Apple’s latest Magic Mouse and Magic Keyboard have sparked frustration among users. Despite promises of backward compatibility, these new USB-C accessories only function correctly on macOS Sequoia 15.1 or later. On older macOS versions, critical features like Touch ID and the Magic Mouse’s scrolling capability are disabled.
Compatibility Problems
Apple assured users that the new accessories would work with older Macs, even models from 2018. However, the reality has proven different. Users on macOS Sequoia 15 and earlier report that the Magic Mouse cannot scroll, and the Magic Keyboard’s function keys are non-operational. Even Macs from 2018 and 2019, such as the Mac mini and iMac, are affected. These devices, which use Intel chips, need to run the latest macOS update for the accessories to work properly.
USB-C Upgrade Brings Challenges
Apple’s decision to switch from Lightning to USB-C aimed to streamline charging across devices. However, this change introduced unforeseen issues. Users have reported problems with wireless connections, adding to the difficulties. The exact cause of these malfunctions remains unclear, sparking speculation about whether the USB-C transition or software limitations are to blame.
Hints of a Fix in the Future
According to MacRumors, these problems extend to the macOS Sequoia 15.2 developer beta. This suggests Apple is aware of the issues and may be working on a solution. Until then, users experiencing trouble must wait for future updates.
The rollout of Apple’s new Magic accessories highlights the company’s focus on USB-C adoption but also exposes challenges in ensuring backward compatibility. As Apple continues to update its software, users hope these issues will be resolved, making the accessories more functional across a wider range of Macs.
