USB (Universal Serial Bus) is a standard for connecting peripherals to a computer. It is widely used for connecting devices such as keyboards, mice, storage devices, and more. In the Apple environment, specifically macOS, managing USB devices is straightforward but may differ slightly from other operating systems like Windows. This article will cover how to connect, manage, and troubleshoot USB devices on macOS, providing practical examples and commands.

Examples:

1. Connecting a USB Device:

   • Simply plug the USB device into a USB port on your Mac. macOS will automatically recognize the device and make it available for use.
   • For storage devices, you will see the device appear on the desktop or in the Finder sidebar under "Locations."

2. Listing Connected USB Devices via Terminal:

   • Open the Terminal application (found in Applications > Utilities).
   • Use the following command to list all connected USB devices:

     system_profiler SPUSBDataType

   • This command provides detailed information about each connected USB device, including vendor ID, product ID, and more.

3. Ejecting a USB Storage Device:

   • Before physically disconnecting a USB storage device, it is important to eject it properly to avoid data corruption.
   • You can eject the device by right-clicking on its icon on the desktop or in the Finder sidebar and selecting "Eject."
   • Alternatively, you can use the following Terminal command:

     diskutil eject /dev/disk2

   • Replace /dev/disk2 with the appropriate device identifier, which you can find using the diskutil list command.

4. Troubleshooting USB Device Issues:

   • If a USB device is not recognized, try the following steps:
     • Ensure the device is properly connected.
     • Try a different USB port.
     • Restart your Mac.
     • Reset the SMC (System Management Controller):
     • Shut down your Mac.
     • Press and hold the power button for 10 seconds, then release.
     • Wait a few seconds, then press the power button again to turn on your Mac.
     • Check for software updates via System Preferences > Software Update.