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User profile for user: darwin219
darwin219 Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

mid2011 MacBook Air (MacBookAir4,1) thunderbolt ethernet adapter not connected


I have a mid2011 MacBook Air (MacBookAir4,1) with a "thunderbolt" port on the right side ( thunderbolt icon, not display icon), but it doesn't recognize a thunderbolt ethernet adapter that works on my MacBook Pro. Network preference list it as a Thunderbolt1 Bridge, but it stays "inactive".


About this Mac hardware->thunderbolt shows the device as Thunderbolt to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter:


The same adapter+cable+dhcp just works automatically on the Pro.


I haven't tried a PRAM or SMC reset yet.


Thanks

dalonso





Posted on Jun 29, 2021 3:15 PM

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User profile for user: Axel Foley
Axel Foley
User level: Level 10
149,364 points

Posted on Jul 3, 2021 12:45 AM

Try resetting the PRAM and SMC. Below is how-

  1. Reset SMC by following the directions applicable to your MacBook here ➔ How to Reset SMC. If that does not solve things then-
  2. Reset NVRAM/PRAM by following the directions applicable to your MacBook here ➔ How to Reset NVRAM/PRAM. 


Axel F.

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User profile for user: HWTech
HWTech
User level: Level 9
60,086 points

Jul 4, 2021 1:02 PM in response to darwin219

I find that the contacts on the MBAir's Thunderbolt port become dirty and need to be cleaned. It is very hard to clean a Thunderbolt port since there is very little room and you have to be very careful not to damage the contacts on the port connector. Sometimes just inserting & removing a Thunderbolt cable/adapter multiple times is enough to clean the port to make it work.

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mid2011 MacBook Air (MacBookAir4,1) thunderbolt ethernet adapter not connected

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