Your MacBook asks to allow a USB or Thunderbolt accessory

Why it happens

Mac laptops with Apple silicon check new USB and Thunderbolt accessories before letting them talk to the Mac. That stops a strange cable or device from reaching your data while the Mac is locked. Until you click Allow, a hub, dock or drive gets power but won't work, which can look like it's broken.

How to fix it

1. Plug the accessory in while your Mac is awake and you're logged in. When the box asks to allow the accessory to connect, click Allow.

2. To change how often you're asked, open the Apple menu, choose System Settings and click Privacy & Security. On macOS 26, scroll down to Security. On macOS 27, look under Accessories.

   macOS 26 Tahoe Privacy & Security›Security›Allow accessories to connect

   macOS 27 Golden Gate Privacy & Security›Accessories›Allow accessories to connect

3. Choose an option from Allow accessories to connect. Ask Every Time asks each time you plug something in. Ask for New Accessories asks once per device. Automatically When Unlocked lets accessories in whenever your Mac is unlocked. Always never asks.

4. Type your Mac password if asked, then unplug the accessory and plug it back in to check it works.

On macOS 26 the setting is in Privacy & Security under Security. On macOS 27 it moved to its own Accessories section in Privacy & Security. The choices are the same.

Still not fixed?

1. If you clicked Don't Allow by mistake, set Allow accessories to connect to Ask Every Time, then unplug and replug the accessory to get the prompt back.

2. If a dock stops working after sleep, wake the Mac and log in first, then unplug and replug the dock. With Automatically When Unlocked, it connects as soon as the Mac is unlocked.

3. Try another port and cable, and plug the hub or dock into its own power supply. Many hubs can't run drives and screens on laptop power alone.

4. Install any waiting macOS update, and check the dock or hub maker's site for a firmware update.

   General›Software Update

5. If no USB or Thunderbolt accessory works in any port, even after you click Allow and restart, the port may be faulty. Contact Apple Support or book a repair.