How to check a USB-C (Thunderbolt) port on a MacBook?
SolvedAnonymous user -
Hello,
I have a problem with one of the two USB C ports on my MacBook Air 2018 OS X Sonoma 14.2.1.
It doesn't recognize external drives (USB A flash drives) when I connect it to a USB C to USB A hub. I see no connection in Finder.
I wanted to transfer photos and music from my old iMac to my MacBook. Impossible...
However, it does recognize my external hard drive.
I don't know where to go on my MacBook to find the USB C ports display. I can't find them.
Is this normal?
How can I check if they're working?
I'm not an expert in OS X or Macs... Thank you for your understanding.
Best regards.
13 réponses
Hello
You say you use a USB-C to USB-A hub:
- could you provide the brand and model?
- do you use the same hub for your external hard drive?
Is your external hard drive powered by a power adapter or is it bus-powered by the Mac?
Suggestion: considering that your external hard drive is recognized by both the new and the old Mac, the best option is to use it to transfer your data from one Mac to the other. That's what I just did to migrate from my 2007 iMac to my new MacBook Air M1 2020.
Ritchi
Hello Ritchi,
Thank you for your reply. I will give you all the information you need. Then I will clarify my problem for you.
My USB C to USB A hub:
https://www.amazon.fr/dp/B09WK1SKNF?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details
As you will see in the photos that I will attach, I use the hub to also connect my external hard drive. This means that the port works well since my MacBook displays it in Finder and on the screen. This hard drive is equipped with a "male" connector with a blue internal plug. It only works if I connect it to the blue USB socket on the hub. It does not work on the "black" sockets.
On the "black" sockets, my USB A sticks do not work.
On the memory card slot of the hub, my camera's memory card does not work.
You will see in the following photos how the connections are made. You will see in the screen photo that only the external hard drive - "my passport" is visible in Finder.
Now, I know that I can use an external hard drive to transfer my files. Not this one because it is formatted as NTFS, and thus unreadable for the MacBook. But I will buy one, so no problem.
However, there is still an issue with the memory card reader and the USB A connections, those with the "black" internal plugs.
That’s my exact situation.
Thank you for helping me out :)
Best regards and happy New Year's Eve if we don't talk again today.
@+
Good evening,
Looking at the comments from buyers of this product, it’s clear you’re not the only one complaining that the USB-A ports (the ones with the black notch) aren’t working or have stopped working. There seems to be some bad batches of products.
To confirm that the USB-A ports aren’t working, you should test it with another laptop, like a friend’s, a neighbor’s, a colleague’s, etc. This way, if you see it really isn’t working, then if you just bought it, ask how to return it and get a refund.
Ritchi
Hello Ritchi, I indeed thought that the USB A ports (black) might not work. It's worth noting that even the memory card slot doesn't work either...
I currently don't have the option to test them on another computer. I'm going to buy another hub and try to get a refund for this one.
You never know if the reviews are reliable or not... Do you think it's a matter of price (€29) or brand? Can you offer me some guidance?
Thank you and have a great rest of the day.
Best regards.
Hello
Personally, I don't have a hub for my MacBook Air, but I had to buy USB-C to USB-A adapters like this one to be able to use my external hard drives and other SD/microSD card readers:
I bought them HERE and I admit that given the price, it's a solution that works very well for me since I don't use an external hard drive or my SD/microSD card reader every day.
Ritchi
Hello,
Thank you for your help.
It's true that your solution is nice. I'll go with that; with a set of male and female connectors, we should cover quite a few possibilities.
Plus an adapter for the micro SD card for photos.
Best regards.
See you!
Hello Ritchi,
I'm getting back to you because my problem is not resolved... Actually, it's the USB-C port on my MacBook that isn't working.
I bought the adapters you showed me and an external hard drive that I connected to my old iMac, which recognized it. I loaded some photos onto this drive. I was able to transfer these photos to my phone without any issue.
However, when I connect it to my MacBook... nothing happens. No sign of it in Finder. I can't find it...
So unless I'm mistaken, the only solution is to run a diagnostic on my MacBook?
Do you think we can do that online through Apple support? Or should I go to a repair shop?
Thanks and have a good evening.
Best regards @+
Hello Bodaeng,
In Ritchi's absence, whom I greet by the way ;-), I’m allowing myself a little intrusion...
I don’t think the USB-C port on the Mac is faulty, since earlier it showed that it was working on the blue USB port of the adapter.
There are actually 2 USB-C ports on this MacBook Air... what does the other port say?
On this subject, the blue ports are the USB 3 standard ports, while the black ports are USB 2 standard. These standards are "theoretically" backward-compatible, although some recent external drives do not work on an "old" USB 2 port.
