Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Ammar666

macrumors member
Original poster
Sep 19, 2015
91
91
So this issue has cropped up over the past few months. My Apple VGA Multiport USB adaptor doesn't seem to detect any USB 3.0 drives. I insert them and I see them light up (the power is being delivered), but the MacBook doesn't detect it at all. I have to RESTART the laptop in order for it to work.

I have 3 USB 3.0 drives and 3 USB 2.0. This issue happens only with the 3.0 drives. The 2.0 ones are detected just fine without a restart. What gives?
 
Are you talking about thumb drives, or USB / disk drives? I've had weirdo stuff happening with USB sticks between OS X vs. Windows... where one OS would work with it vs. another. For example: My rMB "sees" the Verbatim USB stick when booted into Windows 10 but not at all on the Mac OS. I can't even get it to show up in Disk Utility on the Mac :( Works fine in Windows though... the disk-format doesn't seem to matter.

As far as USB disk drives: I use 2 different WD passport drives - Never had a problem with the standard Apple USB-C multiport adapter (with the USB-C charging pass-through / HDMI). I haven't tried the VGA version though...
 
I've had this problem for months now but it usually starts up after the computer goes to sleep. I'll wake the machine from sleep and all of a sudden it doesn't detect ANY USB 3 devices I attach to it but will send power. Has anyone else had this issue?
 
So this issue has cropped up over the past few months. My Apple VGA Multiport USB adaptor doesn't seem to detect any USB 3.0 drives. I insert them and I see them light up (the power is being delivered), but the MacBook doesn't detect it at all. I have to RESTART the laptop in order for it to work.

I have 3 USB 3.0 drives and 3 USB 2.0. This issue happens only with the 3.0 drives. The 2.0 ones are detected just fine without a restart. What gives?

I don't think it has to do with your adapter. I have the same issue with my usb-c thumb drive and Seagate hdd usb3.0
But as you mentioned this issue happens only with usb 3.0, not usb 2.0.
There are several threads on this issue.
 
few things, have you updated the firmware on multiport adapter from Apple? I think they did release it few months back.
Also, don't use the usb 3.0 drive that draws too much power. On Apple website it clearly said the multiport adapter would not work with G-Tech USB drives.

Instead of g-tech one's, I am using CalDigit's USB-C Tuff drive, it's been working pretty well with the old MacBook 2015 and my new MacBook 2016 in my office. It works with the old MacBook Pro from 2012 too, the regular USB-A port.
http://www.caldigit.com/tuff/

The Macbook 2015 might still have some bugs on the OS or hardware or firmware...but it did not happen to me that often.
 
I have USB-C to USB adapter from Apple and my USB 3 HDD wasn't working, I had to reboot my Mac for it to work.
 
Same thing here. But I'm using Anker usb-c hub, and sometimes it works like a charm, but most times I have to restart my mac in order for it to work.
 
This is probably the most annoying issue I've ever faced while being an Apple user. Unbelievable this still isn't fixed.
 
  • Like
Reactions: c0ppo
I've had this problem for months now but it usually starts up after the computer goes to sleep. I'll wake the machine from sleep and all of a sudden it doesn't detect ANY USB 3 devices I attach to it but will send power. Has anyone else had this issue?

My 2015 Macbook has the exact same issue as well, with the additional bonus that sound sometimes doesn't work after waking from sleep (when I try to adjust the volume via the keyboard I get a speaker icon with a diagonal line through it as if there is no sound card installed). The only way to solve these 2 problems is by rebooting.

It's extremely frustrating that Apple is not able to get their crap together and release software without show stopping bugs like these.
 
What I don't understand (among many other things) is the fact that some machines on the same OS version have an issue with usb 3.0 drives while others have not. Can it be a hardware issue with some rMB's/ motherboard which developes over time because of heat or whatever? Or is this completely impossible?
My rMB is 15 months old and did not have this issue when I just got it. It just developed over time but since I don't use usb drives that often I just don1t know when the issue occurred for the first time. But it seems to me that to start with it sometimes did and sometimes did not have the issue while now I always have to reboot.
 
The $79 Apple adapter works without external power. See pic.

Oops! wrong thread. :p

img_2647-jpg.641677
 

Attachments

  • IMG_2647.JPG
    IMG_2647.JPG
    768.3 KB · Views: 589
Last edited:
I was going to make a thread about this, but I'm having the EXACT same problem with my USB-C Multiport (HDMI) adapter, and have had the issue since day one. I like everyone else, sometimes it will work, but when it fails to recognize USB devices, the only solution is to restart the computer.

Software update did a firmware update on the adapter a few months ago, but that didn't solve the problem. I'm at a loss here.
 
Who do we have to yell at to get someone at Apple to see this? I mean, it's ridiculous. Thinking about taking it to the genius bar but they're just going to tell me it's software and send me on my way. I know it.
 
So this issue has cropped up over the past few months. My Apple VGA Multiport USB adaptor doesn't seem to detect any USB 3.0 drives. I insert them and I see them light up (the power is being delivered), but the MacBook doesn't detect it at all. I have to RESTART the laptop in order for it to work.

I have 3 USB 3.0 drives and 3 USB 2.0. This issue happens only with the 3.0 drives. The 2.0 ones are detected just fine without a restart. What gives?



Does this from this article from Apple help at all:

"USB hubs and devices

Some USB drives might not appear in the Finder when you plug them in. Try plugging the drive into the adapter before plugging the adapter into your MacBook. Or try connecting the drive through a powered USB A hub."
 
Last edited:
Same problem with USB sticks connected via cable or solid connector. However I just plug it in and out until it recognises it, usually three to four times, so do not have to shut down.

Same problem with micro SD cards fitted in a connector.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.