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User profile for user: 11Summer21
11Summer21 Author
User level: Level 1
9 points

USB Devices Disabled on your Mac

how to enable a disabled external drive

iMac 27″ 5K, macOS 11.6

Posted on May 9, 2022 8:25 AM

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User profile for user: D.I. Johnson
D.I. Johnson
User level: Level 7
24,383 points

Posted on May 9, 2022 8:31 AM

As indicated in the Related Article above your post, there are only a few ways to enable an external USB drive on your Mac.


Disconnect and reconnect.

Try a different port.

Try connecting directly to the Mac instead of thru a hub or dock.

If a powered device, use the ac adapter that came with it.

Try using a different (new) USB cable.

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User profile for user: D.I. Johnson
D.I. Johnson
User level: Level 7
24,383 points

May 9, 2022 8:31 AM in response to 11Summer21

As indicated in the Related Article above your post, there are only a few ways to enable an external USB drive on your Mac.


Disconnect and reconnect.

Try a different port.

Try connecting directly to the Mac instead of thru a hub or dock.

If a powered device, use the ac adapter that came with it.

Try using a different (new) USB cable.

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User profile for user: 11Summer21
11Summer21 Author
User level: Level 1
9 points

May 9, 2022 8:57 AM in response to D.I. Johnson

I tried the disconnect and reconnect. Tried some other USB ports. The light on the external drive is on. Tried to delete the drive on Disk Utility but it is listed as Disabled. It worked fine when using Big Sur, installed Monterey 12.3.1 and it stopped working. I was using the drive for Time Machine. Reset NVRAM and SCM. Plugged the drive into a Mac Book and it is listed as Disabled on Disk Utility there too.

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User profile for user: 11Summer21
11Summer21 Author
User level: Level 1
9 points

May 13, 2022 11:29 AM in response to D.I. Johnson

The problem was with the wiring for the disk that was used for Time Machine.

Replaced the cable and Time Machine works again.


Another odd thing happened though during the work through.

The back-up disk didn't show up on the desk top so disconnecting it resulted in the error that it wasn't disconnected properly.

Whenever that message appears the Bluetooth would be turned off.

If the disk isn't visible it's kind of difficult to eject it properly.

I don't see the connection between that message and Bluetooth.


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USB Devices Disabled on your Mac

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