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Fixing Unrecognized USB Devices on Mac

Issue Description 

USB devices don’t appear in Finder or Disk Utility. 

Common Causes 

  • Insufficient power 
  • Faulty USB hubs 
  • Corrupt USB cache 

Step-by-Step Solution 

Step 1: Test Direct Connection 

  • Plug USB device directly into Mac 
  • Avoid hubs initially 

 

Step 2: Check Disk Utility 

  • Open Disk Utility 
  • Look under External 

 

Step 3: Reset USB Ports 

  • Restart Mac 
  • Try another USB port 

 

Step 4: Update macOS 

  • Install latest updates for USB firmware fixes 

Explore Further 

  • Reset SMC (Intel Macs) 

Prevention & Best Practices 

Use powered hubs for multiple devices.