Cannot connect my H2O to new MacBook Pro with Apple M1 chip.

[Welcome2MindHead]

So I have been asking around and it sounds like the problem may be related to the ports on these new macs technically being Thunderbolt/USB 4. And the kobo can’t go through even USB 3.0 for data transfer, let alone thunderbolt. So the solution seems to be going through a USB 2.0-speed hub. Or finding a 2.0-speed, but c-type USB micro adapter cable, which as far as I can tell doesn’t exist.

[John F]

Originally Posted by Welcome2MindHead

So I have been asking around and it sounds like the problem may be related to the ports on these new macs technically being Thunderbolt/USB 4. And the kobo can’t go through even USB 3.0 for data transfer, let alone thunderbolt. So the solution seems to be going through a USB 2.0-speed hub. Or finding a 2.0-speed, but c-type USB micro adapter cable, which as far as I can tell doesn’t exist.

I wonder about "... can’t go through even USB 3.0 for data transfer ..."; I'm using a USB 3 hub (it is on Windows 10) and my Glo HD works (although I'm on an older firmware).

[Welcome2MindHead]

Originally Posted by John F

I wonder about "... can’t go through even USB 3.0 for data transfer ..."; I'm using a USB 3 hub (it is on Windows 10) and my Glo HD works (although I'm on an older firmware).

Not sure, maybe it's a unique problem for the Libra. But when I plug it into my Windows PC it only shows up if I go through USB 2.0. If I plug into the 3.0 ports, it only charges and won't mount as a drive.

[NiLuJe]

I'm using a Forma (and earlier models, and... basically all the things) on an XHCI Intel controller with zero issues.

It's USB 3.x all the way, until the handshake, where it obviously goes USB 2.0, given the device's capabilities.

[Gone]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

How is it a USB-C problem as the Macbook Pro has a USB 3.1 port.

The 2020 MacBook Pro M1 has 2 Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports.

Which can be used for :

Recharge
DisplayPort
Thunderbolt 3
USB 3.1 (second generation)

The problem relies here.

So, my guess, the OP should get a USB-C hub with USB 2 capability on it, among others.

[Seth H]

Originally Posted by Welcome2MindHead

So I have been asking around and it sounds like the problem may be related to the ports on these new macs technically being Thunderbolt/USB 4. And the kobo can’t go through even USB 3.0 for data transfer, let alone thunderbolt. So the solution seems to be going through a USB 2.0-speed hub. Or finding a 2.0-speed, but c-type USB micro adapter cable, which as far as I can tell doesn’t exist.

Your research was spot on. I have found an old USB 2 hub and connected as follows.

Kobo connected to USB 2 hub > USB 2 connected to USB 3 Hub > USB 3 hub connected to Lightning port. And like magic data transfer between Calibre and the Kobo is once again possible.

It is a bit messy but it works! Have to use the USB 3 hub as the USB 2 hub does not have the physical ability to connect to a Lightning port. In fact I don't think a USB 2 hub to Lightning adapter would even exist.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Welcome2MindHead

So I have been asking around and it sounds like the problem may be related to the ports on these new macs technically being Thunderbolt/USB 4. And the kobo can’t go through even USB 3.0 for data transfer, let alone thunderbolt. So the solution seems to be going through a USB 2.0-speed hub. Or finding a 2.0-speed, but c-type USB micro adapter cable, which as far as I can tell doesn’t exist.

Please don't give out incorrect information. I have a Kobo Aura H2O and it works perfectly well with USB 3.0 ports. I have three of them on my laptop. Also, the OP says he can connect to a USB 3.0 port on an Intel pased Macbook. So it's something with the M1 Mackbook. What it si, I have no idea. I don't know if it's a software issue or a hardware issue.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Seth H

Your research was spot on. I have found an old USB 2 hub and connected as follows.

Kobo connected to USB 2 hub > USB 2 connected to USB 3 Hub > USB 3 hub connected to Lightning port. And like magic data transfer between Calibre and the Kobo is once again possible.

It is a bit messy but it works! Have to use the USB 3 hub as the USB 2 hub does not have the physical ability to connect to a Lightning port. In fact I don't think a USB 2 hub to Lightning adapter would even exist.

What is the connector on the USB 2 hub for the USB cable? A lighning adapter might exist. I do have an adapter that converts a microUSB cable into a lightning cable.

