How to Find USB Devices Connected to a Mac [Guide]

Connecting a USB device to a Mac is usually as simple as plugging it into an available USB port. However, there are times when you connect a USB flash drive, external hard drive, keyboard, mouse, printer, phone, or another accessory and nothing seems to happen. The device may not appear on the desktop, in Finder, or where you expect it to be.

Fortunately, macOS provides several ways to check whether your Mac can actually detect a connected USB device. You can use Finder, System Information, Disk Utility, or Terminal, depending on what you want to find out. Finder is useful when you are looking for a storage device that you want to access, while System Information can show detailed information about USB hardware even when the device is not appearing in Finder.

This guide explains how to find USB devices connected to a Mac step by step. The methods work across relatively recent versions of macOS, although the exact names or locations of some options can vary slightly between macOS versions.

Table of Contents

How to Find USB Devices Connected to a Mac

Method 1: Check Connected USB Storage Devices in Finder

The easiest way to find a USB flash drive or external storage device is through Finder. When macOS recognizes a storage device and mounts it correctly, it normally appears in Finder.

Start by connecting your USB device to your Mac. If your MacBook does not have a traditional USB-A port, you may need a compatible USB-C adapter or hub.

Next, open Finder from the Dock. Look at the left side of the Finder window and locate the Locations section. Your connected USB storage device should appear underneath it, usually with the name assigned to the drive.

Click the device’s name to open it and view its files.

If you do not see the Locations section, move your pointer over the Finder sidebar and check whether the section is collapsed. You can also open Finder settings by selecting Finder > Settings, choosing Sidebar, and making sure external disks are allowed to appear in the sidebar.

This method is particularly useful when you simply want to confirm that a USB flash drive, external SSD, or external hard drive is available for use.

Method 2: Check the Mac Desktop for the USB Drive

macOS can also display connected storage devices directly on the desktop. If your USB drive is detected but you cannot find it there, the desktop display option may be disabled.

Open Finder, select Finder > Settings, and then select the General tab.

Look for the option that controls which items appear on the desktop. Make sure External disks is selected.

Now reconnect the USB drive. If macOS has recognized and mounted the drive, its icon should appear on the desktop.

Double-click the icon to open the drive.

Remember that this method primarily helps with storage devices. A USB keyboard, mouse, webcam, or other hardware accessory will not normally appear as an icon on the desktop.

Method 3: Find USB Devices Using System Information

If you want to see whether macOS has detected any USB hardware, including devices that do not appear in Finder, System Information is one of the best options.

Click the Apple menu in the upper-left corner of your screen.

Select About This Mac. Depending on your macOS version, you may see a button or option for System Report. Select it to open the System Information window.

In the left sidebar, look for Hardware and select USB.

macOS will display information about the USB controllers and devices connected to your Mac.

Look through the USB device tree for the device you connected. Depending on the hardware, you may see information such as the device name, manufacturer, product ID, vendor ID, serial number, and other technical details.

This method is especially useful when a USB device does not appear in Finder. If the device is listed under USB in System Information, macOS is at least detecting the hardware connection.

For example, if you connect a USB flash drive and it does not appear in Finder but does appear in System Information, the problem may involve mounting, formatting, permissions, or the drive itself, rather than the physical USB connection.

Method 4: Find a USB Storage Device in Disk Utility

Disk Utility is another useful macOS tool for checking external storage.

Open Finder, select Applications, open Utilities, and then launch Disk Utility.

Once Disk Utility opens, look at the sidebar. You may see your internal Mac storage along with connected external disks and USB drives.

If you cannot see the physical storage devices, open the View menu and select Show All Devices.

This is important because Disk Utility can show both the physical drive and its volumes. A USB drive might be detected by macOS but not mounted, meaning you may see the physical device without seeing it normally in Finder.

If your USB drive appears in Disk Utility, select it to inspect its information.

If a volume is available but not mounted, you may see a Mount option. Selecting it can make the volume accessible through Finder.

Be careful when using Disk Utility. Options such as Erase can permanently remove data from a drive. Do not erase a USB device unless you are certain that you want to format it and have backed up any important files.

Method 5: Find USB Devices Using Terminal

Advanced users can use Terminal to check USB-related information from the command line.

