Possible fix for MacBook Pro 2014-2015 random shutdowns on Catalina 10.15.5

[utahman130]

Thanks to combining advice from this post from /u/afroeskimo over in /r/MacOS, a comment from /u/ASentientBot and this MacBook Pro random shutout fix instruction website, adapted from this MacRumors thread , I have (hopefully) fixed my MacBook Pro 2014 15” when it kept randomly shutting down on 10.15.5 Catalina.

When it shuts down due to this problem, the computer suddenly goes completely dead, like the battery has died. I have ran Disk Utility and both volumes of my disk (Macintosh HD and Macintosh HD - Data) are fine and I replaced my battery six months with no effect on the random shutdowns before performing the below workaround.

For a while (since at least Mojave), I’ve had to rename AppleThunderboltNHI.kext to AppleThunderboltNHI.kext.BAK to keep my computer from shutting down randomly. It's an annoying workaround to have to do every time my Mac updates, but it works with no random shutdowns.

After accidentally updating to 10.15.5 (I turned off automatic updates but I must have clicked on the notification to update after a restart), I renamed AppleThunderboltNHI.kext to AppleThunderboltNHI.kext.BAK, but also had to rename IOThunderboltFamily.kext to IOThunderboltFamily.kext.BAK for my computer to stop randomly shutting down (for now).

Disclaimer: This worked for me but may not work for everyone. Not responsible for any possible damage to computer, etc. etc.

Here are the steps I followed:

1. Restart Mac in recovery mode by holding command + r while starting up. While in recovery mode, open Terminal by selecting it from Utilities in the menu bar.

2. Type csrutil disable in Terminal, press enter, enter your password if prompted.

3. Reboot to normal

4. Once logged in, open Terminal and type sudo mount -uw /

4a. Press enter, then enter your password

5. Type killall Finder

5a. Press enter

6. Open Finder, navigate to the the "Go" menubar at the top of the screen and then select "Go To Folder" (command + shift + G).

6a. Go to /System/Library/Extensions

7. Once in the Extensions folder, rename AppleThunderboltNHI.kext to AppleThunderboltNHI.kext.BAK

(alternate Terminal method: sudo mv /System/Library/Extensions/AppleThunderboltNHI.kext /System/Library/Extensions/AppleThunderboltNHI.kext.BAK)

and rename IOThunderboltFamily.kext to IOThunderboltFamily.kext.BAK

(alternate Terminal method: sudo mv /System/Library/Extensions/IOThunderboltFamily.kext /System/Library/Extensions/IOThunderboltFamily.kext.BAK)

8. Restart in recovery mode, open Terminal and type csrutil enable

9. Reboot into normal mode and the problem should be fixed.

Note: I am still able to plug in my external monitor via Thunderbolt and it works even with those kext files disabled. I don't believe Ethernet via Thunderbolt works with the kext files disabled, but I haven't tested it myself as I don't use Ethernet.

 

[vicentecastror]

Sup man. I just want to say massive THANKS for this. I thought I was going to have to sell or even throw away my Macbook Pro Mid 2014 15''. I tried this and it worked. I don't use Ethernet either, so I have no issues with disabling it. Thanks again, you are the man!!!

 

[trevhart3]

so far so good man ! Unreal !

 

[mediclips]

After reading and trying MANY possible fixes for this issue, I was able to follow your instructions to the end: I could finally rename both files to BAK. Hopefully, this will be the solution to this problem I have had for years. I will keep you posted. Thanks!

 

[rosenbergread]

Thanks to combining advice from this post from /u/afroeskimo over in /r/MacOS, a comment from /u/ASentientBot and this MacBook Pro random shutout fix instruction website, adapted from this MacRumors thread , I have (hopefully) fixed my MacBook Pro 2014 15” when it kept randomly shutting down on 10.15.5 Catalina.

When it shuts down due to this problem, the computer suddenly goes completely dead, like the battery has died. I have ran Disk Utility and both volumes of my disk (Macintosh HD and Macintosh HD - Data) are fine and I replaced my battery six months with no effect on the random shutdowns before performing the below workaround.

For a while (since at least Mojave), I’ve had to rename AppleThunderboltNHI.kext to AppleThunderboltNHI.kext.BAK to keep my computer from shutting down randomly. It's an annoying workaround to have to do every time my Mac updates, but it works with no random shutdowns.

After accidentally updating to 10.15.5 (I turned off automatic updates but I must have clicked on the notification to update after a restart), I renamed AppleThunderboltNHI.kext to AppleThunderboltNHI.kext.BAK, but also had to rename IOThunderboltFamily.kext to IOThunderboltFamily.kext.BAK for my computer to stop randomly shutting down (for now).

Disclaimer: This worked for me but may not work for everyone. Not responsible for any possible damage to computer, etc. etc.

Here are the steps I followed:

1. Restart Mac in recovery mode by holding command + r while starting up. While in recovery mode, open Terminal by selecting it from Utilities in the menu bar.

2. Type csrutil disable in Terminal, press enter, enter your password if prompted.

3. Reboot to normal

4. Once logged in, open Terminal and type sudo mount -uw /

4a. Press enter, then enter your password

5. Type killall Finder

5a. Press enter

6. Open Finder, navigate to the the "Go" menubar at the top of the screen and then select "Go To Folder" (command + shift + G).

6a. Go to /System/Library/Extensions

7. Once in the Extensions folder, rename AppleThunderboltNHI.kext to AppleThunderboltNHI.kext.BAK

(alternate Terminal method: sudo mv /System/Library/Extensions/AppleThunderboltNHI.kext /System/Library/Extensions/AppleThunderboltNHI.kext.BAK)

and rename IOThunderboltFamily.kext to IOThunderboltFamily.kext.BAK

(alternate Terminal method: sudo mv /System/Library/Extensions/IOThunderboltFamily.kext /System/Library/Extensions/IOThunderboltFamily.kext.BAK)

8. Restart in recovery mode, open Terminal and type csrutil enable

9. Reboot into normal mode and the problem should be fixed.

Note: I am still able to plug in my external monitor via Thunderbolt and it works even with those kext files disabled. I don't believe Ethernet via Thunderbolt works with the kext files disabled, but I haven't tested it myself as I don't use Ethernet.

Hello, just want to say thank you for this solve. It really did work for awhile. That being said, every time an update went out, I had to do it all over again, but that wasn't too much of a hassle. But now I'm in macOS Big Sur and "The root volume is now a cryptographically sealed apfs snapshot" meaning that the above instructions stop working at step #7. You can't rename the system files as they're read-only, even after disabling csrutil. (

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1275454103900971012

) That's thread is French as far as I'm concerned, but the shutdowns continue and I don't know what I'm supposed to do next. Have you figured anything out?

 

[Dlaj]

Hello, just want to say thank you for this solve. It really did work for awhile. That being said, every time an update went out, I had to do it all over again, but that wasn't too much of a hassle. But now I'm in macOS Big Sur and "The root volume is now a cryptographically sealed apfs snapshot" meaning that the above instructions stop working at step #7. You can't rename the system files as they're read-only, even after disabling csrutil. (

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1275454103900971012

) That's thread is French as far as I'm concerned, but the shutdowns continue and I don't know what I'm supposed to do next. Have you figured anything out?

Hi, i am in the same position as you are/was. Have you found a solution to renaming the files on Big Sur?. Highly appreciate it if you could share!