How To Check Usb Connection On Mac
1. Make sure connection to the USB port is secure
Unplug the affected device from the USB port and then plug it back in. Make sure that the connection is secure.
2. Unplugging other devices that's plugged into the USB ports
For troubleshooting purposes, unplug all USB accessories from the computer. Then start plugging in USB devices one at a time, testing each one to make sure they all work before adding the next. Sometimes two devices will have a conflict and won't work together. If you find this to be the case, contact the manufacturer for assistance.
3. Is it a new device, or a device that stopped working?
Ask yourself, is this a new device that never worked, or is it a device that you've had for a while that suddenly stopped working? If it used to work, think about what changed just before the device stopped working. Did you recently add another new device? Install a new program? Try reverting the computer to the way it was before the device stopped working. If it works again, there is an incompatibility with the device and whatever you added.
4. Check in the System Profiler
Open System Profiler from the Utilities folder, which is inside the Applications folder. From the Contents column on the left, under the Hardware header, select USB; the panel to the right will show all the USB devices that the computer recognizes. It may not identify them correctly by name, but it should have the right number of devices listed.
- If the device shows up in System Profiler, even if the device doesn't work, the issue is usually due to software. Your best solution is to try updating the drivers, creating a new user, or reinstalling the system software.
- If the device doesn't show up in System Profiler, the issue is more likely to be hardware—either the device or the USB port isn't working properly. In this event, continue on to the next item on this list. With each of the following items, check the System Profiler window (press Command-R to refresh the list) to see if the device appears.
5. USB port lacks power
If you have the device plugged into a USB hub or into your keyboard, plug it directly into one of the USB ports on the computer. If it works there, the issue is with the device to which it had been previously connected. The device may need more power than the port provides.
6. Not all USB ports in the computer are working
Check the device in all the USB ports on the computer. Also test each port using a good, working USB device. Sometimes one port on the computer will stop functioning, but others will still work. If this is the case, the computer may need to be serviced.
7. Does the device have a power cord?
Does the affected device have a power cord? If it does, try unplugging and replugging it. Make sure it's plugged into a working power outlet (you can test the outlet by plugging in a lamp or clock).
8. Check if the device is properly mounted:
1. Open Hard Disk > Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility.
2. Highlight the name of your device, if it shows Mount on top, click Mount so that it changes to Unmount.
- 1. Mac Files Tips
- 2. Mac Software
- 3. Mac Storage Tips
- 4. Mac Troubleshooting
- 5. Mac OS
- 6. Mac Error
Normally when you plug in an external hard drive to your Mac's USB port you will see it appear on the desktop (aka mount on the desktop). You can also see it in the Finder in the left column under. You can use a Universal Serial Bus (USB) to connect printers, scanners, digital cameras, webcams, iPods, joysticks, speakers, keychain disk drives, piano keyboards, and even your mouse and computer keyboard to your Mac. Plugging in a USB device is as simple as plugging it in (though sometimes you have to load software first).
The USB-C ports on modern MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and MacBook are the only connections you have on your laptop and you need them to work for you at all times. This becomes even more important if you're using a USB-C hub so you can connect other peripherals and accessories to your Mac. Connect the device to your Mac using a Lightning to USB cable (or Lightning to USB C if you have a newer Mac). Turn the device on - check the power switch on the base is showing green. Ports: Yup, your USB, FireWire, headphone jack, etc. Just connect devices to all your ports to see if they still work. Optical drives: Not nearly as extinct as Apple would like you to believe, a lot of Mac users still have them in their older machines or use them externally. To verify if all the features of your optical drive still work, there is really only one way to find out: Use them all.
by Jenefey AaronUpdated on 2020-01-10 / Update for OS X
As flawless as a Mac can be, it is not completely immune to issues and sometimes the USB ports on the Mac can stop working inexplicably. You know you didn't do anything to cause the problem, but all of a sudden all your USB ports not working on Mac. This issue can be frustrating. But before you think that the problem is the Mac, consider that sometimes USB devices can fail.
1. Check the Connection
Like we mentioned above, it is likely that the Mac is not the problem at all but the USB itself is failing to connect to the Mac. To check if this is a connection issue and that the USB you are using is damaged or not, try connecting a different USB device to the Mac to see if it's recognized. If the program recognizes a different USB device, the problem is not the Mac; you just need to change the USB device you are using.
You may also want to check the USB ports on the Mac to make sure there isn't any debris or dust lodged in it. If there are, use a soft cloth to clean out the dust or a toothpick to remove any debris.
2. Restart the Mac
This problem can also be caused by a software issue. In this case, you may want to restart the Mac to eliminate any software issues that could be causing problems. Follow these simple steps to restart the Mac;
- Step 1: Click on the menu button located at the top left corner of the screen
- Step 2: Click 'Restart'
- Step 3: Confirm that you want to restart the Mac by clicking on the 'Restart' button in the menu that appears.
3. Inspect the Port and Cable
Just to make sure that it is not a hardware problem, you may want to check that the USB port on the Mac is working fine. Dust and debris can be easily removed like we mentioned in the first solution above, and you can also try using different USB devices to see if they are the problem.
4. Update SMC
If you are certain the problem is not the USB device or the cable, the easiest way to fix the USB not working on Mac problem is to reset SMC. The process is slightly different for different Mac models. Here's how to do it for a MacBook, MacBook Pro and a MacBook Air;
- Step 1: Shut down the Mac and then connect it to the power cable.
- Step 2: Hold down the Shift, Control, Option and Power buttons at the same time for a few seconds. When the power adapter blinks or changes color the SMC reset will be complete.
- Step 3: Release the keys and then turn on the Mac.
5. Reset the PRAM/NVRAM
Sometimes resetting the PRAM or NVRAM can fix the USB ports not working on Mac issue simply because the NVRAM holds the data about the keyboards, trackpad, mouse and USB components. Follow these simple steps to reset the NVRAM;
- Step 1: Restart the Mac and then immediately hold down the Command + Option + P+ R keys together until you hear a sound and the screen flashes.
- Step 2: The Mac will also make another chiming sound before restarting again.
6. Update the Mac
An update of the software on your Mac is also another way you can fix problems with USB connectivity. Follow these simple steps to update your Mac;
- Step 1: Open the App store app o your Mac
- Step 2: Click on 'Updates' in the App Store toolbar
- Step 3: You can then either simply click on 'Update All' or go through each software updating individually
How To Check Usb Connection On Macbook
Most software problems on Mac often result in data loss. If you have suffered data loss for one reason or another, you may need a reliable data recovery program. One of the best data recovery programs for Mac is Mac Data Recovery. Once downloaded on your Mac, the program will scan the device for the missing data and then recover it.
Find Usb On Mac
When the Mac USB ports are not working, the solutions above can easily help you fix it. If it is a hardware problem, you may want to consider other options like having a professional fix the device.
How To Check Usb Connection On Macbook Pro
- Recover data deleted, formatted or lost on Mac;
- Restore files from hard drive and external storage devices;
- Recover data from failed/crashed/dead MacBook;
- Fully supported latest macOS 10.15 Catalina;