Lenovo Delivers Numerous ThinkPad Firmware Updates To Cure Critical USB-C Flaws

Owners of certain models of Lenovo computers have found that their USB ports and Thunderbolt ports may not work as they should. Multiple Lenovo notebook models have been identified as having issues with their USB-C connectors. The faulty ports often begin to malfunction after six or 12 months of use. Users having problems with the ports report issues including HDMI output cutting out, an error message displayed for Thunderbolt ports, and more.

Some affected devices fail to charge via the USB-C port with a USB-C adapter. Lenovo has acknowledged the issues and has offered a long list of impacted devices. For users with devices on the list, which can be seen below, Lenovo is offering a firmware update that will address the problems. It's good that it's a firmware issue, not a problem with the physical port. The firmware can be downloaded here.

Impacted machines include:

• P43s (Type 20RH, 20RJ)
• P52 (Type 20M9, 20MA)
• P52s (Type 20LB, 20LC)
• P53s (Type 20N6, 20N7)
• P71 (type 20HK, 20HL)
• T470 (Type 20HD, 20HE)
• T470 (Type 20JM, 20JN)
• T470s (type 20HF, 20HG)
• T470s (type 20JS, 20JT)
• T480 (Type 20L5, 20L6)
• T480s (type 20L7, 20L8)
• T490 (Type 20N2, 20N3)
• T490 (Type 20RY, 20RX)
• T490 (Type 20Q9, 20QH)
• T490s (Type 20NX, 20NY)
• T570 (Type 20H9,20HA)
• T570 (Type 20JW, 20JX)
• T580 (Type 20L9, 20LA)
• T590 (Type 20N4, 20N5)
• X1 Carbon 5th Gen - (Type 20HR, 20HQ)
• X1 Carbon 6th Gen - (Type 20KH, 20KG)
• X1 Carbon 7th Gen - (Type 20QD, 20QE)
• X1 Carbon 7th Gen - (Type 20R1, 20R2)
• X1 Yoga 2nd Gen (Type 20JD, 20JE, 20JF, 20JG)
• X1 Yoga 3rd Gen (Type 20LD, 20LE, 20LF, 20LG)
• X1 Yoga 4th Gen (Type 20QF, 20QG)
• X1 Yoga 4th Gen (Type 20SA, 20SB)
• X1 Tablet 3rd Gen (Type 20KJ, 20KK)
• X280 (Type 20KF, 20KE)
• Yoga 370 (Type 20JJ, 20JH)
• X380 Yoga (Type 20NN, 20QN)
• X390 (Type 20Q0, 20Q1)
• X390 Yoga (Type 20LH, 20LJ)
• P51 (Type 20MM, 20MN)
• P51 (Type 20HH, 20HJ)
• P51s (Type 20HB, 20HC)
• P51s (Type 20JY, 20K0)
• P72 (Type 20MB, 20MC)

The full list of problems that users of affected machines were encountering include:

• USB-C port not working
• Intel Thunderbolt controller not visible in the OS/Device Manager
• USB-C or Thunderbolt docking stations not visible or having connectivity problems
• HDMI output not available
• System battery not charging with a USB-C power adapter connected to the USB-C port
• Intel Thunderbolt pop-up error message
• Intel Thunderbolt safe mode error message
• BIOS Thunderbolt communication error or hang during POST

In other Lenovo news, earlier this month, it launched a refreshed ThinkPad XI Carbon and a refreshed Yoga notebook.