today I thought I would try something.

I use Windows 10 in VMWare on my laptop for work (and yes I made sure it wasn't running before trying to sync to make sure that wasn't causing the connectivity issues). But today I opened Windows on my MacBook, and when I plugged in my iPad I told it to open in Windows, and voila it connected to iTunes in windows fine and stayed connected.

This leads me to believe it is some sort of software issue on the MacBook side of things. I even tried closing itunes and just plugging my phone in to charge, and it again acted as though I was continuously plugging it in and unplugging it, but stayed connected in Windows.

Is there something I can do to correct this? I thought it might be an iTunes issue, but since it wouldn't even keep my phone connected enough to charge without iTunes open, I'm assuming it's an OSX issue.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!

⟐ Commented October 14, 2025 at 22:45 MST

⟐ Commented December 19, 2024 at 14:30 MST

So, when I put my MacBook in the charger and click the on button it went on for 5 sec and then turned off. I pushed the button again and now I could login I looked at the battery it was still 80% so I thought that's odd.

Then when I logged in it shuts off again. I've tried for several times to turn it back on sometimes it didn't even turn on and sometimes it turns on and then it shuts off again after seconds.

I went to a computer store but they didn't know what was going on the guy said that he couldn't find anything weird in my MacBook (software) yes of course when the guy looked at it it worked. Until it suddenly shuts down and I was like: 'Yes that's the problem!' But he had no clue. All he said was: 'send it back to apple'

So another thing: I'm traveling and need my MacBook for my work (I'm a colorist and work in the film industry) I need it everyday.

Maybe something important: last June I Accidentally closed my MacBook with the charger between so my display broke. I replaced it, cost me lots of money, and then after 2 months it was loose (I haven't fixed it yet, been more than one month now)

I can move my display up and down for at least 1cm. I can also detach the black bar underneath the display from the display, think this used to be glued together.

I don't know if this might be the problem from the MacBook shutting down randomly.

Ps. Sometimes my MacBook doesn't shut off completely and the fans start making extreme noises. It's like my MacBook is frozen.

Mid 2015 with Retina display

• 2,5 years old
• Used daily
• MacOS Sierra

I've turned it on again and clicked the D that brought me to some sort of check. It said: nothing is wrong.

Now it just restarts randomly. It's better but still not 100%

⟐ Commented December 11, 2025 at 14:49 MST

Error: 8000000000000003, Cannot load 'EFI/Drivers/TestSupport.efi'

Status: 0x00000003

Which sits there for about five minutes, then it restarts into MacOS.

Same result when I try to run AHT from a USB stick, except this time it shows the above message twice – flashing by so quickly I had to get a video of it to see what it said – then immediately restarts into MacOS.

The OS version of Apple Service Diagnostic works okay (it has an OS on it, and shows in the Startup Disk preference Pane), but the EFI version gives the same result as above.

I've reset the SMC and NVRAM, and reinstalled the OS (Sierra) numerous times, to no avail.

I ran both AHT (Internet & USB) and ASD/EFI successfully a couple times only a few months ago; something's changed, but I can't figure out what.

However, MemTest86 (which also starts up from an EFI driver from a USB stick) still works fine with the MacBook Pro. So it seems this MBP is now somehow allergic to Apple's own EFI driver?

The same hardware (USB stick for AHT, external HD or USB stick for ASD) works fine with four other Mac portables, and two of them can access Apple Diagnostic (the 2014 & later version of AHT) from the Internet as they're supposed to (the others are too old to do so). So the problem is definitely something in this MacBook Pro.

The MBP was showing other problems as well; I sent it to a repair service, who said the GPU needed fixing (apparently common in this model), which they did, and said the logic board now tested all good. But it still "Cannot load 'EFI/Drivers/TestSupport.efi'".

I spoke with somebody at Apple Support, who was mystified, suggested maybe it had something to do with the SSD? The SSD seems to work fine otherwise, starts up okay etc., and DriveDx (which gives detailed readout of SMART parameters) says it is good.

Anybody have any idea what the problem might be? I plan to sell this MBP, but can't do so in good conscience as it is, even if it seems to be working okay otherwise.

Thanks for your response, Dan.

Yes! This is an issue with in Apples newer MacOS EFI/SMC updates.

