Anthony Acock
Level 1 (106 points)

Q: 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

by rogerh2,Solvedanswer
rogerh2 rogerh2
Level 1 (10 points)
A:

It even happens on Hackintoshes (suggesting it's a software problem):

 

http://www.tonymacx86.com/general-help/78759-usb-device-drawing-too-much-power.h tml

 

I've had it on two different Mac Minis, even with no USB devices attached. Turning off and unplugging for a few minutes before re-starting sometimes fixes it but there's no common cause. Hasn't happened to me for a few months, though.

Posted on Jun 19, 2013 9:46 AM

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Anthony Acock

Q: the USB device drawing too much power has been disabled.

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  • by Shootist007,

    Shootist007 Shootist007 Feb 15, 2012 3:34 PM in response to Anthony Acock
    Level 6 (16,660 points)
    Feb 15, 2012 3:34 PM in response to Anthony Acock

    And what do you have plugged into the USB port? A coffee warmer?

     

    No I'm not kidding. Some one else posted about that same error message and it turned out he had a coffee warmer connected to the Mac USB port.

     

    If you are that poster or you have a coffee warmer connected thenn disconnect it and drink your coffe faster and or use a thermos mug.

  • by Anthony Acock,

    Anthony Acock Anthony Acock Feb 15, 2012 3:41 PM in response to Shootist007
    Level 1 (106 points)
    Feb 15, 2012 3:41 PM in response to Shootist007

    No....

     

    Like I said in my post, " the only thing i have plugged into a usb port is a keyboard."

  • by OGELTHORPE,Helpful

    OGELTHORPE OGELTHORPE Feb 15, 2012 4:13 PM in response to Anthony Acock
    Level 9 (52,793 points)
    Mac OS X
    Feb 15, 2012 4:13 PM in response to Anthony Acock

    Take a screen shot of this message and take all the items to an Apple Store Genius bar.  They should be able to diagnose the problem.

     

    Have you attached other peripherals and if so has the same message appeared?

     

    Ciao.

  • by Anthony Acock,

    Anthony Acock Anthony Acock Feb 15, 2012 4:17 PM in response to OGELTHORPE
    Level 1 (106 points)
    Feb 15, 2012 4:17 PM in response to OGELTHORPE

    Thank you for  a real answer!

     

    I will next one that pops up. I have an external monitor attached to my laptop. But it seems to running fine.

  • by Anthony Acock,

    Anthony Acock Anthony Acock Feb 16, 2012 8:51 AM in response to Anthony Acock
    Level 1 (106 points)
    Feb 16, 2012 8:51 AM in response to Anthony Acock

    I got a screenshot for you. Does this clarify it at all?

    What I have plugged in is: my iPhone, and my keyboard.

     

    Hope this helps.

    Screen Shot 2012-02-16 at 11.09.20 AM.png

  • by ds store,Helpful

    ds store ds store Feb 16, 2012 9:00 AM in response to Anthony Acock
    Level 7 (30,400 points)
    Feb 16, 2012 9:00 AM in response to Anthony Acock

    Anthony Acock wrote:

     

    I have an external monitor attached to my laptop.

     

    Well there it is there, power draw is a power draw.

     

    What you can do is buy a powered USB hub and that will remedy your problem.

     

    also do a SMC reset

     

    https://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964

  • by Anthony Acock,

    Anthony Acock Anthony Acock Feb 16, 2012 9:05 AM in response to ds store
    Level 1 (106 points)
    Feb 16, 2012 9:05 AM in response to ds store

    Thank you ds store. I will try that. After looking at the link you posted, my computer shows other symptoms as well. (loud fan, etc).

  • by ds store,

    ds store ds store Feb 16, 2012 9:22 AM in response to Anthony Acock
    Level 7 (30,400 points)
    Feb 16, 2012 9:22 AM in response to Anthony Acock

    Ah!  Good. hope it fixes it.

  • by sanjampet,

    sanjampet sanjampet Feb 16, 2012 9:46 AM in response to Anthony Acock
    Level 5 (7,874 points)
    Feb 16, 2012 9:46 AM in response to Anthony Acock

    try a different keyboard, there could be an issue with the cable or connector

  • by Kevin Maness,

    Kevin Maness Kevin Maness Feb 20, 2012 6:23 AM in response to Anthony Acock
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 20, 2012 6:23 AM in response to Anthony Acock

    I'm having that problem, too, but with a 2010 MacBook. I've been getting that error message periodically—including when I first power up my computer. The thing is, I have only two USB devices plugged into my laptop, and both are powered USB hubs. The only thing plugged into one of those hubs is my iPhone charge cable, and my iPhone's not attached. The other hub is attached to my Apple keyboard and a printer (the printer, of course, has its own power).

     

    Another thing is, the Apple keyboard works, even after I get that message, so apparently it's not the thing that's being disconnected to save power, yet it's the only thing that doesn't provide its own power.

     

    Any advice? Otherwise, I foresee a visit to the Apple Store in my future.

  • by Timothy Elliott1,

    Timothy Elliott1 Timothy Elliott1 Feb 21, 2012 9:58 AM in response to Kevin Maness
    Level 1 (125 points)
    Feb 21, 2012 9:58 AM in response to Kevin Maness

    I just had my MacBook Pro give me the "USB device drawing too much power" warning, too. The problem is that it disabled my connection to an external hard drive while the drive was spinning. Gee, thanks, Apple - next time how about a chance to eject the drive correctly and protect my data?

     

    When did this benevolent USB power grab start? I've never seen this warning before, and I haven't added any USB devices to the lineup for at least six months.

  • by Kevin Maness,

    Kevin Maness Kevin Maness Feb 21, 2012 10:17 AM in response to Timothy Elliott1
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 21, 2012 10:17 AM in response to Timothy Elliott1

    Yeah, it's weird. I can't think of anything that would be drawing power. And I reliably get the message first thing when I start up my computer. It doesn't seem to make sense.

  • by Courcoul,

    Courcoul Feb 21, 2012 10:43 AM in response to Kevin Maness
    Level 6 (14,193 points)
    Feb 21, 2012 10:43 AM in response to Kevin Maness

    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:

     

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

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Feb 21, 2012 8:37 PM in response to Anthony Acock
    Level 9 (51,427 points)
    Desktops
    Feb 21, 2012 8:37 PM in response to Anthony Acock

    Anthony Acock wrote:

     

    Thank you for  a real answer!

     

    I will next one that pops up. I have an external monitor attached to my laptop. But it seems to running fine.

    You have an external monitor connected to a USB port?

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