Leonidas Kalantidis
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: "USB Devices Disabled" notification always showing

Hey guys! Some help would be much appreciated.

 

A few months ago my macbook pro (early 2011) took a fall and ever since the USB ports are not working and every time I try to connect something the usual message "USB Devices Disabled - Unplug the device using too much power to re-enable USB devices" appears. I took it to be serviced, they asked for more money than I could spend to change the logic board. Instead I found a Thunderbolt to USB adapter and moved on like this.

 

Recently, I installed El Capitan and ever since the installation the "USB Devices Disabled" notification does not go away. It pops up, I click "Close", it goes away and a few seconds later it's back on. It stays there for EVER.

 

Any ideas as to how to solve this?

 

Many thanks!

MacBook Pro (13-inch Early 2011), OS X El Capitan (10.11)

Posted on Oct 1, 2015 11:04 PM

by appleaday8,Apple recommended
appleaday8 appleaday8
Level 1 (5 points)
A:

Had the exact same problem with my 2010 Mac Mini. Upgraded from Yosemite to El Capitan 10.11.1 and immediately saw the USB error message--even with all my peripherals disconnected including a USB monitor. After reading some forums found that resetting the SMC (System Management Controller) fixed this problem on some Macs. Go here to do this: Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC) on your Mac - Apple Support. I added to this by resetting the PRAM (or NVRAM) when my mac was booting up from the SMC reset. How to Reset NVRAM on your Mac - Apple Support.

 

When my mac booted up, the system preferences was open and I had a notifications error (null error). I then quit system preferences, started it back up, selected notifications and the error was gone with all the notifications options available. I then connected all my peripherals and no more USB errors appeared. Everything seems to be back to normal. Will update this post if things change. Good luck!

 

On a side note, El Capitan seems to be run a bit snappier than Yosemite. We'll see.

Posted on Oct 26, 2015 10:11 AM

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Leonidas Kalantidis

Q: "USB Devices Disabled" notification always showing

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  • by Spiroslp,Helpful

    Spiroslp Spiroslp Oct 2, 2015 9:19 AM in response to Leonidas Kalantidis
    Level 1 (9 points)
    Oct 2, 2015 9:19 AM in response to Leonidas Kalantidis

    I have the same problem.

    The solution i found is to turn on "Do Not Disturb" from Notification Center

    Screen Shot 2015-10-02 at 19.14.08.png

  • by AshManton,

    AshManton AshManton Oct 2, 2015 9:57 AM in response to Spiroslp
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 2, 2015 9:57 AM in response to Spiroslp

    Im having this exact same thing ever since updating to EL C. My external hard drive works ok in both my usb ports on my macbook pro 13" 2014 but when i come to plug my PNY Card reader in which i need to do desperately it doesn't work in either ports which it was working fine just before updating, changed cables and still no luck apart from "USB devices disabled"

     

    Any ideas ?

  • by AshManton,

    AshManton AshManton Oct 2, 2015 10:01 AM in response to Leonidas Kalantidis
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 2, 2015 10:01 AM in response to Leonidas Kalantidis

    Im having this exact same thing ever since updating to EL C. My external hard drive works ok in both my usb ports on my macbook pro 13" 2014 but when i come to plug my PNY Card reader in which i need to do desperately it doesn't work in either ports which it was working fine just before updating, changed cables and still no luck apart from "USB devices disabled"

     

    Any ideas ?

  • by leroydouglas,

    leroydouglas leroydouglas Oct 2, 2015 10:02 AM in response to Leonidas Kalantidis
    Level 7 (22,925 points)
    Notebooks
    Oct 2, 2015 10:02 AM in response to Leonidas Kalantidis

    Leonidas Kalantidis wrote:

     

    I took it to be serviced, they asked for more money than I could spend to change the logic board. Instead I found a Thunderbolt to USB adapter and moved on like this.

     

    One repair option is to ask about their "Flat Rate" repair depot. This is a less expensive option where the Apple Store send the Mac to their repair depot, there are several tiers but any and everything is repaired for the flat rate.

  • by 1GuyInWisconsin,

    1GuyInWisconsin 1GuyInWisconsin Oct 2, 2015 11:23 AM in response to Leonidas Kalantidis
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 2, 2015 11:23 AM in response to Leonidas Kalantidis

    Add my name to this list.

