MacBook error "USB Port has drawn too much power"

Hi,
I recently found a external hard drive and accidentally forgot to switch the volt down on my power brick, and ended up with 24 volts charging up to my white macbook 2008. It immediately shut down and i could smell some smoke coming from the usb port where i plugged in my ext. HD. I pulled it out immediately and it saw no physical damage to the port. When i turned it on, i got this message
" 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 restarted my laptop again hoping it would go away but it kept popping up every time. I plugged in a mouse and it didn't turn on, so i plugged it in to the other usb port and it blinked for a moment and turned off, which i presumed it was being disabled. I did SMC my laptop but that didn't work and i could faintly distinct the smell from my usb port still. Did my USB port get burnt? How to i re-enable my USB port?

No, my apple charger came with my Macbook, the switchable power brick was for the hard drive.

Similar Messages

I keep getting 'USB port is drawing too much power error'

I have an old 2010 13" MacBook Pro. Just tonight, it started giving me a 'USB port is drawing too much power' error. The only thing I had plugged in to my MacBook was my iPhone cable (without the phone) and an Intuos tablet I recently bought. At first I thought it was the tablet, because the tablet started acting wonky after that error message (it worked just fine earlier in the day).
After restarting, the tablet works with no problem so I thought the problem must be the iPhone cable. The thing is, I read in some other forum that a cable not plugged to the iPhone shouldn't draw power, and they said if it does then it's a sign for a short circuit. My iPhone cable is a little bit worse for wear, to be honest.
So my question is: Is the problem my cable and if it is is it dangerous if I use this cable to charge my phone with a USB wall charger? 2nd, Is there anyway to fix this other than buying a new iPhone cable?
Thanks in advance!

Thats a warning. if you continually get that warning with the iphone cable and you keep using it. You could eventually disable that USB port.

I plugged in my ipod and now i get the error message: Because a USB device was drawing too much power from your computer, one or more of your USB devices have been disabled" - i have a MAcBook pro and now my USB ports do not work - can anyone help me ???

i plugged in my ipod and now i get the error message: Because a USB device was drawing too much power from your computer, one or more of your USB devices have been disabled" - i have a MAcBook pro and now my USB ports do not work - can anyone help me ???

Sometimes you have to reset the SMC two or three times for it to work, don't know why. I've seen that error message before and 100% of the time it was fixed with an SMC reset. I suppose it's possible that your keyboard or mouse IS drawing too much power, do you have access to another you could try?

I am having a problem when I plug my iPod into my macbook. When I plug the cable into my mac I get the following message - "Because a USB device was drawing too much power from your computer, your USB device has been disabled." PLEASE HELP!

I am having a problem when I plug my iPod into my macbook. When I plug the cable into my mac I get the following message - "Because a USB device was drawing too much power from your computer, your USB device has been disabled." CAN SOMEONE PLEASE HELP!

The rest of the message in the pop up window says "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 can no longer charge my iPhone5 through either of my macbook pros. I get the error message that a USB device is using too much power. Can anyone help?

I can no longer charge my iPhone5 through either of my macbook pros. I get the error message that a USB device is using too much power. Can anyone help?

I reconnected the original powered hub that I thought probably caused the problem and this time it shut down the whole computer. When I rebooted everything now works perfectly. The system reset. I tried another powered hub and it didn't have the same effect so the old one is heading for the bin and with fingers crossed all systems are now working perfectly. Trying to reset PRAM or reset the SMC didn't work but causing the same power issue did. Thanks for your input though. It did get me to think what was the original cause.
Cheers
Guy

HT1338 Does anyone have a fix for the error message "Because a USB device was drawing too much power from your computer one or more of your USB devices have been disabled" - this is a brand new machine with nothing connected to the USB ports - i've done u

Hi
does anyone know how to fix the message on my iMac:
"Because a USB device was drawing too much power from your computer, one or more of your USB devices have been disabled."
This is a brand new machine and did not have anything attached to the USB ports"
Thanks for any help

If you are getting that message on a brand new Mac with nothing connected to the USB ports, take it back. It is broken.