Moreover, these ports are also compatible with the Thunderbolt standard. Hence, there might be a more difficult compatibility between the different standards.
I’m more inclined to think it's an adapter issue.
On my side, I use a Novoo adapter for my various needs, and it works without any issues:
this one:
https://www.amazon.fr/gp/product/B075FGQ988/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
(I also have an individual USB-C to USB A adapter from Apple)
My external drive, self-powered and partitioned, is recognized without issue.
The SD card is also recognized without issue
So, if the result on your side is the same on both USB-C ports, I would say it’s probably an adapter issue.
Best regards.
*_Francis_*
Have a good day, good evening, good night ;)
iMac mid-2011 - MacBook Air M1
EDIT: I almost forgot... to view the USB ports;
go to the Apple menu / About This Mac... / More Info...
*_Francis_*
Have a good day, good evening, good night ;)
iMac mid-2011 - MacBook Air M1
Hello Francis,
Thank you for your response. You're coming into the discussion without knowing everything... :) Let me recap everything.
At first, I bought a USB C to USB A hub like yours. I noticed that it wasn't working properly.
What was surprising is that it recognized an old external hard drive (the red one in the photo) but neither my USB drives (black ports) nor the SD card from my camera.
I thought the hub was faulty. So, I bought adapters like those from Ritchi, a new external hard drive, and an SD card reader as well.
You must have seen the result in my message (8) to Ritchi.
My new external hard drive is recognized by my old iMac when connected with a USB C cable (output from the drive) and USB A (blue port). I was able to transfer files.
When I connect this drive to my MacBook with a USB C adapter connected to the blue USB A port of the cable, as shown in the photo, nothing happens. I don't see my drive appearing in Finder...
I did try both Thunderbolt ports. None see my hard drive...
However, in contrast to my last message, the SD card reader with my camera's card is indeed readable on my MacBook, and I can "see" the SD card in my Finder. So, the port works....
The only problem is that my external hard drive (the one recognized by my old iMac) doesn't open on my MacBook... So it's impossible to recover files from my iMac to put them on my MacBook...
I really don't understand anything. I'm counting on your expertise :)
Thank you and best regards
I quote:
"My new external drive is recognized by my old iMac via a USB-C (drive output) and USB A (blue port) connection."
OK - You indicate that you have connected your new hard drive to the iMac and that it works, and that this new hard drive has a USB-C output, so if I understand correctly, to connect this new drive to the iMac, you are using a cable with a USB-C plug on the drive side and a USB A plug on the iMac side.
The thing that catches my attention:
In that case, why, as I see in the photo from message #9, are you using a USB A to USB-C adapter on the MacBook side? And why not a USB-C cable on both ends since this new drive has a USB-C output?
Try a direct connection from your new drive to the MacBook, that is, with a USB-C cable on both ends...
In the meantime, if you still doubt the functionality of the USB-C ports on your MacBook (it does sometimes happen that these ports need to be reset), then reset the so-called SMC management unit, see how to do it here:
https://support.apple.com/fr-fr/102605
And also reset the NVRAM:
https://support.apple.com/fr-fr/HT204063
PS: my USB-C to USB A and HDMI adapter is not the same as yours. Not the same brand, and I do not have black USB ports on it, but only 2 blue ones. I continue to doubt the adapters used for this case.
EDIT: I will have to be absent for a little while...
*_Francis_*
Have a good day, good evening, good night ;)
iMac mid-2011 - MacBook Air M1
Francis,
I didn't connect my hard drive with a USB-C cable on both sides because... I don't have one. I hadn't anticipated this situation... :)
However, I have a new problem. I followed the procedure to reset the SMC management unit as described on the Apple page
https://support.apple.com/fr-fr/102605
There are several possibilities... Apple chips or T1 or T2... apparently, I used the wrong procedure. I used the one for computers equipped with T2 chips...
Now, my Mac won't turn on... even when holding the power button down... What’s going on? Did I mess up?
Thank you.
Best regards,
Sorry, my Mac finally turned back on.
I suppose the reset was successful.
Sorry, I'm not very comfortable with how the forum works.
In the end, my Mac turned back on... by plugging in the power cord... even though the battery was fully charged...
Well, I'm going to buy a cord with USB C on both ends. We'll see if it works...
What I don't understand is that when I plug in my hard drive, even with a USB C - USB A (blue) adapter, the drive powers on... the blue light on the hard drive comes on... but no data appears on my Mac, in Finder...
Best regards
OK - redo the procedure to reset the SMC unit. But the correct procedure this time ;-)
And we will wait for the test with a USB-C cable on both ends.
