Starting with the release of macOS Ventura (and continuing into macOS Sonoma and Sequoia), Apple introduced a new security feature for MacBooks equipped with Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3 chips). Whenever you plug in a new USB thumb drive, external hard drive, or even a simple USB hub, the screen dims and a security prompt demands: “Allow accessory to connect? Do you want to use this accessory with this Mac?”
This feature prevents malicious “Juice Jacking” attacks, where a device disguised as a charger attempts to steal data. However, if you are a photographer constantly swapping SD card readers, or a musician frequently plugging in MIDI keyboards, clicking “Allow” a dozen times a day quickly becomes a severe annoyance. You can configure macOS to automatically trust all USB devices.
How to Disable the USB Accessory Security Prompt
You can change the security threshold directly in the System Settings app to automatically allow all connections.
- Click the Apple Logo in the absolute top-left corner of your screen.
- Select System Settings from the drop-down menu.
- Scroll down the left-hand navigation sidebar and click on Privacy & Security.
- In the main window, scroll down past the various app permissions until you find the section labelled Security.
- Look for the drop-down menu labelled Allow accessories to connect.
- Click the drop-down menu and change the setting from “Ask every time” (or “Ask for new accessories”) to Always.
- A small security prompt will appear asking for your Mac login password (or Touch ID) to confirm you are authorising a system-level security change. Provide your credentials.
The change is instantaneous. The next time you plug a USB-C hub, a flash drive, or a camera into your Mac, the system will mount the drive and establish the connection immediately, completely bypassing the frustrating security pop-up.