External drives · Speed, cables and hardware

How can I see which USB or Thunderbolt speed my drive is connected at?

Short answer: In System Information, open USB or Thunderbolt/USB4 under Hardware and click the drive to see the connection speed it negotiated. If it's lower than expected, try a better cable, plug in directly and try another port.

Open System Information (hold Option and choose Apple menu → System Information), then select USB or Thunderbolt/USB4 under Hardware and click your drive. It shows the speed the connection was negotiated at, which can be lower than the drive's maximum.

If it's lower than expected:

  • Try a different cable — many USB-C cables, especially charging cables, only carry slower data.
  • Plug directly into the Mac instead of through a hub or adapter.
  • Try another port.

Storage Studio's drive check measures the speed you actually get, which is the number that matters for moved apps and folders — see how the speed test works.

Last reviewed

Related questions

Also available as Markdown and JSON.