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Anthony Acock Author

Level 1

116 points

the USB device drawing too much power has been disabled.

Hello,

I keep getting this error.

" To prevent damaging your computer, the USB device drawing too much power has been disabled. Other devices may have also been disabled. When you disconnect the device drawing too much power, your other USB devices will be enabled again."

I'm using a macbook pro, which is about a year old. the only thing i have plugged into a usb port is a keyboard. the mouse i am using is a mighy mouse. both keyboard and mouse work fine. just keep getting this obnoxious popup.

any idea how to resolve this?

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.2)

Posted on Feb 15, 2012 2:58 PM

Top-ranking reply

Courcoul

Level 6

18,588 points

Posted on Feb 21, 2012 10:43 AM

The USB2 spec states that the max. current available on the plug is 500 mA. That's why some devices from the PC world sport a strange two-headed USB cable, so they can suck the whole Amp from the computer.

But in this case, if the power management is deciding there's too much power drain from the get-go with nothing plugged in, there definitely is something wrong. Mind you, some of the components on the Mac are internally connected to the USB infrastructure, such as the trackpad, camera, etc. I'd suggest the following:

Reset the SMC: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964
Run the extended Apple Hardware Test: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1509
If all else fails, schedule a visit to the Apple Store. Hope the Mac is still under warranty.

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131 replies

Jimmu

Level 1

0 points

Apr 19, 2012 9:41 PM in response to Anthony Acock

Same problem!

Plug my iPhone in my 24" iMac and up pops the error. To check I then plugged it in to my 27" iMac and the same error pops up! I then tried a different lead (cable) with the same results). I conclude therefore, (correct me if I'm wrong) that it must be a fault with my phone! But what?

Any views out there?

Thanks

bb555

Level 1

4 points

Apr 25, 2012 4:19 PM in response to Anthony Acock

I also just started having the same problem. I've had my macbook pro less just less than a year and about 2 weeks ago started getting this message when I plug anything in. All I ever plug in are my iphone or ipad to sync or recharge them, and never both at the same time. I even get this message now if just the cable is plugged in but there's no iphone on the end of it. Also, it DOES disable the usb port because my iphone stops charging then. Surely an iphone should not be drawing "too much power"...?

Apr 26, 2012 10:47 AM in response to Anthony Acock

I fixed it. I had the exact same problem, rebooted several times, no Joy. Just swapped my USB (white) lead and hey presto it works fine again. Interstingly the plug on the white lead also felt hot.

Good luck

Apr 26, 2012 10:55 AM in response to galaxyprovideo

I solved my problem (see earlier post) by checking all the USB cables going into a D-Link powered hub. One of the USB cables going to an external hard drive was just slightly unseated. I haven't had any further warnings or shutdowns. The problem wasn't a lack of power despite the warning - it was simply a loose connection.

May 15, 2012 9:07 AM in response to Anthony Acock

I'm getting the same message with my iphone. I tried a bunch of stuff mentioned here, then I borrowed a friends phone, plugged it in and it worked fine. So my problem seems to be with the phone. I restarted it and still is acting the same.

Jimmu

Level 1

0 points

May 15, 2012 10:50 PM in response to Anthony Acock

I came to the conclusion that having exhausted all possibilities, i.e. cables, connections and so forth that it had to be a software problem. On trying a restore on iTunes, which hung halfway giving an error message, I headed off to my phone supplier (True Move Thailand). The operative on the service desk who upon hearing my sorry tale simply laughed, connected it to his computer, fiddled with his keyboard, then after eight minutes or so, handed me my phone saying that should be it. It was! My phone has worked flawlessly since.

I hope this is of some help!

minimejh

Level 1

9 points

Jun 10, 2012 6:28 AM in response to Courcoul

I have a 24 inch iMac Mid-2007. And I have been getting the same message for some time. I have my keyboard conntected; my mouse connected to the keyboard. And a white connector usually not connected to anything; but available for my iPhone or iPod to synch. I also have a hub that was a freebee from a conference. It has 4 ports avaialble; but I get the message when nothing is connected to it. Can these cause a problem even if nothing is connected. I have no Apple Store near me. And I am obviously past warranty.

What should I try?

Anthony Acock Author

Level 1

116 points

Jun 10, 2012 6:33 AM in response to minimejh

hi everyone, sorry for abandoning this thread.

what it turned out for me, was to simply get a new iphone charger cable. evidently, that was the culprit. i sort of figured that out on accident, when at work i needed to charge my phone, and didn't have my cable.

i borrowed one from a coworker, and the error never popped up.

so then when i got home, i tried my sons ipad cable, and it worked fine. so i tossed my old iphone cable, got a new one, and never looked back.

currently posting from the same computer. keyboard, an external harddrive currently backing up everything, and a fan, all plugged in, and working in harmony.

for you, minimejh, i'm not sure. if not hing is plugged in, and youre still getting the error, maybe it's time to start resetting stuff as mentioned earlier in the thread?

best of luck, mate.

minimejh

Level 1

9 points

Jun 10, 2012 11:39 AM in response to Anthony Acock

Thanks for replying so quickly. I am going to start with ruling out stuff and keeping it simple. So I have unplugged the hub as the only change even though nothing plugge in and monitor what happens. If I can make 1 change a time with the USB cables perhaps I will be able to isolate the issue.

Jul 31, 2012 5:30 PM in response to Anthony Acock

I just had the same problem with my Imac while downloading photos to iphoto. Got the "usb drawing too much power" message and I too had a white iphone cable with nothing attached, a backup hard drive and the camera. But the screen then went black and would not power off or power on until I unplugged for 15 seconds. It restarted fine, but I am wondering if I need to do anything else besides get a new white cable for my iphone.

minimejh

Level 1

9 points

Jul 31, 2012 5:45 PM in response to 2sidedaviary

I stopped using my white cable and I don't get the problem any more. Cause and effect? Not sure. But the message has stopped. I also stopped using a 4:1 usb extender hub. That could have been it too.

Aug 11, 2012 1:09 PM in response to Anthony Acock

I am having this same problem but no USB devices plugged into either of my two USB ports. I know some people said it was the "white cable"? I'm not sure what that is. Could someone explain it to me? I've tried SMC reset, PRAM reset, rebooting. Nothing seems to work.

I'm having this problem on a Late 2008 MacBook Pro Unibody.

Matt2.0

Level 1

14 points

Aug 24, 2012 12:29 AM in response to Anthony Acock

Just bumping this issue. This message comes up every time I reboot my 13'' 2009 MacBook Pro. I have nothing plugged in to my USB ports. The left USB is not working if I try to connect stuff.

Resetting stuff (PRAM etc) doesn't work. Hardware test OK. Haven't tried reinstalling everything from scratch.

Has anyone in this situation been able to fix it? Very grateful for any advice.

Oct 10, 2012 5:02 PM in response to Anthony Acock

Bumping Issue. I'm having a problem with my Wacom Bamboo Fun Tablet Cable. I bought a new one, and my Macbook Pro 13 inch (Mid 2009) gave me the message. It's the same cable model as the old one, but the message only pops up when I plug in the new cable.

I've tried resetting and the hardware test, but everything came out OK

Oct 13, 2012 3:47 PM in response to Anthony Acock

How the problem was fixed for me:

I had the same exact problem. My new iPhone 5 when plugged into my macbook gave a message, "Because a USB device was drawing too much power..." It did not charge. When I plugged my iPhone 5 to an outlet it using the same usb cord, it still did not charge.

I switched with using a friend's USB cord (lightning) and it worked: it charged from my macbook and outlet. I think it's the cord's problem.

the USB device drawing too much power has been disabled.