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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.

View in context

131 replies

Jan 2, 2015 4:30 PM in response to Anthony Acock

You CANNOT use your power cord for the iPhone 5 for charging the iPhone 6. They both look exactly the same, but there is a difference. I ended up marking my iPhone 6 power cord, because my daughter uses my Mac Book to charge her iPhone 5. If you need to replace the cord for the iPhone 6 or 6S, they are $19.00 at the Apple Store. Using the correct cord solved this problem.

Jul 19, 2015 8:43 PM in response to Anthony Acock

I tried to update my iPhone and it won't turn on until i plug it into iTunes, but when i try to plug it in to my mac it says its pulling too much power. I tried on 2 different computers and both said the same thing and my phone won't turn on. I don't know what to do.

Rich211

Level 1

5 points

Oct 31, 2015 11:19 PM in response to ianfromkettering

I have been using a NOKIA phone for over two yrs, linking pictures to my MAC Pro, and today, I get this message. Does anyone know why? This is the FIRST time I got this message, I have El Capitan upgrade, but was able to link pictures earlier this month. Is there a FIX?

mlupton1

Level 1

4 points

Dec 16, 2015 10:56 AM in response to farisac

YES, it was the cable... I have about 4 or 5 of them laying around... the first 2 of them got me worried, but both were old and crimped at the ends. I put in my newest one, and it worked, no problem!

mohorn

Level 1

0 points

Jan 2, 2016 7:17 PM in response to Anthony Acock

I have NOTHING plugged in to my computer except for my phone. I JUST plugged me phone in and that is when the message showed up. There is nothing that would be drawing power. How do I get my computer to let me plug in my phone?

Lou_295

Level 1

4 points

Jan 31, 2016 1:41 PM in response to Anthony Acock

My Macbook Pro is 4 weeks old. The warning was on my screen this morning when I opened it. It had nothing plugged in at the time and hasn't had a USB in it for weeks. The only other device I have used, also weeks ago, is my Bose headset. I'm baffled.

Mar 8, 2016 11:44 AM in response to Anthony Acock

for those with this problem: get a new cable.

i have a macbook air that's about 4 months old and just got a second-hand iphone 5s, after using my beloved iphone 4 for almost 3 years.

the cable for my 5s works, it charges and i could even synch my music via itunes on sunday! but now it's unable to connect with my mac. i did a little experiment: plugged in my ehd and my old ipod. not an error in sight, ipod immediately began charging happily. tried it with my ipad after that, worked just fine. both ipod and ipad have the old cable still, so it's definitely the new cable that's ****.

too bad, i wanted to put a film on my phone to watch in the bus tomorrow. too late to buy a cable now.

May 21, 2016 8:29 AM in response to Anthony Acock

This happened to me a few years ago, and I don't remember how I resolved it. It might have been by buying a new cable. Just happened again yesterday. I was trying to sync my iPad and I got the dreaded USB has been disabled error. So I tried with another cable, the one I use for my iPhone and it worked fine. This morning I tried the original one again and got the error. But this one is coiled up and held together with a little plastic cable holder. So just for jokes, I uncoiled it and straightened out the cable and it worked fine. Definitely was the cable and I guess I will no longer tie my sync cable around the holder.

Just for what it's worth....