This past weekend I was using my MacBook Air with an M3 chip, purchased this August, when suddenly a message appeared in the notifications section that said: “USB accessories disabled”. I was just as baffled as you, but I have solved it and I explain to you what you should do so that it doesn’t happen to you.
This error can arise in several situations, but is usually due to a power supply problem into the USB ports on your Mac.
What does the “USB Accessories Disabled” message mean?
The “USB Accessories Disabled” message appears when your Mac detects a abnormal power consumption on accessories connected to its USB ports. In simple terms, the accessories you’ve connected are demanding more power than your Mac can safely provide, and so the system decides to temporarily disable these ports. This is done as a protective measure to prevent damage to your Mac or connected devices.
This problem is more common when you use devices that require high power consumption, such as external hard drives without their own power, or like USB hubs, which happened in my case, which do not have an independent power source and demand greater power consumption from the device. Mac.
Why does this problem occur?
The most common causes of USB accessories disabled error on Mac include:
- Excess connected devices– If you connect multiple devices that require power at the same time, your Mac may not be able to power them all.
- Devices without their own power– Some devices, such as external hard drives, may consume too much power if they do not have their own power source, causing this error.
- USB port or cable problems– If the port or cable has any damage, it may not be providing adequate power, triggering the error message.
- Non-powered USB hubs, docking stations or hubs– Unpowered USB hubs or hubs can cause power issues, as your Mac must supply power not only to the hub, but to all devices connected to it.
How to solve the problem
Here are some steps to resolve this annoying error message:
- Disconnect USB devices– Start by disconnecting all USB accessories from your Mac. Wait a few seconds and reconnect them one at a time. This can help the system regain its normal power supply capacity.
- Try another USB port– In some cases, the problem may be specific to a port. Change input and see if the error persists.
- Use self-powered devices– If you have devices such as external hard drives, try to use those that have their own power supply or connect them to a separate USB power adapter. This will reduce the power demand on your Mac.
- Avoid unpowered USB hubs– If you need to connect multiple devices, opt for a USB hub that has its own power source. In this way, the hub will not depend exclusively on the power provided by the Mac.
- Restart your Mac– If the error persists, restart your Mac. Sometimes a simple restart can reset the USB ports power settings and clear the error.
- Check macOS updates– Keep your Mac up to date. Apple occasionally releases updates that include performance improvements and bug fixes related to power delivery to USB ports.
What to do if the problem persists?
If after following these steps the problem still appears, there may be a hardware problem in the USB port or motherboard of your Mac. In this case, I recommend take it to a technical service authorized to conduct a more detailed review.
In my case, it was enough to disconnect the USB hub from the Mac and after a few seconds reconnect it, and everything worked as always, without problems. However, it is something that scared me and that you all have to know can happen.