[Seth H]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

What is the connector on the USB 2 hub for the USB cable? A lighning adapter might exist. I do have an adapter that converts a microUSB cable into a lightning cable.

Its a fairly standard USB 2 hub. Four USB 2 ports with a USB plug.

If you can find a USB 2 to Lightning adapter please let me know. I've failed to find one after a fairly extensive Internet search. However I don't really need it Welcome2MindHead came up with a solution and it worked for me.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Seth H

Its a fairly standard USB 2 hub. Four USB 2 ports with a USB plug.

If you can find a USB 2 to Lightning adapter please let me know. I've failed to find one after a fairly extensive Internet search. However I don't really need it Welcome2MindHead came up with a solution and it worked for me.

What type of connector? Type A, mini, micro?

[Welcome2MindHead]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Please don't give out incorrect information. I have a Kobo Aura H2O and it works perfectly well with USB 3.0 ports. I have three of them on my laptop. Also, the OP says he can connect to a USB 3.0 port on an Intel pased Macbook. So it's something with the M1 Mackbook. What it si, I have no idea. I don't know if it's a software issue or a hardware issue.

Ok, to be clear I meant that people seem to often have issues connecting to a USB 3.0/3.1 port but connecting to USB 2.0 is more consistent. This bears out with my Libra, it will not be seen by any computer if I plug into a USB 3.0 port, but works fine plugged into USB 2.0 on the same computers. This is true across multiple computers. Maybe there’s even a difference between models such as my Libra and your Aura, who knows.

Anyway that’s not the point, the point is that the ports on the new M1 macs are a new protocol, different even from the USB-C ports on the current Intel macs. That seems to be the problem and it looks like using a 2.0 hub “downgrades” the port to a spec that the Kobo can recognize.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Please don't give out incorrect information. I have a Kobo Aura H2O and it works perfectly well with USB 3.0 ports. I have three of them on my laptop. Also, the OP says he can connect to a USB 3.0 port on an Intel pased Macbook. So it's something with the M1 Mackbook. What it si, I have no idea. I don't know if it's a software issue or a hardware issue.

It's not only Macbooks. I have the same issue with my Libra and my new Dell laptop.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by Seth H

Its a fairly standard USB 2 hub. Four USB 2 ports with a USB plug.

If you can find a USB 2 to Lightning adapter please let me know. I've failed to find one after a fairly extensive Internet search. However I don't really need it Welcome2MindHead came up with a solution and it worked for me.

To be fair, this same solution was suggested to you by another poster in the second post of this thread.

[Welcome2MindHead]

Wanted to update that I got mine to work as well. I ended up getting a cheap USB 2.0 hub on amazon and now it works fine. Basically from the Libra I'm going: Original USB cable from the box --> cheap USB 2.0 hub --> USB-A to USB-C adapter from Apple.

I tried to use a USB-A to C adapter that was advertised as USB 2.0, but it didn't work. So for now it looks like the best option for anyone having trouble with these M1 Macs is to go through a USB 2.0 hub as recommended by lel24. Annoying that I have to daisy chain 3 cables and use an obsolete hub that I won't even be plugging anything else into, but at least it works. Really wish kobo could get their USB stuff figured out.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by Welcome2MindHead

Wanted to update that I got mine to work as well. I ended up getting a cheap USB 2.0 hub on amazon and now it works fine. Basically from the Libra I'm going: Original USB cable from the box --> cheap USB 2.0 hub --> USB-A to USB-C adapter from Apple.

I tried to use a USB-A to C adapter that was advertised as USB 2.0, but it didn't work. So for now it looks like the best option for anyone having trouble with these M1 Macs is to go through a USB 2.0 hub as recommended by lel24. Annoying that I have to daisy chain 3 cables and use an obsolete hub that I won't even be plugging anything else into, but at least it works. Really wish kobo could get their USB stuff figured out.

Or perhaps that Apple would stop offering latest and greatest hardware that—unnecessarily—breaks compatibility with older hardware.

Looking at Intel's Thunderbolt 4 specifications and testing on the only device I have access to that has an Intel Thunderbolt 4 port (Lenovo laptop we are testing for staff use), a simple USB-C to USB-A adapter allowed me to plug multiple USB-2 devices including 3 different Kobo ereaders and an older Kindle and have Windows 10 mount them without issue.