When I posted the above, I thought it was a problem with my MacBook Pro; I've since learned that it's a common problem afflicting hundreds (at least) of Mac users. It is beyond ironic that the software Apple offers to its users to diagnose problems with their Apple hardware… doesn't work. So we're all waiting for Apple to get off their collective posterior and fix it.

There's a ton of people encountering this Unable to launch Apple Diagnostics Apple altered the EFI so all versions of MacOS are effected from Sierra on up is where I've seen it.

Yes, I also posted my query at Apple Discussions: MacBook Pro 2013 - cannot load Apple Hardware Test, and was referred to the Unable to launch Apple Diagnostics thread (which now has 163 "I have this problem too" clicks, while mine has 5). See my posts here and here for more detail and follow-ups.

I spent an hour and a half on the phone with an Apple Senior Advisor on Tuesday (May 28) about this issue, trying everything he could think of (he apparently hadn't heard about this before), ending with sending a bunch of information, which he said would be forwarded to some "engineers", who would get back to me in a few days. I provided links to the two Apple Community threads and emphasized that there are over 150 people now waiting for an answer. I'll post whatever I hear in the Unable to launch Apple Diagnostics thread, for anybody who's interested in following the issue.

The Apple Hardware Test (AHT) repair doens't fix this in Mojave.

Not sure what you mean about the "AHT repair"; the link is to a very helpful post at GitHub that tells how to get and use AHT for various old Macs dated prior to June 2013, when AHT was morphed into Apple Diagnostics, which is now available only over the Internet (or from the Recovery partition in High Sierra or Mojave, as I discovered in my research). See my second post in Unable to launch Apple Diagnostics for more detail about AHT/AD. Anyway, AHT doesn't "repair" anything; it's a simple diagnostic utility – and it won't load/run in any of the Macs that Cannot load 'EFI/Drivers/TestSupport.efi'.

Apple holds the cards for their diagnostic software. You could try calling them most likely they'll send you to a authorized service center if there's one near you.

Oh, yeah, about that… All this started for me in early 2018, when the intermittent crashes etc. I'd been experiencing with this Early 2013 15" MacBook Pro finally became intolerable. I didn't want to be without a computer while I was figuring it out, so I bought a 2015 MBP (still new with warranty, found on eBay). I then took the 2013 MBP to the local AASP, asked them to diagnose it, for which they charged me $60. Presumably they ran Apple's in-house diagnostic utility/ies.(The guy said something about the "EFI version"; I didn't know what that meant at the time.) They told me the 2013 MBP was fine. (The new 2015 MBP turned out to have problems also, and I ended up struggling with both – along with my long-term chronic illness – all year, until finally early this year I got together enough energy to try to deal with them.)

But my MacBook Pro wasn't fine. So I bit the bullet and did some research, learned that both Apple Hardware Test and Apple's pre-2015 in-house diagnostic software Apple Service Diagnostic could be found on the 'Net. So I got them, figured out how to use them, and they both found both several memory problems and a few others that are more of a mystery to me (I'll be posting those elsewhere here to ask if anybody can figure them out).

I was able to run both AHT and ASD on the 2013 MBP several times, until suddenly in the last month it told me it Cannot load 'EFI/Drivers/TestSupport.efi'. (It still runs the OS version of ASD, but won't run the EFI version.) It seems likely the fact that I'd installed both High Sierra and Mojave on it a month or two before, which may have changed the Boot ROM version (I don't know what it was before) might have caused this problem. Although, as noted in my post at Apple Discussions, I recently experimented by installing Mojave on a 2014 MBP, which didn't change the Boot ROM version, and didn't cause the Cannot load 'EFI/Drivers/TestSupport.efi' error. So we still don't know exactly what's going on.

Anyway, the nearest Apple Store is too far away for me as well, and my experience with the local AASP does not give me much confidence.

The ball is in Apple's court.

⟐ Commented December 26, 2021 at 3:17 MST

If I slowly close the lid to about half way, the lines will disappear.

Only to reappear when the lid is opened again. Obviously a connection problem. This is a work computer and the repair shop quoted work $3000+ for this repair. Ludicrous. Also, no apple care was purchased so this barely-more-than-a-year-old top of the line Apple computer is suddenly worthless.

I'm not afraid to open the case, but could someone direct me to the cable that I should unseat and reseat, or perhaps even replace?

Any help greatly appreciated.