Error message (Because a USB device was drawing too much power)

Hi Everyone,
Bought recently a new macbook pro 13 inch with Retina display with 120 GB flash drive.
Connected a non-apple CD drive to my macbook and after that started receiving this message: "Because a USB device was drawing too much power from your computer, one or more of your USB devices have been disabled."
initially I was receiving this message after I switch on my macbook but now after every 30 seconds this message pops up although I never connected anything to my macbook through its USB ports.
Will highly appreciate for your help on how to get rid of this problem.
Regards
Homayun

Try resetting the SMC
Shut down the computer.
Plug in the MagSafe power adapter to a power source, connecting it to the Mac if its not already connected.
On the built-in keyboard, press the (left side) Shift-Control-Option keys and the power button at the same time.
Release all the keys and the power button at the same time.
Press the power button to turn on the computer.
Note: The LED on the MagSafe power adapter may change states or temporarily turn off when you reset the SMC.

I am trying to upload photos from my digital camera. Every time I try to plug it into my USB, the following error message comes up: "Because a usb device was drawing too much power from your computer, one or more of your USB devices have been disabled."

I am trying to upload photos from my digital camera. Every time I try to plug it into my USB, the following error message comes up: "Because a usb device was drawing too much power from your computer, one or more of your USB devices have been disabled."
I don't have anything else plugged into my MBP, so I am confused as to what's going on. This problem has never happened before. MBP is less than a year old - about 9 months old. HELP

Get a powered USB hub.
https://discussions.apple.com/community/notebooks/macbook_pro?view=documents

Can't print to HP Photosmart C5180. getting error mssg that says, "Because a USB device was drawing too much power from your computer, one or more of our USB devices have been disabled." Never seen this before. How do i fix this?

can't print to HP Photosmart C5180. getting error mssg that says, "Because a USB device was drawing too much power from your computer, one or more of our USB devices have been disabled." Never seen this before. How do i fix this?

Get a powered USB hub.
https://discussions.apple.com/community/notebooks/macbook_pro?view=documents

"Because a USB device was drawing too much power from your computer..." error withOUT any USB device

Hi,
I am getting this error since recently when I am using my MBP:
"Because a USB device was drawing too much power from your computer..."
The 'funny' thing: there is no USB device attached to the computer (only power and monitor cables).
Why is this happening and what could I do about it?
Appreciate your ideas?

It's probably an internal hardware fault, but you can try this:
Intel-based Macs: Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC)

Because a USB device was drawing too much power from your computer - bla, b

In the last week or so, my iMac (Intel CoreDuo) started displaying an error message every 30 seconds saying "Because a USB device was drawing too much power from your computer, one or more of your USB devices have been disabled", followed by some other useless "explanations" (which BTW can't even be copy/pasted). This has happened before (for about a year now) at every startup, but that was more acceptable; now that the message comes every 30 seconds it renders this machine unusable.
I tried it with or without any USB accessories attached, with or without powered hubs attached, I reset the PRAM and SMC and reinstalled the OS twice. The only option I have left is to trow this machine out and buy a new one (believe me, it's not going to be a Mac).
This shows not only the lack of quality of the hardware (crappy logic board and USB ports) but also a complete disregard for the annoyance these constant popping messages create to the end user when designing the OS. Just while writing this message I had to press the OK button about 10 times. It's AWFUL!!!

