Why your USB device isn't showing up on your MacBook and how you can fix it

Fix hardware and software issues with some simple solutions.

By Roger Fingas Nov. 8, 2026 8:00 pm EST Habanero Pixel/Shutterstock Add Engadget on Google: Google Discover

USB wouldn't be what it is today without Apple. The format predates the original iconic iMac — but Apple's gumdrop-shaped computer helped popularize it by ditching all the legacy connectors that had been haunting the industry. USB became so commonplace, in fact, that the push came back to bite the company, with European Union regulations forcing it to ditch Lightning ports on iPhones. The days of Apple-exclusive ports are effectively over, MagSafe being the major remaining holdout.