Allow USB and other accessories to connect to your Mac
On Mac laptops with Apple silicon, you need to approve new accessories before they can connect.
Allow accessories to connect
When you use a new or unknown USB accessory, Thunderbolt accessory, or SD card with your Mac laptop with Apple silicon, you get an alert that asks you to allow the accessory to connect.
If your Mac is locked, you need to unlock it before you can allow an accessory to connect.
If your Mac has been locked for three or more days, you might need to unlock it to use a previously allowed accessory again.
If you choose Don't Allow, your Mac won't recognize the accessory or give it access to the data on your Mac. The next time you connect the accessory, you'll be asked to allow it again.
Accessories can still charge your Mac (or themselves) even if you choose Don't Allow.
Change the setting for allowing accessories to connect
By default, your Mac laptop with Apple silicon asks that you allow a new or unknown accessory to connect. To change this setting:
Choose the Apple menu > System Settings.
Click Privacy & Security.
Scroll down and click the pop-up menu next to "Allow accessories to connect," then choose which option you want.
Always Ask: Manually approve every accessory, every time.
Ask for New Accessories: Manually approve new accessories the first time they connect (default setting).
Automatically Allow When Unlocked: Automatically approve accessories when they connect to your unlocked Mac.
Always Allow: Automatically approve all accessories when they connect.
On supervised Mac laptops with Apple silicon, administrators can control this setting. Manage this setting using Apple Configurator
If you use your Mac laptop with the lid closed
First, you need to allow an external display, a mouse, and a keyboard to connect to your Mac laptop. Then you can use your Mac with the lid closed (or with a docking station in which you place your Mac with the lid closed), and allow other accessories to connect without opening the lid.