{"id":"external-drives.what-is-allow-accessories-to-connect","url":"/faq/external-drives/what-is-allow-accessories-to-connect","category":{"id":"external-drives","title":"External drives"},"subcategory":{"id":"drive-problems","title":"Mounting and drive problems"},"question":"Why does my Mac ask to \"Allow accessory to connect\" when I plug in a drive?","alt_questions":["Allow accessory to connect MacBook prompt","External drive not working after I clicked Don't Allow","Allow accessories to connect setting Mac","USB-C accessory permission macOS","how to undo don't allow accessory mac"],"short_answer":"On Apple silicon Mac laptops, macOS asks before a new USB or Thunderbolt accessory connects. Click Allow for your drive. If you chose Don't Allow, change it in System Settings → Privacy & Security → Allow accessories to connect, then replug the drive.","answer_markdown":"On Mac laptops with Apple silicon, macOS asks before a new USB or Thunderbolt accessory can connect. It's a security feature that stops an unknown device from talking to your Mac without your say. Click **Allow** for a drive you trust.\n\nIf you clicked **Don't Allow**, the drive won't mount. To change it, open **System Settings → Privacy & Security** and find **Allow accessories to connect**. You can choose to ask for new accessories, allow them automatically when the Mac is unlocked, or always allow. Then unplug the drive and plug it in again.\n\nStorage Studio can't use a drive macOS hasn't allowed to connect, so approve your fast drive the first time you plug it in.","answer_html":"

On Mac laptops with Apple silicon, macOS asks before a new USB or Thunderbolt accessory can connect. It's a security feature that stops an unknown device from talking to your Mac without your say. Click Allow for a drive you trust.

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If you clicked Don't Allow, the drive won't mount. To change it, open System Settings → Privacy & Security and find Allow accessories to connect. You can choose to ask for new accessories, allow them automatically when the Mac is unlocked, or always allow. Then unplug the drive and plug it in again.

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Storage Studio can't use a drive macOS hasn't allowed to connect, so approve your fast drive the first time you plug it in.

","answer_text":"On Mac laptops with Apple silicon, macOS asks before a new USB or Thunderbolt accessory can connect. It's a security feature that stops an unknown device from talking to your Mac without your say. Click Allow for a drive you trust.\n\nIf you clicked Don't Allow, the drive won't mount. To change it, open System Settings → Privacy & Security and find Allow accessories to connect. You can choose to ask for new accessories, allow them automatically when the Mac is unlocked, or always allow. Then unplug the drive and plug it in again.\n\nStorage Studio can't use a drive macOS hasn't allowed to connect, so approve your fast drive the first time you plug it in.","tags":["allow accessories","security","usb-c"],"related":[{"id":"external-drives.my-external-drive-does-not-show-up-on-my-mac","question":"My external drive doesn't show up on my Mac at all — what should I try?","url":"/faq/external-drives/my-external-drive-does-not-show-up-on-my-mac"},{"id":"external-drives.drive-shows-in-disk-utility-but-not-finder","question":"Why does my external drive show in Disk Utility but not in Finder?","url":"/faq/external-drives/drive-shows-in-disk-utility-but-not-finder"},{"id":"external-drives.how-do-i-set-up-my-external-drive","question":"How do I set up my external drive in Storage Studio?","url":"/faq/external-drives/how-do-i-set-up-my-external-drive"}],"applies_to":"macos>=13","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"Why does my Mac ask to \"Allow accessory to connect\" when I plug in a drive? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"On Apple silicon Mac laptops, macOS asks before a new USB or Thunderbolt accessory connects. Click Allow for your drive. If you chose Don't Allow, change it in System Settings → Privacy & Security → Allow accessories to connect, then replug the drive.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"External drives","path":"/faq/external-drives/"},{"name":"Why does my Mac ask to \"Allow accessory to connect\" when I plug in a drive?","path":"/faq/external-drives/what-is-allow-accessories-to-connect"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/what-is-allow-accessories-to-connect","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Why does my Mac ask to \"Allow accessory to connect\" when I plug in a drive?","alternateName":["Allow accessory to connect MacBook prompt","External drive not working after I clicked Don't Allow","Allow accessories to connect setting Mac","USB-C accessory permission macOS","how to undo don't allow accessory mac"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"On Mac laptops with Apple silicon, macOS asks before a new USB or Thunderbolt accessory can connect. It's a security feature that stops an unknown device from talking to your Mac without your say. Click Allow for a drive you trust.\n\nIf you clicked Don't Allow, the drive won't mount. To change it, open System Settings → Privacy & Security and find Allow accessories to connect. You can choose to ask for new accessories, allow them automatically when the Mac is unlocked, or always allow. Then unplug the drive and plug it in again.\n\nStorage Studio can't use a drive macOS hasn't allowed to connect, so approve your fast drive the first time you plug it in.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/what-is-allow-accessories-to-connect"}}]},"fragment":"
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External drives · Mounting and drive problems

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Why does my Mac ask to "Allow accessory to connect" when I plug in a drive?

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Short answer: On Apple silicon Mac laptops, macOS asks before a new USB or Thunderbolt accessory connects. Click Allow for your drive. If you chose Don't Allow, change it in System Settings → Privacy & Security → Allow accessories to connect, then replug the drive.

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On Mac laptops with Apple silicon, macOS asks before a new USB or Thunderbolt accessory can connect. It's a security feature that stops an unknown device from talking to your Mac without your say. Click Allow for a drive you trust.

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If you clicked Don't Allow, the drive won't mount. To change it, open System Settings → Privacy & Security and find Allow accessories to connect. You can choose to ask for new accessories, allow them automatically when the Mac is unlocked, or always allow. Then unplug the drive and plug it in again.

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Storage Studio can't use a drive macOS hasn't allowed to connect, so approve your fast drive the first time you plug it in.

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Applies to macOS 13 and later · Last reviewed

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