USB/USC ports not working on iMac 2020

Want to download pictures from iphone/android phone to 2020 iMac 5k 27 Sequoia 15.4.1 via USB/USC. iMac will not recognize phones. Have tried all ports, none work for phone data transfer. Cables are not the issue (have tested on another Mac). Phone charging works on USB/USC. Keyboard/mouse dongle works on USB. How do I get the USB/USC ports on 2020 iMac to allow data transfer?

iMac (2017 – 2020)

Posted on May 2, 2025 1:06 PM

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Posted on May 2, 2025 8:28 PM

You're welcome.


If a simple reboot of your Mac doesn’t fix things, see if the problem still happens in safe mode.

How to use safe mode on your Mac - Apple Support 


Safe mode will often correct weird software behavior by forcing the OS to clear caches, do disk repair and other self-maintenance and housekeeping and temporarily disables third-party mods.


Does the same thing happen while in Safe mode?


You can exit safe mode by restarting your Mac normally, then reevaluate the problem.

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

May 2, 2025 8:28 PM in response to Bluenote654

You're welcome.


If a simple reboot of your Mac doesn’t fix things, see if the problem still happens in safe mode.

How to use safe mode on your Mac - Apple Support 


Safe mode will often correct weird software behavior by forcing the OS to clear caches, do disk repair and other self-maintenance and housekeeping and temporarily disables third-party mods.


Does the same thing happen while in Safe mode?


You can exit safe mode by restarting your Mac normally, then reevaluate the problem.

May 2, 2025 1:26 PM in response to Bluenote654

Some USB cables are power only, no data transfer. The cables that come with the iPhone are power+data of course.


Connect your iPhone then open a Finder window. You should see the iPhone in the sidebar. If not, check Finder Settings > Sidebar and make sure CDs, DVDs and iOS Devices is check marked.


Transfer photos and videos from your iPhone or iPad to your Mac or PC - Apple Support


May 3, 2025 5:11 AM in response to Bluenote654

In Finder Settings > Sidebar panel, be certain that you have selected CDs, DVDs, and iOS Devices or your iPhone will not appear in the Finder Sidebar under the Locations section. For a USB-A or USB-C connected Android phone, it may appear on your Desktop, or it may appear under Locations, though it may require all of the Locations settings enabled in the first sentence for it to show up.


Its been a long while since I connected an Android phone to a Mac, but it seems that when you do, the Android phone will present a dialog about becoming a Storage device or something along those lines. When you allow that, it may mount as a phone icon on your Desktop — or Android has changed so much that it may do nothing.


On the 2020 27-in iMac, either Thunderbolt 3 port can also accept USB-C connections.

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USB/USC ports not working on iMac 2020

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