     

    MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2010)

    Upgraded to OS X El Capitan (10.11) on 09/30/2015, first login, and every login since.

     

    USB Devices Disabled

    Unplug the device using too much power to re-enable USB devices.

     

    Nothing is plugged into the USB ports.

     

    Currently, using the "Do Not Disturb" workaround.

     

    This behavior did not exist prior to the El Capitan upgrade.

  • by bikerboi3,

    bikerboi3 bikerboi3 Oct 3, 2015 12:40 AM in response to Leonidas Kalantidis
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 3, 2015 12:40 AM in response to Leonidas Kalantidis

    I hope APPLE read this comments. I'm having the same issue after updateing my software to EL CAPITAN on my IMac. it doesn't matter if I have my keyboard connected or not (i even tried different keyboards). After upgrading to EL CAPITAN i keep getting the same annoying message. USB Devices Disabled: Unplug the device using too much power to re-enable USB Devices.

     

    How do we fix this? How can apple fix this bug or it created on my iMac?

     

     

    Any tips would be amazing! And I don't want to pay for something I didn't even brake.

  • by jemmahlorraine,

    jemmahlorraine jemmahlorraine Oct 3, 2015 1:38 AM in response to Leonidas Kalantidis
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 3, 2015 1:38 AM in response to Leonidas Kalantidis

    Yep I just upgraded to the new OS X about 10 minutes ago and they keep popping up!

  • by paulvee,

    paulvee paulvee Oct 3, 2015 8:26 AM in response to Leonidas Kalantidis
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 3, 2015 8:26 AM in response to Leonidas Kalantidis

    Same here - on a 2012 Mac Pro. I have a few startup drives in this machine. Did an SMC reset - left it unpowered for over 20 minutes - and it worked on one. A ten minute one did NOT work on the other drive - same machine. I'm about to turn it off and try a longer one. An SMC reset is done differently on a Macbook Pro - you'll have to look it up on the web - but you might want to try  that first. If I figure out anything else, I'll post here.

  • by paulvee,

    paulvee paulvee Oct 3, 2015 9:43 AM in response to paulvee
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 3, 2015 9:43 AM in response to paulvee

    Did a longer SMC reset. Did not work. THEN, I unplugged each USB device. I am only use the three rear ports on this Mac Pro. Two of them did not set off the warning. The third one - my Mattias keyboard - DID invoke this notification. I then tried it with an Apple keyboard and another Mattias one. Neither one set it off. I guess I'll live with this for now.

  • by vermontbill,

    vermontbill vermontbill Oct 3, 2015 12:37 PM in response to Leonidas Kalantidis
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iBooks
    Oct 3, 2015 12:37 PM in response to Leonidas Kalantidis

    I have same problem. Upgraded to El Capitan last night. Have no USB devices connected, but same persistent message appears. Turned off notifications and it went away.

  • by fruitpunch.ben,

    fruitpunch.ben fruitpunch.ben Oct 3, 2015 12:57 PM in response to Spiroslp
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 3, 2015 12:57 PM in response to Spiroslp

    Same thing happening to me. SMC reset, unplugging all USB devices, nothing got rid of the message.

    Interestingly, like the OP, for a few years I've been having problems with USB on my iMac. the two middle USB ports of the four haven't worked for years, only the two outer ones do. But I only need two, I've made do. So I wonder if the message has something to do with a change in El Cap, it's detecting an error that it never previously did?

  • by zegomesjf,

    zegomesjf zegomesjf Oct 3, 2015 5:34 PM in response to Leonidas Kalantidis
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 3, 2015 5:34 PM in response to Leonidas Kalantidis

    I tried so many solutions what works for me is:

    shut down the computer, and then turn the computer back on.

    Hold the "Command-Option-P-R" keys together before the gray screen appears until you hear the startup sound for the second time. Release the keys.


    let me know if it works for you.

  • by vermontbill,

    vermontbill vermontbill Oct 4, 2015 10:20 AM in response to zegomesjf
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iBooks
    Oct 4, 2015 10:20 AM in response to zegomesjf

    Regrettably, it did not work for me. Thank you for sharing, though.

  • by Thomas2697,

    Thomas2697 Thomas2697 Oct 7, 2015 6:15 PM in response to zegomesjf
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 7, 2015 6:15 PM in response to zegomesjf

    I tried this method and it did in fact solve my problem with the usb port. Thank you!

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