Hi cimula. before you turn to the extremes have you tried reinstalling snow leopard. maybe you had a problem occur when it was originally installed and is missing a driver or something. also take it to an apple store if possible. take everything needed to run the imac and show one of the geniuses the problem and 90% of the time if you are nice and calm they will gladly help and diagnose the problem even if it is out of warranty. no promises it will be free it could be a hardware malfuntion. just dont force your self back to pc once all of the problems are gone you will love it again. i switched from pc which i had been using my whole life after a friend showed me his macbook and have never looked back. of course once and a while there will an error, problem or whatever but is it worth switching to a pc which has to have a security program running 24/7 to stay alive and sucking up all of the cpu and slowing you down? hope i am helping Dean

"Because a USB device was drawing too much power from your computer, one or more of your USB devices have been disabled.

Here is the total error message:
"Because a USB devce was drawing too much power from your computer, one
or more of your USB devices have been disabled.
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."
Now in contrast to every other thread on this i get this error message eveytime i connect my soundcard (interface). Not when i start up the mac or anything, just when i connect the sound card. (the soundcard does not have its own power source but note that this has never happened before and i have had this soundcard for about a year!)
It deactivates so i cannot use it.
I have tried:
Connecting the soundcard to my mothers mac -> it worked!
Connecting an external harddrive to my mac -> it worked!
so basically, i can't be the soundcard or the cable and it cannot be the mac USB port?
I don't know what to do! i really need this to work! anyone got an idea??

Hi, ryankeenanrk.
Thank you for visiting Apple Support Communities.
I would recommend trying the steps in both articles below and test the results.
OS X Mountain Lion: Reset your computer’s PRAM
http://support.apple.com/kb/ph11243
Intel-based Macs: Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC)
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964
Cheers,
Jason H.

"Because a USB device was drawing too much power from your computer, one or more of your USB devices have been disabled." HELP!

When I plug in my son's iPad I get this message "Because a USB device was drawing too much power from your computer, one or more of your USB devices have been disabled." I only have one charger for this iPad all my other chargers are for iPhone 4s. I have pluggerd it in different outlets around the house and the iPad will not charge. When I plugged it on my lap top to back it up it gave me the warning message. HELP!!

I have the same problem on my Air. The message first came up while my iPhone was connected to it for some time. Since then, it pops up ALL THE TIME, whithout anything being connected to the USB port, at what appear to be random intervals that vary between about one hour and a few seconds. I have tried resetting the SMC and the PRAM, but no results. A quick search revealed that thousands of users are facing this problem, but Apple has yet to provide a solution. Please help!

Because a USB device was drawing too much power from your computer, one or more of your USB devices have been disabled. This shows up even when I am not connected to a USB. what do you think the problem is?

Because a USB device was drawing too much power from your computer, one or more of your USB devices have been disabled. - This is what shows up sometimes even when no USB is connected. What could be the reason?

Try a different USB cord, seen this many many times, its highly likely a damaged USB cord.
Restart the computer to redefine Port definition. If still a problem
You can also resetting PRAM/NVRAM: http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1379
MacBook Pro (15-inch Mid 2012), OS X Mavericks (10.9), i7 500GB 16GB RAM iPhone5 iOS7.0.3

Seagate drive quandary: "USB device is drawing too much power"?

I have a year-old Seagate external hard drive that when I plug in to a 2011 MacBook Air, it started saying something to the effect of "your USB device is drawing too much power and had been disable in order to aboud damage..." I had been using this drive for some time, and this just started a few days ago. I tried plugging it into a USB hub and directly into a USB on the MBA with the same result. So I plugged in into my brand new 2012 MacMini and got the same messgae. My initial conclusion: the drive is dead.
So I buy a new USB 3.0 Seagate compact external drive, plug it in and get the same error on my MBA and on the MacMini. If that isn't odd enough, I have the exact same Seagate model plugged into my MacMini as the backup drive with no problems. Any ideas?? Maybe I received a DOA drive by coincidence?
UPDATE: Tried the new drive on a Win7 PC and it recognized it fine. Why would my 2011 MBA and 2012 MacMini not recognize the new drive?

MIght be something to help you here > USB Device Drawing Too Much Power

MacBook error "USB Port has drawn too much power"

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for