Thunderbolt Error Message: How To Fix This!

Рет қаралды 32,111

5 жыл бұрын

Ever come across either of these Thunderbolt error messages on your laptop and can't figure out why? “Cannot Use Thunderbolt Accessory: Connect accessory to a Thunderbolt port on this Mac” or "Thunderbolt device functionality might be limited - Make sure the Thunderbolt device you're connecting to is supported by your PC"
The message usually pops up because the cable being used to connect the dock to your system is not a Thunderbolt 3 cable, but rather a USB-C cable.
In the video above we explain how to tell the difference between your Thunderbolt 3 cables and USB-C cables because they look almost identical!
If you have any questions or concerns please reach out to us at support@plugable.com, or comment below and we would be more than happy to help!

Пікірлер: 32

@DeclanZapala 5 жыл бұрын

THIS video! I assumed after selling my house to pay for my new MacBook that the cable that came with it to connect my charger to my thunderbolt ports would actually be a thunderbolt cable! Thanks for clearing that up and reminding us that Apple treat their customer base like a**holes.

@Tee712 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you that explains my confusion, great video

@WellSpringCommunityChurch 3 жыл бұрын

thank you so much very helpful

@griffingibson4389 3 жыл бұрын

Bro, totally solved my problem. Did everything except expect apple to cheap out with the charging cable. Thank yoo

@anouarabouelfadle Жыл бұрын

How did you solve your problem brother can you help me

@carlosguevara2938 9 ай бұрын

Thank you Bernie. I was going nuts with my Hardware until I found your video. I was using a USBC cable to connect Thunderbolt 3 equipment. Yes, it fits, but it doesn't work

@Plugable 9 ай бұрын

You're very welcome!

@ONYXRCR73 2 жыл бұрын

thank you for this video

@Plugable 2 жыл бұрын

Glad we could be of help!

@carsutube 4 жыл бұрын

Hello. I just bought a 16 inch MacBook Pro. I want to connect 2 - 32 inch curved Dell monitors to this 16" MacBook Pro as well as charge it at the same time using just 1 cable. Can you recommend what product you sell that will do this for me? Thanks

@sabishiihito 5 жыл бұрын

I had the unusual experience of buying a cable that was sold as only USB 3.1 Gen 2, but out of curiosity I used it to connect an external TB3-only SSD to a TB3 port on my laptop and it actually worked (20Gbps since it's about 3 feet long).

@Plugable 5 жыл бұрын

Windows systems unfortunately can't identify if a non Thunderbolt 3 cable is used (at this time). High quality USB-C cables can probably operate with Thunderbolt 3 devices "OK", but we don't recommend it as results may become unexpectedly unstable. Fortunately Mac systems do issue a warning if the wrong cable is used.

@Jaycraw28 Жыл бұрын

I have a Belkin Thunderbolt 3 dock mini. I get the limited functionality message. Is this because the dock does not have a powers cord? It pulls its power from my laptop. Who’s j is an HP victus.

@shahramtaleghani2034 4 жыл бұрын

Bravo

@DannyBlack 5 жыл бұрын

i was using an expensive thunderbolt 3 cable to run my egpu, and it worked great, until i did the latest apple update on my mac... now it gives me the error.. what went wrong?

@Plugable 5 жыл бұрын

If you are using a Plugable branded Thunderbolt 3 product, please reach out to us directly via plugable.com/support/email with the Amazon Order ID number for your Plugable purchase and we will be happy to assist.

@souviksamanta8938 2 жыл бұрын

I got the same massage. I used Caldigit Thunderbolt 4 hub but tested with Thunderbolt 3 & 4 cable with my Thunderbolt drive but it is not detected. For testing purpose I used the same cable with direct connection it is working. What should I do ?

@Plugable 2 жыл бұрын

Given your description, we would suggest contacting Caldigit directly for assistance. Plugable can only provide support for Plugable branded products.

