Apple SuperDrive not working with 2024 iMac via USB-C hub

SuperDrives don't work with hubs, powered or not, period. I know from years of experience. You need a USB-A-to-USB-C adapter plugged into a port on your iMac, NOT a hub of any kind. My old SuperDrive works perfectly well with my M1 Studio Max and macOS 26.3 Tahoe.

anne adshead wrote:

I have a 2024 Imac with 2 usb sockets at the back which are very small (I think they are usb c).

Yes, those are USB-C ports / Thunderbolt 4.

I also have an apple superdrive which I've had a few years which has the bigger size usb.

That would be USB-A

I have a Logik usbC to usb 4-port hub which I have used successfully previously to connect my iMac with another gadget.

Does the hub have it's own power source? Or is it powered by the Mac? The Super Drive is picky about how it is connected to the Mac.

Apple suggests one of their adapters:

click here ➜ How to connect the Apple USB SuperDrive - Apple Support

• USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter
• USB-C VGA Multiport Adapter
• USB-C to USB Adapter

I am wishing to transfer music from CDs to my iMac but when I tried to use it nothing happens and the CDs

I wish to record keep being spat out by the superdrive.

Either the drive does not have enough power to spin up, and spits out the disc, or the disc is in a non-recongized format by the Mac. If they are traditional Audio CDs they should appear in the Music App if read correctly. Its also possible the Super Drive does not like the hub. Or the super drive has develioped an issue. You can test the Super drive on another computer and see if it works and lets you see and play the discs.

Do I need to buy a new superdrive with the usbC fitting in order to record my CDs?

Apple no longer makes the super drive and never made one with a USB-C cable. There are third party alternatives on Amazon you can buy which offer the USB-C connection directly.

click here ➜ Amazon USB-C CD Drive Search - Amazon.com

I've got a Superdirve which I bought over ten years ago. It works fine with my 2024 Macbook and Apple adapter. I appreciate that this isn't the same as your Mac, but I don't think that the Superdrive would be incompatible with your Mac.

https://www.apple.com/uk/shop/product/mw5l3zm/a/usb-c-to-usb-adapter?fnode=3ff4cf06429f41bb06ca53c62b431e10c1b9c2c3b1c67a4a8444d473272babfe29bd2044e6d2c7e854c08173aae7adce89ee324220531518e198cd82e04d1b5b7e7ecea050ea0f7af7f0203fe9263b4b0b305bbcf5c91d0cd675d819d803f7f4

anne adshead wrote:

Thank you so much for your advice. It looks like I will have to look into buying a new gadget as you suggest.

All you likely need is the Adapter. The drive should work fine with your Mac, it's just the Super Drive is picky about how it connects to the Mac as I said.

Remember to plug it into a port on your iMac, not your hub.

Always a pleasure to see a fellow user solve their problem. Fantastic.

Excellent. Glad the adapter resolved the issue. Happy Super-Driving.