⟐ Commented October 23, 2023 at 19:22 MST

Only thing is working - reboot laptop with headphones on it.

But, after system goes to sleep it again it doesn’t see the headphones.

So finally I have found a replacement and ordered it:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/181122080684?ssP...

After installation I will inform you if this fixed problem.

UPDATE: Just want to share with you that replacement of headphone port hasn’t helped at all. Dont know what to do now, so disappointed. I think this is something with motherboard then.

UPDATE 2: Today i will clean install whole OS. If that is software problem - that should fix it.

UPDATE 3: Clean install doesn't make any difference. Big still exists

⟐ Commented December 28, 2024 at 7:17 MST

I've been able to reboot using my magsafe charger, and then unplug and run off battery power. However, this only works for about 10 minutes before the computer acts as if the battery is suddenly disconnected and shuts down again.

Things I've already tried:

• SMC reset
• PRAM reset

Anyone have suggestions? Thanks in advance!

⟐ Commented October 31, 2022 at 5:24 MST

I was wondering if I can replace my 256 GB SSD in 2012 retina MBP with a Samsung 840 Pro Series MZ-7PD512?

http://www.samsung.com/us/computer/memor...

Regards,

Dax

⟐ Answered March 22, 2021 at 11:22 MST

What do you recommend to repair data now since diskwarrior doesn’t work anymore for APFS drives?

⟐ Commented August 10, 2023 at 2:26 MST

⟐ Commented May 13, 2020 at 14:41 MST

This happened to me after few days of using the new macOS Catalina. When I turn on it says a critical update is required but keeps saying that an error occurred when I try to install.

I’ve tried updating with wifi, personal hotspot and with LAN adapter but I get same screen. I have also tried the clean install with and empty disk (command + R) but shows same screen. I also tried factory OS install (shift option command R) but fails after downloading OS. The NVRAM and SMC reset does not help.

However, I am able to use my mac from safe boot mode but touchbar, keyboard backlight and sound does not work from safe mode. I can also use my mac booting from portable usb windows drive but again touchbar, keyboard backlight and sound does not work (everything used to work from the same usb drive before the critical software thing happed).

The internet says it has to do something with touchbar unit, but I didn’t have any issues before. Do you think replacing the touchbar unit will solve the problem?

⟐ Commented December 17, 2024 at 10:31 MST

I tried Preferences Pane/Sound and trick the Balance of Left and right while playing the music. But, the output is not normal at Left Speaker. The right speaker can bring full of bass like surround sound. But, the left speaker can bring only treble sound. Neither the bass or the surround like the right one.

Am I only one who experiencing like that? Or was is because of the new MacBook Pro speaker system?

⟐ Commented July 26, 2025 at 16:44 MST

There is no difference whether it is connected to the power supply or running on the battery. If you leave the MacBook powered off for some hours it may sometimes last over two hours before shuting down again. After the frist sudden shutdown the frequency of shutdown rises rapidly.

Also the shutdown might not be triggered by overheating. I tried benchmarking while watching temps after the reinstall of the OS and it lasted over two hours. 5-10 minutes after I stopped and the tempreture dropped the problem occured again.

My friend also sent the MacBook to Apple for a hardware test several times, but no problems were found yet.

I'm thinking about replacing the logic board.

Any opinion would be apprechiated.

EDIT 01/03/2017

I have not noticed anything while booting and there have not been any video problems apart from the blackscreen when the sudden shutdown occurs. (I have found this: Exchange and Repair Extension Programs - MacBook Pro video issues But, it does not match my friend's MacBook.)

The built-in hardware diagnostic tool stats that everything is correct. Maybe I should start the MacBook in verbos mode and videotape the output?

My friend will take the MacBook to an authorized service providor to have it taken apart, cleaned and the stained display replaced Apple StainGate Maybe they will find something...

⟐ Commented November 22, 2024 at 1:15 MST

"Calibrate your battery before using it: allow it to drain overnight, then charge it to 100% and drain it again until your MacBook Pro shuts down automatically. Charge it again and use it normally."

When I turned on my macbook after the replacement it showed a charge of 59%, then I used the the macbook until it turned off automatically, but the problem was it didn't go to hibernation on about 5% as usually, but it suddenly turned off on about 18% and all work in progress was lost. I tried everything including SMC and PRAM reset but the macbook stopped going into hibernation mode. I explained all of this in detail (including coconut battery screenshots) to the customer service and they send me a new battery saying the one I received was damaged.

