USB hubs, printers, Java, and more seemingly broken by macOS 14.4 update

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Apple’s macOS Sonoma 14.4 update is triggering a wave of complaints about broken USB hubs and docks, flaky external displays, printer drivers that no longer work, Java and Docker crashes, and even bugs affecting iCloud file versions. While some users report smooth upgrades, others say minor OS updates have repeatedly disrupted essential workflows and older peripherals, fueling frustration with Apple’s QA processes, short hardware support horizons, and locked‑down system design. A recurring theme is the trade-off between tighter security changes under the hood and backward compatibility with existing software and hardware.

Reported 14.4 Regressions

  • External displays: some monitors via USB‑C/Thunderbolt docks stop waking after sleep; users resort to resolution toggling, KVM/USB switch tricks, or seek dock firmware updates.
  • USB / storage: issues with USB hubs, SD/JetDrive not mounting, flaky monitor‑integrated KVMs, and peripheral disconnects (mics, webcams, audio interfaces).
  • Printing: Safari crashes when printing to PDF; some printer drivers (esp. older Canon/Samsung) break or intermittently work.
  • Security/ID: certain smart‑card–based BankID setups stop working; vendor explicitly warns users not to update.
  • Apps: Java tools (IDEs, debuggers, profilers), Docker Desktop, PHPStorm and other JVM apps see new crashes; Safari sometimes forgets logins; window‑focus keyboard shortcuts misbehave; Time Machine may reject existing encrypted backups.
  • iCloud: separate report that 14.4 can wipe prior file versions in iCloud Drive.

Java / Signals Technical Discussion

  • Java has generally worked well on Apple Silicon, but 14.4 triggers crashes in specific JIT edge cases.
  • Thread links this to a kernel behavior change around page faults and signals (SIGSEGV vs SIGKILL), with debate on whether this is a security hardening or a POSIX violation.
  • Some note the problematic HotSpot code has already been removed in upcoming Java versions.

Printing & CUPS Debates

  • Multiple stories of printers working for years then breaking after macOS upgrades, with Canon singled out as especially poor at updating drivers.
  • Others argue OS vendors, not printer makers, should provide a stable driver API.
  • Discussion on CUPS stewardship and whether macOS still uses it; some evidence that cupsd still runs.

File System, SIP, and Control Over the Machine

  • Complaints that macOS upgrades “delete” files in /.
  • Others explain the sealed system volume / Data volume split and “Relocated Items” mechanism: user data is moved, not erased, but poorly communicated.
  • Strong disagreement over whether Apple is overreaching by locking down root and making customizations hard, versus providing a managed, safer system.

Update Strategy, QA, and Platform Philosophy

  • Some report flawless upgrades on multiple Apple Silicon machines and see media coverage as amplifying a small failure rate.
  • Others see 14.4 as unusually buggy for a minor release and part of a long‑term quality decline since older macOS versions.
  • Comparisons with Windows and Linux:
    • Windows praised for long‑tail hardware and printer support, but also remembered for historically fragile updates.
    • Linux distros (Arch, Fedora, Ubuntu, EndeavourOS) cited as more predictable by some, risky by others.
  • Debate over Apple’s short hardware support window, aggressive deprecation, and prioritizing new hardware/features vs. backward compatibility.

Workarounds and User Responses

  • Suggested mitigations: use CLI tools (e.g., for display resolution), KVM/USB switches to force reconnects, firmware updates, printer sharing or raw network printing, downgrading macOS, or switching primary work to Linux/Windows.
  • Some accept Apple’s constraints as the price of the “managed” ecosystem; others see 14.4 as a tipping point pushing them off macOS entirely.