Open Finder, select Applications, open Utilities, and launch Terminal.

Enter the following command:

system_profiler SPUSBDataType

Press Return.

macOS will display information about the USB hardware detected by the system. Depending on your Mac and connected devices, you may see USB controllers, hubs, flash drives, phones, and other accessories.

You can use this method when you want a more technical view of your USB connections.

If the device appears in the Terminal output but does not appear in Finder, that can provide a useful clue that the Mac recognizes the hardware but may not have mounted the associated storage volume.

Method 6: Check Whether the USB Device Is Properly Connected

If none of the previous methods show your device, the problem may be with the physical connection.

Disconnect the USB device and reconnect it firmly. If you are using a USB hub or adapter, try connecting the device directly to the Mac when possible.

You should also try another USB port or another compatible adapter. Some USB-C hubs can experience connection or power problems, particularly when several devices are connected simultaneously.

If the device works on another computer but not on your Mac, the issue may be related to the Mac’s port, adapter, hub, macOS configuration, or compatibility.

If the device does not work on another computer either, the USB device itself may be defective.

Method 7: Restart Your Mac and Check Again

Sometimes macOS may temporarily fail to recognize a USB device correctly.

Disconnect the USB device, restart your Mac, and wait for macOS to finish starting. Then reconnect the device and check Finder, System Information, or Disk Utility again.

A restart can resolve temporary problems involving USB controllers, system services, or external-device detection.

Method 8: Check the USB Device’s Power Requirements

Some USB devices require more power than a particular port, hub, or adapter can provide.

This can happen with certain external hard drives, USB accessories, and devices connected through unpowered hubs.

If your device repeatedly disconnects or does not appear at all, try connecting it directly to your Mac. If possible, use a powered USB hub or the power adapter supplied with the device.

This is particularly important when several USB devices are connected simultaneously.

What to Do If Your USB Device Is Detected but Does Not Appear in Finder

If System Information shows your USB device but Finder does not, check Disk Utility next.

If the physical drive appears there, look for an associated volume. A volume that is not mounted may not appear in Finder.

Select the appropriate volume and check whether a Mount option is available.

If the drive appears in Disk Utility but produces errors, you can also use First Aid to check the volume. However, if the drive contains important files and appears to be failing, avoid repeatedly modifying it and consider creating a backup or using appropriate data-recovery assistance.

If the USB device does not appear in System Information, Disk Utility, or Finder, focus on the physical connection. Try another port, adapter, cable, hub, or computer to determine where the problem originates.

FAQs

How do I see all USB devices connected to my Mac?

Open System Information, select Hardware, and then choose USB. macOS will show the USB devices and controllers it currently detects.

Why is my USB drive not showing in Finder on Mac?

The drive may not be mounted, Finder’s external-disk display settings may be disabled, or the drive may have a formatting, connection, or hardware problem. Check Finder, Disk Utility, and System Information to identify the issue.

How do I find a USB drive on a MacBook?

Connect the drive and open Finder. Look under Locations in the sidebar. You can also open Disk Utility to check whether macOS detects the physical drive.

Why does my USB device appear in System Information but not Finder?

This usually means macOS can detect the USB hardware, but a storage volume may not be mounted or accessible. Open Disk Utility and check whether the drive or volume is listed there.

Can I use Terminal to see USB devices on Mac?

Yes. Open Terminal and run system_profiler SPUSBDataType. The command displays USB hardware detected by macOS.

Why does my USB drive work on another computer but not my Mac?

The problem could involve the USB port, adapter, hub, cable, macOS, drive format, or power requirements. Try connecting the drive directly to the Mac and test another port or adapter.

Summary

Finding USB devices on a Mac is straightforward once you know where to look. Start with Finder if you are looking for a USB storage drive that you want to open. If it is missing, use Disk Utility to determine whether macOS detects the storage device and System Information to inspect USB hardware at a deeper level. Advanced users can also use Terminal with the system_profiler SPUSBDataType command.

If the USB device does not appear anywhere, check the USB port, cable, adapter, hub, power requirements, and the device itself.

These methods can help you determine whether your Mac is detecting the USB hardware and, if it is, why the device may not be appearing where you expect it.