Now I installed the 2nd new battery and turned the macbook for the first time on and it showed ca. 57% of charge and I continued discharging the battery by using the macbook and then I thought maybe I'm following the instructions wrongly.

The calibration instructions aren't entirely clear to me. For example the first part says "allow it to drain overnight". Does that mean I'm not supposed to turn on the macbook for the first time at all and the battery is going to discharge by itself to 0%? I don't believe the battery can drain to 0% after one night sitting in a turned off macbook, right? The second part of the instructions "then charge it to 100% and drain it again until your MacBook Pro shuts down automatically. Charge it again and use it normally" is pretty clear to me since it indicates you are supposed to use the macbook until it shuts down automatically.

So now I have a turned off macbook on ca. 40% of charge (initial delivered battery charge, 0 cycles) and I have no idea what to do since I'm afraid I could run into the same problems as first time. Could someone provide a clear step by step guide what to do after replacing the battery. Is it necessary to reset SMC again. If yes in which step? Thanks.

TL;DR: How to correctly calibrate the battery after replacement, step by step guide. What does "allow it to drain overnight" mean? To drain it by using the macbook or to let it drain in a turned off device (which would take way longer then only 1 night)? Is it necessary to reset SMC?.If yes in what step?

⟐ Commented August 19, 2023 at 5:18 MST

About a couple of months ago i was away from home and my Macbook randomly shut itself down. It kept on doing this so i did a bit of googling and thought it may of been the heatsink not keeping the CPU cool enough so it went into protect mode and shut down. I took my mac apart and saw that the heatsink wasn't looking too great so i decided to change it just incase that was the problem.

After fitting the new heat sink the problem went away. Since then I've been using my macbook pro as a desktop. Connected to an external display with a keyboard and mouse. The problem hasn't been happening. Great! Or so i thought until the other evening when i removed my laptop from my desk and tried using it elsewhere.

I've troubleshooted the SMC, reinstalled OSX, tried it in safe mode (Which worked), tried a new user account, disconnected everything one by one to see whether something triggers it... Nothing but disconnecting the external display seems to trigger it to happen.

So in brief. My macbook will only run for about 10 seconds without an external display before the screen goes black and the keyboard lights and fans stay on then turns off.

Please help if you can.

Thanks,

Dom

Hi

I ve been having this issue for 3 months since theirs no apple store near me i have no other solution

My macbook pro keep on shuting down randomly , i ve suspected the motherboard but since last month i ve used it connected to a 32" monitor via hdmi it havent shutdown since works fine

Can anybody help ?

⟐ Commented November 04, 2022 at 20:55 MST

⟐ Commented March 03, 2025 at 16:49 MST

Added image: Coconut app showing my current battery status

The battery life on my Macbook Pro (15", mid-2014, retina) has decreased significantly over the past few years, from about 8 hours of charge to barely 2, and I want to replace it, but don't want to pay $200+ at the apple store.

How does the replacement battery ifixit sells compare to the original battery that my laptop came with? I could not find any mention of a brand- what manufacturer is it coming from?

Also, some repair shops have told me that the top case may also need to be replaced along with the battery. Is there any truth to this? Will replacing my battery damage the trackpad since the battery is glued in? Any suggestions on how to avoid damaging these other parts while replacing my battery?

⟐ Commented September 08, 2022 at 16:44 MST

⟐ Answer edited December 28, 2024 at 7:44 MST

⟐ Answer deleted September 20, 2021 at 7:10 MST

This is my progress on removing the anti-glare coating after 2 hours. I tried Listerine, 90% alcohol, Peek Metal Polish, anti-bacterial wipes, bleach, and nail polish remover w/ acetone (before I read that someone else damaged the glass itself because of acetone). Luckily, my glass is still fine. Unfortunately, I haven't made much progress as you can see from the picture. I'm confused to why none of the solutions isn't working for me. Some said that Listerine alone worked well along with a microfiber cloth. I tried that but since it didn't work I moved on to try all the other solutions I mentioned. Is anyone else having this issue dispite of trying all kinds of solutions? And is there any other alternatives that would make it simple to remove w/o much time being spent?

⟐ Commented August 29, 2024 at 7:10 MST