Connection Kobo to new Macbook Pro

moortjekras · 07-03-2017, 10:48 AM

Hi everyone,

I just bought a new MacBook Pro which doesn't have any USB ports anymore, so you would have to use a connecting piece. However, I can't seem to be able to connect my Kobo to my laptop anymore. It doesn't show on the desktop, nor via the Kobo app, I have tried all ports on the connecting piece and different cables, but none of it seems to work.
Do you have any other ideas?

Many thanks!

JSWolf · 07-03-2017, 10:53 AM

You need a USB-C to microUSB cable.

https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=13014

Lady Stardust · 07-03-2017, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moortjekras

Hi everyone,

I just bought a new MacBook Pro which doesn't have any USB ports anymore, so you would have to use a connecting piece. However, I can't seem to be able to connect my Kobo to my laptop anymore. It doesn't show on the desktop, nor via the Kobo app, I have tried all ports on the connecting piece and different cables, but none of it seems to work.
Do you have any other ideas?

Many thanks!

If you were able to connect Kobo and now you are not, try restarting Mac. There seems to be some issue between Mac and Kobo (my Aura One every now and then stops being recognised by Calibre or Mac) and restarting Mac usually solves it.

bhyde · 07-09-2018, 05:55 PM

I encountered this problem on my new Macbook Pro (late 2017 model). Turned out it was because I happened to grab a micro usb cable which, it seems, only supported charging. Worked fine as soon as switched to a different one.

In my case the USB cable plugs into a hub with lots of connectors on it, and that has short Thunderbolt 3 cable that connects to the Mac.

johnnyb · 10-25-2018, 03:56 AM

I have this problem too, with all sorts of cables on varying ports, with an H2O Ed.2 on the latest firmware.
Is there any reliable fix for this other than rebooting and hoping that it will accept the port this time? I am also especially annoyed by the fact that it won’t go through my USB c hub. Kobos are literally the only devices ever I‘ve experienced these types of problems with...

PhyrePhox · 10-25-2018, 01:19 PM

I often have trouble syncing my H2O Ed. 2 and the new Forma to my MacBook Pro 2012. Troubleshooting led me to conclude that the Kobo works consistently when connected to a USB 2.0 port on the Mac. However, the 2012 and later Macs don't have a USB 2.0 port, only USB 3.0. So, I hook up a cheap (whatever I have laying around, even dollar-store) USB 2.0 hub to the MacBook Pro, then the Kobo to the hub using any data-capable USB A to USB micro cable.

rcentros · 10-25-2018, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhyrePhox

I often have trouble syncing my H2O Ed. 2 and the new Forma to my MacBook Pro 2012. Troubleshooting led me to conclude that the Kobo works consistently when connected to a USB 2.0 port on the Mac. However, the 2012 and later Macs don't have a USB 2.0 port, only USB 3.0. So, I hook up a cheap (whatever I have laying around, even dollar-store) USB 2.0 hub to the MacBook Pro, then the Kobo to the hub using any data-capable USB A to USB micro cable.

It appears that Kobos sometimes need a little more power from the USB port than do most devices. I'm guessing your USB hub is powered?

geek1011 · 10-25-2018, 03:02 PM

That seems to be the same issue as [this](https://github.com/kobolabs/Kobo-Reader/issues/70).

PhyrePhox · 10-25-2018, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcentros

It appears that Kobos sometimes need a little more power from the USB port than do most devices. I'm guessing your USB hub is powered?

No. That was the first thing I thought as well. But it works consistently with a non-powered USB 2.0 hub.

rcentros · 10-25-2018, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geek1011

That seems to be the same issue as [this](https://github.com/kobolabs/Kobo-Reader/issues/70).

I use Linux but haven't had any trouble connecting to my Kobos (older ones). Maybe this is an issue with newer generation Kobos?

rcentros · 10-25-2018, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhyrePhox

No. That was the first thing I thought as well. But it works consistently with a non-powered USB 2.0 hub.

Maybe it's a timing issue? Maybe the USB 3.0 "speaks" too fast for the Kobo? (Obviously I'm just guessing.)

PhyrePhox · 10-25-2018, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcentros

I use Linux but haven't had any trouble connecting to my Kobos (older ones). Maybe this is an issue with newer generation Kobos?

I have had this with two newer Kobos on Mac. I've not tried it on any other platforms as I have a huge Calibre library set up on the Mac.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcentros

Maybe it's a timing issue? Maybe the USB 3.0 "speaks" too fast for the Kobo? (Obviously I'm just guessing.)

I think that may very well be the problem, either with the USB device driver on the Mac side or the USB hardware on the device side. I really struggled with it randomly disconnecting during sync or simply not connecting at all until I tried this.

