How To See Connected Devices On Mac (Pro Tips)

In the digital age, we’re all surrounded by a myriad of devices. From smartphones and tablets to printers and external hard drives, these devices often need to connect to our computers for various reasons.

If you’re a Mac user, you might have wondered how to see all the devices connected to your Mac. Well, you’re in luck! This article will provide a comprehensive guide on How To See Connected Devices On Mac.

Hey there, fellow tech enthusiasts! It’s Mira, and I’ve got something important to share with you today. We’re going to talk about how you can easily see all the devices connected to your Mac. Trust me, it’s super handy for keeping your computer running smoothly.

Don’t worry, I’ll walk you through the process step by step, so it’ll be a breeze. Let’s get started and discover the magic of managing your connected devices on your Mac!

Understanding Connected Devices on Your Mac

Connected devices refer to any hardware that is plugged into your Mac. This could be anything from a USB flash drive or an external hard drive to a printer or a second monitor. Knowing how to see these connected devices can help you manage your digital workspace more effectively.

How to See Connected Devices on Your Mac

Using the Apple Menu and ‘About This Mac’

1. Click on the Apple icon in the top left corner of your screen.
2. Select ‘About This Mac‘.
3. Click on the ‘System Report‘ button.
4. Under ‘Hardware‘, click on the arrow next to ‘USB‘ or any other connection type you’re interested in.

This will display a list of all devices connected to your Mac via the selected connection type.

Using System Information

1. Open ‘System Information‘ by searching for it in Spotlight (Command + Space).
2. In the left-hand column, under ‘Hardware‘, click on ‘USB‘ or any other connection type.
3. You’ll see a list of all devices connected to your Mac via the selected connection type.

Using Finder

1. Open a new Finder window.
2. In the left-hand column under ‘Locations‘, you’ll see a list of devices connected to your Mac.

Using Terminal

1. Open Terminal (you can find it in your Applications folder under Utilities).
2. Enter the following command: system_profiler SPUSBDataType | grep -A 10 ‘Serial Number’.
3. This command will display a list of all devices connected to your Mac via USB, along with their serial numbers.

What if a USB Device is Not Showing Up?

Sometimes, a USB device might not show up when connected to your Mac. Don’t panic! There are several fixes you can try:

Fix 1: Change Your Connection

Try removing the USB device from your Mac’s USB port and plugging it into another port. If you’re using an adapter, try connecting the device directly to a port. You can also try the USB device on another Mac or PC to see if it shows up.

Fix 2: Adjust Mac’s Settings for Detecting External Drives

Go to Finder, then Preferences, then General. Look for an “External Discs” option and make sure it is ticked. If it wasn’t already ticked, this might solve the issue.

Fix 3: Check the USB Drive in the System Information

If your USB device is still not showing, you can look for it in the System Information. To find this, go tothe Apple menu, select “About This Mac“, then “System Report“, and finally “USB” in the Hardware section. If your device is listed there, it means your Mac recognizes it, but there might be other issues preventing it from showing up in Finder.

Fix 4: Reset Mac’s USB Ports

Another solution is to reset your Mac’s USB ports. To do this, shut down your Mac, unplug all USB accessories, wait for about 5 minutes, and then plug them back in after restarting your Mac.

Fix 5: Use First Aid to Repair the USB Connected Device

If your USB device is still not showing up, you can use Disk Utility’s First Aid function to repair it. Open Disk Utility, select your USB device, and then click on “First Aid“.

Fix 6: Use Terminal to Check and Fix Errors

For more advanced users, you can use Terminal to check and fix errors on your USB device. Open Terminal, type “diskutil list” to see a list of all your drives, identify your USB device, and then use the “diskutil repairDisk” command followed by the disk identifier.

Fix 7: Reformat the USB Drive

If none of the above solutions work, you might need to reformat your USB drive. Please note that this will erase all data on the drive, so make sure to back up any important files before proceeding.

To reformat, open Disk Utility, select your USB device, click on “Erase“, choose a format, and then click on “Erase” again.

Fix 8: Update macOS and Firmware

Finally, make sure your macOS and firmware are up to date. Sometimes, a simple software update can solve a lot of problems.

Advanced Techniques for Managing Connected Devices

For those who want to take it a step further, there’s a method called Target Disk Mode (TDM). This allows you to use a USB-C charge cable to connect two Macs and easily copy files from one to the other. Here’s how to do it:

1. Shut down the Mac from which you want to copy files.
2. Hold down the T button and power on the Mac.
3. The Mac will start up as an external disk drive. You’ll see the Thunderbolt symbol on the screen once the other Mac is connected to it.
4. You may need to enter the HDD password to unlock the source Mac if you’re using an encrypted file system.
5. The hard drives from the source Mac will appear in the target Mac. Copying files is as simple as dragging them from one to the other.

This method offers the fastest transfer speed and can be a lifesaver when you need to transfer large files between two Macs.

FAQs

1. How do I see what devices are connected to my Mac?

You can see what devices are connected to your Mac by clicking on the Apple logo in the top left corner of your screen, selecting “About This Mac”, and then clicking on “System Report”.

2. What should I do if a USB device is not showing up on my Mac?

There are several fixes you can try, including changing your connection, adjusting Mac’s settings for detecting external drives, checking the USB drive in System Information, resetting Mac’s USB ports, using First Aid torepair the USB connected device, using Terminal to check and fix errors, reformatting the USB drive, and updating macOS and Firmware.

3. What is Target Disk Mode and how can it help me manage connected devices on my Mac?

Target Disk Mode is a method that allows you to use a USB-C charge cable to connect two Macs and easily copy files from one to the other. It offers the fastest transfer speed and can be a lifesaver when you need to transfer large files between two Macs.

I hope you found this guide on how to see connected devices on Mac helpful. Remember, if you have any questions or need assistance, don’t hesitate to ask. We’re all navigating this digital world together, and support is always available. Wishing you happy computing and seamless device management!