*_Francis_*
Have a good day, good evening, good night ;)
iMac mid-2011 - MacBook Air M1
Hello Francis,
I'm getting back to you...pa
Hello Francis,
Sorry....typo error.... I'm getting back to you, my story is not simple....
I connected my external hard drive with the USB C cable at both ends to my MacBook. Nothing is happening as you can see.
Yet, as I told you the other day, the small blue LED on my external drive is indeed lit. In fact, it is blinking....it doesn't stabilize.
Then I tried to reinitialize the two memories, SMC and NVRAM. It doesn't work as advertised on the Apple pages. When I do what they say, my Mac restarts by itself without the announced steps... like the waiting times among others... I'm not expressing myself well here, but nothing is happening as expected... :(
What do you think?
Thanks and best regards.
Hello Francis,
Sorry...typing error.... I'm getting back to you, my story isn't simple....
I connected my external hard drive with the USB C cable on both ends to my MacBook. Nothing is happening as you can see
Yet, as I told you the other day, the little blue light on my external drive is indeed on. In fact, it’s blinking....it’s not stabilizing.
Then I tried to reset both memories, SMC and NVRAM. It’s not working as announced on the Apple pages. When I do what they say, my Mac restarts by itself without going through the announced steps...namely the waiting times among other things...I’m not expressing myself well here but nothing is happening as expected... :(
What do you think?
Thanks and best regards.
Hello,
For resetting the SMC unit, when the Mac is equipped with a T2 chip, there are 2 methods according to the Apple page, one for laptops and the other for iMacs. I believe your Mac is indeed equipped with this T2 chip, and I suggest restarting the procedure which, it seems to me, must be followed exactly. I admit I have not had to test this operation on a T2 laptop Mac.
Otherwise, I have a small doubt about the ability of the USB-C port to power this portable drive. I suggest putting the Mac on charge, preferably on the port next to the screen, and testing the external drive at the same time the charger is connected, on the other port, next to the keyboard.
Just in case, do you have a USB-C SSD on hand to test? Portable SSDs require less power than a traditional mechanical hard drive.
*_Francis_*
Have a good day, good evening, good night ;)
iMac mid-2011 - MacBook Air M1
Hello again,
my Mac is equipped with an Intel chip. I followed the procedure for Intel chips. It doesn't work as they announced.
My charger only works in the keyboard-side port. It doesn’t charge in the screen-side port... that infamous port that accepts nothing... neither USB keys nor the external hard drive...
My hard drive is indeed a type-C SSD.
As you can see, the charger is in the keyboard-side port and the hard drive is in the screen-side port.
I had replied, and strangely my answer has disappeared...?
So, I'll redo the answer...
Your Mac indeed has an Intel processor, but as far as I know, it is equipped with a T2 security chip, so the procedure to reset the SMC unit should be repeated while following the T2 procedure for laptops, especially if one of the USB-C ports shows issues with other devices...
*_Francis_*
Have a good day, good evening, good night ;)
iMac mid-2011 - MacBook Air M1
I followed the procedure to reset with a T2 chip correctly. Once again, it is not going well.
I followed the T2 procedure carefully. Once again, it's not going as announced... I held down the 3 keys, but before I reached the 7 seconds they required, and without pressing the power button, my Mac had already booted up....
It's incomprehensible...
I'm sorry, but nothing is working as planned... I followed the procedure for the T2 chip. I held down the 3 keys. But before the 7 seconds of waiting as expected, my Mac turned back on without me having to press the power button...
I don't understand anything anymore.... :)
And what does the diagnostic test show:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/102550
And in this window, is it visible?
And in Disk Utility, after requesting to "Show all devices" in the View menu...?
*_Francis_*
Have a good day, good evening, good night ;)
iMac mid-2011 - MacBook Air M1
I launched the latest update Sonoma 14.3. Quite long.
I will run the diagnostic test.
Otherwise, for your question, it results in this
It's completely incomprehensible. No procedure I use behaves like it's described in the Apple support pages...
For the diagnostic test they ask for:
I wanted to follow the "Apple chip" procedure...
While holding the power button, your Mac turns on and loads the startup options. When you see the Options setting, release the power button.
On mine, it doesn't happen like that. When I hold the power button down... my Mac turns on but I never see any options setting... It turns on like usual...
Do I need to follow the "Intel processor" option?
- This is not the Apple chip procedure to follow, even though this Mac is equipped with an Apple T2 chip that only serves in parallel, the processor running the Mac is indeed the Intel processor. So, Intel procedure.
- For the USB window, (the screenshot you posted above), you need to remember to check all the USB buses.