Derf · 10-25-2018, 11:39 PM

I have a Clara and a 2017 iMac, and the only issue I have ever noticed is sometimes when so plug the Clara in to a cable already in the USB port it isn’t recognized. The fix is to unplug the USB cable at the Mac, and plug it in again. Or, if it’s possible to plug the kobo into a cable and then plug it into the Mac. It is odd that it isn’t instantly recognized, but not a deal breaker.

johnnyb · 10-26-2018, 07:47 AM

Thanks for your feedback. I have been wondering for a long time why Kobo has this issue that every other manufacturer of USB connected devices seems to have resolved. It seems they simply cannot be bothered (bit of a shame since they also have a very sensitive database architecture)...

PeterT · 10-26-2018, 11:21 AM

How is the database architecture sensetive?

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

07-03-2017, 10:48 AM	#1
moortjekras Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2017 Device: Kobo Aura	Connection Kobo to new Macbook Pro Hi everyone, I just bought a new MacBook Pro which doesn't have any USB ports anymore, so you would have to use a connecting piece. However, I can't seem to be able to connect my Kobo to my laptop anymore. It doesn't show on the desktop, nor via the Kobo app, I have tried all ports on the connecting piece and different cables, but none of it seems to work. Do you have any other ideas? Many thanks!

07-03-2017, 10:53 AM	#2
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 64,324 Karma: 104254653 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, iPad 4, iPhone SE 2020, PW3	You need a USB-C to microUSB cable. https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=13014 Attached Thumbnails Last edited by JSWolf; 07-03-2017 at 10:58 AM.

07-09-2018, 05:55 PM	#4
bhyde Member Posts: 18 Karma: 60 Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Boston, MA, USA Device: Kobo Aura ONE	I encountered this problem on my new Macbook Pro (late 2017 model). Turned out it was because I happened to grab a micro usb cable which, it seems, only supported charging. Worked fine as soon as switched to a different one. In my case the USB cable plugs into a hub with lots of connectors on it, and that has short Thunderbolt 3 cable that connects to the Mac. Last edited by bhyde; 07-09-2018 at 05:58 PM.

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10-25-2018, 03:56 AM	#5
johnnyb Cloud Reader Posts: 1,075 Karma: 3800000 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: iPad Pro, Kindle Voyage	I have this problem too, with all sorts of cables on varying ports, with an H2O Ed.2 on the latest firmware. Is there any reliable fix for this other than rebooting and hoping that it will accept the port this time? I am also especially annoyed by the fact that it won’t go through my USB c hub. Kobos are literally the only devices ever I‘ve experienced these types of problems with...

10-25-2018, 01:19 PM	#6
PhyrePhox Member Posts: 22 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Toronto Device: Kobo Forma, Kobo Aura H2O Edition 2	I often have trouble syncing my H2O Ed. 2 and the new Forma to my MacBook Pro 2012. Troubleshooting led me to conclude that the Kobo works consistently when connected to a USB 2.0 port on the Mac. However, the 2012 and later Macs don't have a USB 2.0 port, only USB 3.0. So, I hook up a cheap (whatever I have laying around, even dollar-store) USB 2.0 hub to the MacBook Pro, then the Kobo to the hub using any data-capable USB A to USB micro cable.

10-25-2018, 03:02 PM	#8
geek1011 Wizard Posts: 2,496 Karma: 5071002 Join Date: May 2016 Location: Ontario, Canada Device: Kobo Mini, Aura Edition 2 v1, Clara HD	That seems to be the same issue as [this](https://github.com/kobolabs/Kobo-Reader/issues/70).

10-25-2018, 11:39 PM	#13
Derf Connoisseur Posts: 99 Karma: 1173714 Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: Long Island, NY Device: Kobo Clara HD / Mac User	I have a Clara and a 2017 iMac, and the only issue I have ever noticed is sometimes when so plug the Clara in to a cable already in the USB port it isn’t recognized. The fix is to unplug the USB cable at the Mac, and plug it in again. Or, if it’s possible to plug the kobo into a cable and then plug it into the Mac. It is odd that it isn’t instantly recognized, but not a deal breaker.

10-26-2018, 07:47 AM	#14
johnnyb Cloud Reader Posts: 1,075 Karma: 3800000 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: iPad Pro, Kindle Voyage	Thanks for your feedback. I have been wondering for a long time why Kobo has this issue that every other manufacturer of USB connected devices seems to have resolved. It seems they simply cannot be bothered (bit of a shame since they also have a very sensitive database architecture)...

10-26-2018, 11:21 AM	#15
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,562 Karma: 66923931 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Nexus 7, Clara, Touch, Tolino EPOS	How is the database architecture sensetive? Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk