Hey all,
Just wanted to get this on the Internet so people will have this information going forward. I don't know how I did it, but I screwed up one of my MacBook's (Mid 2015 15" rMBP) USB ports, so plugging in and removing USB peripherals was nearly impossible. I didn't want to wait half a week and risk giving up my Mac for up to another week for the Apple repair process, so I took out my tools...
So essentially Mac USB ports have these clips that click into the two square holes on the bottom of a male USB connector. These clips are sliver in color, and on the bottom of the port, as close to the outside (and you) as possible. Two of them are responsible for clipping into those two square holes on a USB connector. So after comparing these clips between my MacBook's two USB ports, I realized one of the problem port's clips was sticking up slightly more than the others.
To fix, I used one of those spudger tools from iFixit (you can probably get it from elsewhere for less $) that has a pointy end. I really wanted to use plastic so as not to scratch or otherwise damage the inside of the USB port, and it turns out the spudger is perfect for the job. I used both ends to "smooth over"/ push down on the clip that was sticking up and just applied gentle-but-ever-increasing force on it until it was in line with the other clips, careful to avoid the white USB connector inside the port (actually quite easy to accomplish- there's plenty of room in there). Keep in mind, these clips make clicking noises when they're pressed down, so don't freak out if you hear a clicking/snapping sound!
Now the port's back to normal, and I don't have to take it in for repair! Give this a go if you're short on time/patience/being able to be without your computer for a period of time. This probably also works if you want to loosen the ports beyond "stock", although I'm not sure it's really possible to "pry up" on those clips to get them back to their original position should you overdo it or wish to revert the "tightness setting".
Just thought I'd share, because when this first happened I freaked out, lamenting having to schedule and go through a Genius Bar appointment, etc.
Just wanted to get this on the Internet so people will have this information going forward. I don't know how I did it, but I screwed up one of my MacBook's (Mid 2015 15" rMBP) USB ports, so plugging in and removing USB peripherals was nearly impossible. I didn't want to wait half a week and risk giving up my Mac for up to another week for the Apple repair process, so I took out my tools...
So essentially Mac USB ports have these clips that click into the two square holes on the bottom of a male USB connector. These clips are sliver in color, and on the bottom of the port, as close to the outside (and you) as possible. Two of them are responsible for clipping into those two square holes on a USB connector. So after comparing these clips between my MacBook's two USB ports, I realized one of the problem port's clips was sticking up slightly more than the others.
To fix, I used one of those spudger tools from iFixit (you can probably get it from elsewhere for less $) that has a pointy end. I really wanted to use plastic so as not to scratch or otherwise damage the inside of the USB port, and it turns out the spudger is perfect for the job. I used both ends to "smooth over"/ push down on the clip that was sticking up and just applied gentle-but-ever-increasing force on it until it was in line with the other clips, careful to avoid the white USB connector inside the port (actually quite easy to accomplish- there's plenty of room in there). Keep in mind, these clips make clicking noises when they're pressed down, so don't freak out if you hear a clicking/snapping sound!
Now the port's back to normal, and I don't have to take it in for repair! Give this a go if you're short on time/patience/being able to be without your computer for a period of time. This probably also works if you want to loosen the ports beyond "stock", although I'm not sure it's really possible to "pry up" on those clips to get them back to their original position should you overdo it or wish to revert the "tightness setting".
Just thought I'd share, because when this first happened I freaked out, lamenting having to schedule and go through a Genius Bar appointment, etc.
