For once, the latest macOS update is not quite up to par, with many users reporting quite disabling bugs. If you haven’t installed it yet, it’s best to wait.
We regularly complain about the chaotic updates offered by Microsoft for Windows 11. Because if the publisher systematically corrects bugs while adding new functions to its system, it frequently creates new problems in the process requiring another fix at the same time. . For its part, Apple with macOS generally offers stable updates with no or very little negative impact on the general functioning of the system. But with the latest version offered for Sonoma, macOS 14.4, it seems that Apple developers have taken inspiration from Microsoft’s methods. In any case, this is what the American site suggests macrumorsspecializing in Apple news which indicates that numerous user testimonials point to some quite disabling inconveniences.
Sonoma Update: Unusable USB Devices
The macOS Sonoma 14.4 update, for example, seems to have broken the compatibility of certain USB printers. American HP models would be particularly impacted. CUPS (Common Unix Printing System), the print management system integrated into macOS has visibly lost a brick allowing network printing. The reasons for this malfunction have not yet been established and no simple and 100% effective solution has yet been found.
Besides printers, some users have also reported the inability to use USB hubs or even the USB ports available on some external monitors. These accessories are widely used in the Apple world since connection ports tend to become rarer, particularly on the brand’s laptops. Keyboards, mice and other USB devices connected to these devices are no longer recognized. A workaround is to switch the option to connect new accessories to Ask for new accessories from System Settings > Privacy & Security > Allow accessories to connect. Apple has not yet responded to the problem.
macOS 14.4 update: Java tools on the bench
Finally, it seems that software based on Oracle’s Java language presents serious malfunctions with processes that terminate unexpectedly. Although Oracle had been warned of the problem last week, no solution has yet been found. The bug affects all versions of Java from Java 8 to the Development Kit (JDK) currently in version 22. The only solution mentioned here: reinstalling the previous version of macOS. Practical !
Also, if you have not yet updated your Mac to Sonoma 14.4 – available since March 7 – it is strongly recommended to wait while Apple deploys a patch. The Apple company is generally very responsive when it comes to getting these systems back on track, whether it’s iOS, iPadOS, WatchOS or, of course, macOS. As for those who have already installed macOS 14.4, be aware that the bugs mentioned above obviously do not affect everyone. If you encounter difficulties, you can either wait until Apple finds a solution, or reinstall the previous version of macOS Sonoma, i.e. 14.3.1.