Can Mac Mini M4 make a sound when USB devices are inserted or removed?

Rudegar's USB Status app should do what you want but it costs £4.99.

A free alternative is MenuBarUsb available from GitHub.

https://github.com/rafaelSwi/MenuBarUSB

what AI says

"macOS does not have a built-in native setting to send a general notification when any USB device is connected, but you can add this feature using third-party apps or automation tools. [1]

Solutions for USB Connection Notifications

• USB Status App: Download USB Status from the Mac App Store to monitor and view connected USB and Thunderbolt devices directly from your menu bar. [1]
• 
  
• Hammerspoon: Use the free automation tool Hammerspoon and write a short Lua script utilizing hs.usb.watcher to trigger native macOS push notifications whenever a device is plugged in or unplugged. [1]
• 
  
• Custom Scripts: Run open-source background scripts like the macOS USB Notifier Gist to poll hardware changes and push system notifications. [1]

Native USB Security Settings

If you are receiving security prompts asking to allow a new accessory to connect on an Apple Silicon Mac, you can adjust how macOS handles these connection requests: [1]

1. Open System Settings.
2. 
   
3. Go to Privacy & Security.
4. 
   
5. Scroll down to Accessories and change the "Allow accessories to connect" setting to your preferred security level (such as Automatically allow when unlocked). [1]

If you want to set this up, let me know if you prefer a menu bar app or if you'd like help writing a Hammerspoon script for custom notifications.

"

‎USB Status App - App Store

more

macos notification when usb device is connected - Google-

Well you can see it as the drive will immediately appear on your desktop.

Don't forget to disconnect it properly by right-clicking and selecting "Eject" from the contextual menu.

It won't make a noise but it will disappear from the desktop. What more confirmation do you need?

Just out of curiosity, why do you want it to make a sound?

You can use your Mac's Script Editor and Folder Actions to make a script that will do the job.

Terminal can also be used.

Ian R. Brown wrote:

Just out of curiosity, why do you want it to make a sound?

You can use your Mac's Script Editor and Folder Actions to make a script that will do the job.

Terminal can also be used.

I guess he was a windows user

It has just occurred to me that you may not have your Mac set up to display external drives on your desktop.

If so you can click on the desktop and go to the Finder in the top menubar (next to the Apple symbol).

Click it and select "Settings".

In the window that opens ensure that "External Disks" is selected. If you want to see your internal Mac disk also select "Hard Disks".

zcjp wrote:

It's not just drives it's all USB connections that I'd like to be informed of.

This is just to satisfy my curiosity and is not in any way intended to be snarky. Why is this information important or useful?

It tells me that something has connected properly. It's not useful in the grand scheme of things but it's one of the few Windows things (along with Irfanview) that I miss and would like to have if possible.

This is what MenuBarUSB looks like. As you can see I have got 11 devices connected though you need to scroll down to see the rest of them.

When you try to launch it for the first time, GateKeeper will tell you it is damaged,

That is baloney . . . got to System Settings>Privacy and Security . . . scroll to the bottom and select "Open Anyway".

zcjp wrote:

It tells me that something has connected properly. It's not useful in the grand scheme of things but it's one of the few Windows things (along with Irfanview) that I miss and would like to have if possible.

Again, not criticizing, but can't you tell if they're connected properly when they work (or don't work)? I absolutely understand just liking the way something works because you're used to it, though.

I can't say I've ever even noticed this on my Windows laptop. Of course, I keep it muted so that might be why.

I'm an ex Windows user and it's one of the few things that I miss. I like to know when a USB connection has been made.

It's not just drives it's all USB connections that I'd like to be informed of.

What are you connecting other than mics, speakers and webcams? You know instantly whether they are connected.

FWIW I have never had a problem with Macs . . . plug the USB in and it just works.

Thanks. I'll give MenuBarUSB a go.