How do I fix 'USB Accessories Disabled' error on my MacBook Pro?

Restart the computer, or put the devices in an AC/DC powered USB hub. Apple's Energy Saver/Sleep lowers the power on the ports until restart, and gets enabled if you close the lid of the computer.

Turn off hard drives to conserve power in the settings often enables that low power mode.

Some USB devices have their own firmware update to handle power issues.

john1938 wrote:

I am getting a message popping up saying USB Accessories Disabled Unplug the accessory using too much power to re-enable USB devices.

My MacBook Pro is running Sequoia 15.5

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

You have a device connected that’s drawing too much power. Your EtreCheck report shows that you have a couple hubs connected. A single USB port can probably only support one bus-powered device, so if you have multiple things plugged into one of those hubs, you’re just overpowering the port.

well, you may not have anything connected now.

Something has reset the port and it sounds like it’s not powering back up because of that. You might try an SMC reset.

Do you have ANY of the following types of third party apps installed on the computer:

• Antivirus
• Cleaning
• Security
• VPN
• Maintenance

If the answer is no, please do the following so we do not have to play 20 questions with you.

It will help us get a good idea of what is causing your problem if you provide a report of your system. The report we are requesting does NOT provide any personal information and is extremely safe to use. Please navigate towww.Etrecheck.com and download the free version of EtreCheck. Once you have you downloaded the app and installed it, please run the report and save it. This report will help us get a good idea what has been installed on your system and help us be able to diagnose what may be wrong.

When you have your report, you can attach it when you reply to this message and we can then review it and help you determine what is needed to get your system running well again. 

For instructions on how to download your EtreCheck report and attach it to your reply to this message please click How to use the Add Text Feature When Post… - Apple Community It is helpful to us if you download the report to your Desktop.

There is an excellent chance that the problem is caused by CleanMyMac which is installed on the computer. Most experienced users on these forums consider CMM as malware as it does absolutely nothing beneficial for Mac OS and can cause damage to Mac OS. Please locate the developers uninstall instructions and follow to the letter.

Then download FindAnyFile (the free version is fine) and have it search and get rid of anything with the words:

• CleanMyMac
• MacPaw

in them and then restart the computer in Safe Mode when done and retest. If the problem is still there then backup the computer (you should be doing this anyway) using Time Machine and then restart in the Recovery Partition and install Mac OS. This type of install will fill in any missing or damaged portions of Mac OS. Then restart normally and test.

The report indicates there may be failing hardware on your system, this could be the Mac itself (not likely) and it also the internal storage is almost full. Next, is to disconnect any external peripherals including External Hard Disks, Printers, Scanners, etc.. that are connected to the computer and then retest for at least 24 hours, if the issue does away that means one of the peripherals is causing it and you need to determine which one which can usually only be done by a process of elimination.

You should start in the Recovery Partition and install Mac OS to fill in any missing or damaged aspects of Mac OS though, this is also a possible cause of the problems.

As far as your internal storage being almost full you should move large libraries (photos, music and movies) to an External Hard Disk.

please see this Apple article about your gross complaint:

If you see USB Devices Disabled on your Mac - Apple Support

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you can use the system report to examine power available and power required for each device:

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You Boot disk is essential FULL at more than 80 percent committed and under 20 percent available

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Do not think, for a moment, that you are done cleaning up all the junk you have installed on your Mac.

If you would like guidance, just ask and readers can provide more assistance.

The most egregious is that Acronis has crashed 269 times, and the software itself is unsigned, and indication that it is too old or possibly malware. That you appear to be trusting your backups to that package is VERY troubling.

https://cleanmymac.com/faq/how-to-uninstall-cleanmymac

Please remember to fully remove it using FindAnyFile for:

• CleanMyMac
• MacPaw

These forums are full of hundreds if not thousands of users that have had CMM installed that has created havoc on their Macs. Yours as I mentioned has an excellent chance of being the next. Mac OS is very very stable if left alone, when users start introducing apps that can cause damage and changes to it that is when Mac OS begins having issues. As mentioned CMM is totally worthless in the best case so there is NO reason to have it installed.

Please run a fresh EtreCheck report and post it. Also, did you install Mac OS to fill in any missing or damaged aspects caused by CMM?

Are you running VirtualBox while the USB accessories are disabled?

VirtualBox offers a "seamless" interface with the Mac OS interface, so you should be aware if that's running simulataneously to enable other OS Apps running side by side. This could hijack ports as well. If Virtualbox is definitely not running, and not a startup item, then never mind. But seeing that in your report made me wonder.

You may do best by Starting over from Scratch

For Apple Intel computers >>   Use Disk Utility to erase an Intel-based Mac followed by How to reinstall macOS

Always make a Time Machine Backup  before  proceeding

It is suggested to Only Migrating the User Account and nothing more.

This will solve the Low Disk Space as it will eliminate any damages CMM has done plus the eliminate the un-needed Acronis Cyber Protect Home 

From the latest Report

1 - Low disk space - This computer is running low on free hard drive space.

2 - Acronis Cyber Protect Home 

https://www.acronis.com/en-us/lp/personal/sem/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=MF-X-X-Cons-Americas-NAM-EN-Ecom-ACPHsemB-AcronisGen-G-PS&utm_content=smart&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=899671116&gbraid=0AAAAAD7eew-x9w_wifPjkWBdC5bBv9tiR&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIt4n8luDcjQMVBg2tBh1CJCQ_EAAYASAAEgITBvD_BwE 

The Kindle eReader may require Kindle software to be able to be managed. I would look for that software. You may have loaded it when you first connected it to the MacBook Pro and weren't aware you did that. The newer OSes are more secure and ask you to verify everything you install. And a 2011 Mac can run 32 bit Apps where a newer Mac must run off 64 bit Apps. Check the App Store.

Install and Un-Install

The fundamental principles:

• anything installed with drag-and-drop to the /Applications folder can be un-installed by Drag-and-drop to the Trash. After a restart, the Trash can be emptied.

• anything installed with a complex installer program requires the manufacturer's un-installer program. sometimes this is included as an "option" in the Installer package, but the software-maker's web site should specify how to un-install (if they don't, they get swamped with users clamoring for Un-install Instructions)

• anything claiming to be an 'uninstaller helper' is just JUNK. (worse than web site click-bait)

Because CleanMyMac is essentially paid malware, its removal instructions are deliberately inadequate, and it has no place on your Mac.