@justinjones2595 2 жыл бұрын

Hilarious that I got this error and was watching this video, only to realize it was this exact brand of cable that I just bought that when bad on me after just a few days producing this error

@caohoang9848 9 ай бұрын

i use dell xps 9300. my right side thunderbolt port is not working. The left port works normally. Can you help me fix this error?

@LimeCoco72780 2 жыл бұрын

I am using a Lenovo THunderbolt 3 Essential Dock and a Macbook Pro. I am using the thunderbolt 3 cable and i am still getting this message. Do you know why?

@Plugable 2 жыл бұрын

While Plugable cannot provide support for other manufacturer's products (such as the Lenovo docking station you are using), based on your description we would suggest testing the behavior with a different Thunderbolt 3 cable. That will help rule out the current Thunderbolt 3 cable as a contributor to the current behavior.

@MrEchyballs 4 жыл бұрын

this is all wrong . I had my TB3 + USB-C working perfectly . It just happened today after 1 yr using the MBP .those TB cable from Lacie and Atomos worth like $100 .its mac own problem somehow

@Plugable 4 жыл бұрын

The demonstration shown in the video speaks to a common cause of the problem in most scenarios. If you are using a Plugable-branded Thunderbolt 3 docking station with your MacBook Pro system (and you are using only the Thunderbolt 3 cable we include in the box with the dock to connect it to the laptop) and you are having a problem, please reach out to us directly via plugable.com/support/email/ with your Amazon Order ID number and the output of our PlugDebug utility (plugable.com/support/plugdebug/) and we will be happy to assist. ** Please be aware we can only provide support for Plugable brand products, we cannot provide support for other manufacturer's products **

@miker430 3 жыл бұрын

Useless video. 'Use the right cable?" Thanks.

@djdledge 2 жыл бұрын

Use the right cable?" and please whats the right cable????????

@Plugable 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for asking! If you are getting the Thunderbolt Error message, then you need a certified Thunderbolt 3 cable to connect your peripheral to the laptop. Many manufacturers make these, so one from any reputable company should work. We also include a Thunderbolt 3 cable with all of our Thunderbolt 3 devices.

@WillSanchez Жыл бұрын

I have a caldigit T4 Raid T3, 16TB [4TB x 4] external with the caldigit T3 cable [has the 3 on it]. The studio mac is not seeing it when I plug it in the back [T4 ports]. I do get that message that you discuss when I plug into the front these two are USB-C slots. I believe I need an adapter to be able to plug the caldigit T3 . What adapter is that? - I want to plug to the T4 port as the cable in the front gets in the way. Is there a cable that would connect the caldigit T4 to a mac studio without an adapter? thank you!

@mattmullin33609 Жыл бұрын

@@WillSanchez If you have the Mac Studio M1 Max, then the 2 front ports are USB-C only. Only the M1 Ultra has the 2 TB4 ports on the front. Just a clarification there in case you have the M1 Max... Lucky for me, I have the M1 Ultra, yet my TB3 cable isn't working on any of the TB4 ports LOL. Fun! -- Shouldn't be an issue since TB4 is backward compatible. FML this is annoying. This video had some good to know information, yet this does not appear to be the source of my problem.

@WillSanchez Жыл бұрын

Update: Caldigit’s Raid units will not work with silicon-based machines. Caldigit website doesn’t tell you as of 4 months ago. But if you talk to customer support they know all about it.

@Shunhades Ай бұрын

Sadly this video isn't super helpful as I am using the proper cable for the device (it came with it, I double checked to make sure it was a TB3 as well), and I still get this error message. So it's definitely not the cable in this case. It has to be something else, but the only suggestion people keep giving is "make sure it's the right cable." which is not a solution when people are using the right cable.

@Plugable Ай бұрын

If you are using a Plugable brand Thunderbolt product and things are not working as expected, please reach out to us directly via --> plugable.com/support/ and we will be happy to assist.