WhatCable for MAC
Free Mac menu bar app that tells you in plain English what each USB-C cable can do, and why your Mac might be charging slowly.
WhatCable Overview
USB-C cables all look alike, but a charge-only USB 2.0 cable and a 240 W, 40 Gbps Thunderbolt cable are very different. WhatCable is a small menu bar app that tells you, in plain English, what each USB-C cable plugged into your Mac can actually do. For every port it shows a clear headline, such as Thunderbolt, display connected or charge-only cable, plus the cable's speed and power rating, the charger's power profiles and the connected device. When your Mac charges slowly, a banner points to the bottleneck, for example a cable rated below the charger.
WhatCable reads this information from macOS itself and also shows Thunderbolt links, active transports and desktop widgets. It is made by Darryl Morley; the app is free and its main code is open source under the MIT license, while an optional paid WhatCable Pro adds live power measurement, cable history and detailed connection diagnostics. Version 1.5.0 needs macOS 14 or later and runs natively on Apple Silicon and Intel Macs.
Key Features
WhatCable explains every USB-C connection at a glance.
- Plain-English headline: Thunderbolt, USB device, display, charging only or nothing connected.
- Charging diagnosis: see whether the cable, charger or Mac is limiting the speed.
- Cable details: speed, current rating and the chip vendor from the cable's e-marker.
- Charger profiles: every voltage the charger offers, with the active one highlighted.
- Device identity: the vendor and type of what is connected.
- Thunderbolt view: link speed, generation and the chain of docks and displays.
- Fault warnings: a banner if a cable develops trouble while in use.
- Widgets: small, medium and large desktop widgets with live cable status.
What’s New in Version 1.5.0
WhatCable 1.5.0 improves connected devices, displays and charging.
- Devices on a Thunderbolt chain now show under the right dock or display
- Thunderbolt 5 daisy chains are sorted correctly
- Devices behind older Thunderbolt 3 docks and displays are shown again
- Built-in USB-A ports are labelled per physical port
- Displays are read from macOS, and charging is shown live
WhatCable FAQ
Is WhatCable free?
Yes. WhatCable is free, and its main code is open source under the MIT license. An optional paid WhatCable Pro adds extra diagnostics.
Which macOS version does WhatCable need?
WhatCable 1.5.0 needs macOS 14 or later.
Does WhatCable run on Apple Silicon?
Yes. It is a universal app that runs natively on Apple Silicon and Intel Macs.
What does WhatCable show?
For each USB-C port: what is connected, the cable's speed and power rating, the charger's power profiles, the connected device and, for Thunderbolt, the link details.
Why is my Mac charging slowly?
WhatCable shows a banner that names the bottleneck, such as a cable rated below the charger, or the Mac asking for less power because the battery is nearly full.
How does WhatCable know the cable speed?
It reads the information macOS already has about the cable's e-marker chip and the connection, and explains it in plain English.
What does WhatCable Pro add?
Live power measurement, a power monitor, cable history, detailed negotiation diagnostics and port health counters.
Can I see the raw technical data?
Yes. Option-click the menu bar icon, or turn on technical details in Settings, to see the underlying data.
Can I install WhatCable with Homebrew?
Yes. Run brew install --cask whatcable.
Where does the WhatCable download on whatcable.FULLMAC.app come from?
The download button leads to the official WhatCable website at https://whatcable.uk/. whatcable.FULLMAC.app does not change or repackage the app.
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