Looking for options to add more USB ports to my MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015)

Your Mac doesn’t have USB-C ports, it has USB-A ports. A simple USB-A hub is what you need. For example:

https://www.amazon.com/Anker-Extended-MacBook-Surface-Notebook/dp/B07L32B9C2/

If your devices need power from USB, consider a powered hub like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Anker-7-Port-Adapter-Charging-iPhone/dp/B014ZQ07NE/

Every peripheral needs power, but some don't need much. If a device has its own power supply (i.e. a separate AC adapter just for that device), then it is not getting power from the USB connection. If it doesn't have its own power supply, it is drawing power from the USB bus.

For example, I have multiple LaCie drives. Some are the Rugged series that draw power from USB (left), others are 'desktop' HDDs that have their own adapter.

Some versions of the bus-powered drive actually need to be connected to two USB ports to get sufficient power:

A USB port can provide a maximum of 4.5 W of power (900 mA at 5 V). Small devices may not use much power alone, but if you have 3 devices drawing 2 W each connected an unpowered USB hub, the draw would be 6 W connected to one USB port on your computer, which exceeds it's capacity meaning the devices won't get all the power they need. A powered hub has it's own AC adapter, so it can provide the extra power if needed.

I'd recommend a powered hub.

anthony_hendrickson wrote:

I have a MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015), and I'm looking for options for my USB ports. I have 3 devices that I like to use with my MacBook Pro.

I have an External hard drive (WB Passport), a Logitec Webcam, and a Yeti Microphone that I use when using ScreenFlow on my MacBook Pro. All 3 of these devices come with the proper equipment to hook up using USB.

The problem I'm having is my MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015) only has 2 USB ports. Is there a way to use the 2 Thunderbolt ports for any of these devices, or can I use some type of USB adaptor to add more ports?

So far I have tried the Apple MJ1M2AM/A USB-C to USB Adapter, and Belkin F4U088tt USB-IF Certified USB 3.0 4-Port Hub with 1-Meter USB Type C (USB-C) to Micro-B Cable, and neither of them are the correct connection point for my MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015) since I think the Thunderbolt port may be different on this machine or has changed.

Appreciate any and all input! 😊

Thank you,

Anthony

I would forget about those older transitional Thunderbolt2 ports.

MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015) - Technical Specifications

ref: https://support.apple.com/kb/sp719?locale=en_US

You can get a USB 3.1 Gen 1 (USB-A) hub/dock to add more USB ports that you are looking for.

You can determine the power draw of your connected devices, by going to Apple menu > About this Mac > System Report, USB section then finding the device. For example, I connected one of the LaCie rugged drives, and as you can see it's using essentially all of the 900 mA available.