- And also see what the "Disk Utility" application says after selecting "Show All Devices" from its "View" menu.
I forgot to suggest using the Terminal to paste the following command when the disk (actually an SSD) is connected:
diskutil list
And to indicate exactly the result... which would allow to possibly mount the disk with a command like:
diskutil MountDisk diskxxxxxxx
*_Francis_*
Have a nice day, good evening, good night ;)
iMac mid-2011 - MacBook Air M1
Hello Francis,
Thank you for still taking care of my problem. But honestly, I'm having a hard time understanding you.... Sorry, but I'm not really an expert.... you must have realized that...
I'm unable to do what you're asking me... :)
I tried to do the diagnostic test. It didn’t go as planned. The procedure worked, but when I got to having to enter my wifi network and password, which I did, the system started spinning (a little wheel spinning... searching...) without any result after a while.
Black screen.... and two possible choices. Turn off or restart. I chose to restart. No visible change.
Hello Bodaeng,
In your Applications folder, there is a subfolder named Utilities.
In this Utilities folder, there is an application called Terminal.
- Launch this application
- Paste this command in the Terminal window
diskutil list
- confirm by hitting the Enter key on your Mac
- take a screenshot of the result displayed in the Terminal window
- place this screenshot in this discussion
*_Francis_*
Have a good day, a good evening, a good night ;)
iMac mid-2011 - MacBook Air M1
Well, we can see that the external SSD is not detected at all by the system.
I think the MacBook has a problem with the USB-C ports... if the SMC unit reset procedure didn't work, it seems to me that a visit to an Apple authorized service center is the next step to take for this issue...
https://locate.apple.com/en/us/
But I still repeat my question, what are the indications given by the system report regarding the USB 3 and 3.1 ports, as we only see the result from the T2 BUS
I don't know if it changes anything, but in the first screenshot, my SSD was not connected.
In this one, it is connected.....
I'm looking into your question....
Apparently, I now have a problem with the screenshot... when I click on "image" I no longer have the "browse" option to find the file... the window that opens is titled "image properties" and I have to enter the URL.... all this is strange.. I'll try to copy the text into the system report to see...
USB 3.0 Bus:
Host controller driver: AppleUSBXHCISPTLP
PCI device ID: 0x9d2f
PCI revision ID: 0x0021
PCI vendor ID: 0x8086
USB 3.1 Bus:
Host controller driver: AppleUSBXHCITR
PCI device ID: 0x15ec
PCI revision ID: 0x0006
PCI vendor ID: 0x8086
Bus number: 0x00
Is that good for you?
The USB ports seem to be recognized, but if the external disk or SSD is connected, there should be the indicated hierarchy, as in this example you can see my SanDisk SSD:
*_Francis_*
Have a good day, good evening, good night ;)
iMac mid-2011 - MacBook Air M1
Well.... That doesn't really help me at all :)
Do you still recommend an authorized repairer?
I have to go to Rennes...70 km...
- I would say,
- that if a new attempt to reset the SMC management unit, carried out meticulously following the procedure, yields no results
- if a safe boot, followed by a "normal" boot, yields nothing
The procedure for a safe boot: (use the method for Intel Mac)
https://support.apple.com/en-us/guide/mac-help/mh21245/mac#:~:text=Start%20up%20an%20Intel-based%20Mac%20in%20safe%20mode&text=Press%20and%20hold%20the%20power%20button%20until%20you%20see%20the%20startup%20options%20screen%20and%20click%20“Continue%20in%20safe%20mode”.
- if despite all this, this new SSD and the old portable drive do not mount in any way, but they do mount properly on another computer,
One must face the facts: the USB ports on this MacBook are problematic, and only an authorized Apple service will be able to resolve this issue.
Hello,
Well, I've taken note. I will redo the two procedures, resetting the SMC memory (I will carefully follow the procedure :) ) and I will try a safe boot again.
I know someone who works in an IT company; I talked to him about it. He's going to take a look this weekend. I will pass on all the information you gave me. We’ll see what he says.
Then, if things don’t improve... I will take it to a certified technician.
Thanks for everything again. Very nice of you.
Should I mark the discussion as finished? Should I leave it open to continue if needed or if you want to know how it goes?
Have a great day. Thank you.
Regards.
Hello,
Another thing to test, although I think it's hopeless:
Test in a session of another Type Admin user. Basically, create a new User with Admin rights and then start the Mac under this new Admin and see if the disk is recognized...
But as I said, I don't really believe in it!
Otherwise, I'll put this discussion aside in my reading list, and if you give me some news, I'll know ;-)
Take care!
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