Everything you need in an optical drive.
Whether you’re at the office or on the road, you can play and burn both CDs and DVDs with the Apple USB SuperDrive. It’s perfect when you want to watch a DVD movie, install software, create backup discs, and more.Take it anywhere.
Only slightly bigger than a CD case, the Apple USB SuperDrive slips easily into your travel bag when you hit the road and takes up little space on your desk or tray table when you’re working.The essence of simplicity.
You’ll never have to worry about lost cables with the Apple USB SuperDrive. It connects to your MacBook Pro with Retina display*, MacBook Air, iMac, or Mac mini with a single USB Type-A cable that’s built into the SuperDrive. There’s no separate power adapter, and it works whether your Mac is plugged in or running on battery power.Apple USB SuperDrive with attached USB Type-A Connector cable5.47 in./139mm0.74 lb/335gConnections
Compatible with the following computers:
MacBook Air with Retina display*MacBook Air Mac dust collector manual.Mac mini (late 2009) and later* MacBook, MacBook Air with Retina display, and MacBook Pro models with Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports require a USB-C to USB Adapter (sold separately) to use Apple USB SuperDrive.Mac Models
- MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015 - 2017)
- MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018 and later)
- MacBook Air (13-inch, Early 2015 - 2017)
- MacBook Air (11-inch, Early 2015)
- MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Late 2012 - 2015)
- MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2012 - 2015)
- iMac (Retina 4K, 21.5-inch, 2017)
- iMac (Retina 4K, 21.5-inch, Late 2015)
- iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2017)
- iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2014 - 2015)
- Mac mini (Late 2014)
- 2 out of 5 stars
Number of stars Percentage Number of reviews 5 Stars(Read all reviews) 67reviews 4 Stars(Read all reviews) 22reviews 3 Stars(Read all reviews) 6reviews 2 Stars(Read all reviews) 13reviews 1 Star(Read all reviews) 128reviews Piece of Scat!
I probably should have known better than to buy this product about a year ago, after reading the substantial number of really bad reviews. But, as a long time I probably should have known better than to buy this product about a year ago, after reading the substantial number of really bad reviews. But, as a long time fan of Apple products, I convinced myself that mine would not be a lemon. For about 50 uses (mostly importing music CDs into my iTunes library), it worked flawlessly, and I thought those reviews were incorrect. Now, every time I import a CD the music skips forward in high speed zzzzts. So, I'm in the market for another drive and will not be buying another version of this from Apple. Sad that after all the bad reviews there is no (apparent?) response from the company. If anyone knows of a reliable drive, from another company, please post here.2212 of 2281 people found this useful- 1.0 out of 5 stars
Love Apple, Hate the SuperDrive
This is by far the worst designed apple product. The drive is designed with a slit opening to feed in disk and no mechanical way to eject. This would be ok if t This is by far the worst designed apple product. The drive is designed with a slit opening to feed in disk and no mechanical way to eject. This would be ok if the drive function correctly but that is rare. Frequently the drive becomes obsessed with trying to process a disk and prevents the disk from ejecting, forcing you to wait 5, 10, or 15 minutes for it to decide its done with the disk. Biggest waste of money I've ever spent. I love all my other apple product, but this one I'm considering running it over with a tractor.1767 of 1823 people found this useful - 1.0 out of 5 stars
awful
How many blank discs does it take to burn just ONE? Well, if you're using the Apple USB Superdrive, the answer is six, apparently. I've had this drive on two How many blank discs does it take to burn just ONE? Well, if you're using the Apple USB Superdrive, the answer is six, apparently. I've had this drive on two computers, a Mac Pro at work and another at home and it never goes smoothly. Either it can't read the disc, or says it can't get information fast enough or the drive doesn't show up. I am beyond frustrated at Mac's ongoing attempt to dictate to its users what it feels is best for them. I have to be able to burn discs for work, and with the latest driveless Mac Pros and the USB Superdrive, it's an exercise in futility. Maybe I'll find a six-for-one sale on blank discs. Ridiculous.1519 of 1570 people found this useful
No Offset Correction
It is not possible to discover the wright offset correction of this drive and apple doesn't reveal wich it is. It does mean it is impossible to rip CDs with 100 It is not possible to discover the wright offset correction of this drive and apple doesn't reveal wich it is. It does mean it is impossible to rip CDs with 100% accuracy. So the drive became useless for me.2 of 2 people found this useful- 1.0 out of 5 stars
A bad harbinger
I bought a new iMac. Love it. But to use the CD's and documents I had backed up I needed a CD ROM. Three wasted CD's and hours on the phone with Tech support an I bought a new iMac. Love it. But to use the CD's and documents I had backed up I needed a CD ROM. Three wasted CD's and hours on the phone with Tech support and they decided it was the quality discs I chose and no warranty recall. Bought more CD's and same thing. Bought an Asus-cheapie for $29.00 and it's worked falwlessly. Switching to the mac the missing manual sierra. I hate Lenovo, Asus and cheap stuff but when they work better than a home brand it fills me with dread.3 of 3 people found this useful - 1.0 out of 5 stars
Typical Apple poor quality and inability to perform standard operations
As usual with Apple this is a product designed for looks rather than functionality. It costs well in excess of other drives yet has some really bad issues as fo As usual with Apple this is a product designed for looks rather than functionality. It costs well in excess of other drives yet has some really bad issues as follows.. -It can be difficult to eject disks -It won't accept modern mini DVD's that are supplied with so many products these days leaving no way to use products with a very expensive iMac. As a result I have to resurrect an old Windows PC just to use modern devices. An overpriced yet awful, bordering on useless product!3 of 3 people found this useful
- can it read/play NTSC formatted DVDs
- Asked by Helena L from London
- on Apr 21, 2019
Answer
It plays dvds which have commercially available movies printed on them. I have hundreds of movies a It plays dvds which have commercially available movies printed on them. I have hundreds of movies as well as season series. All NTSC format. I also print my own movies in NTSC format.
However, it doesn’t seem to read a dual layer disk. So a very long movie may only play the first layer. If the movie is on two disks. You’re fine. It’s rare movies are so long to require a dual layer disk- Answered by Stephen T from Kalispell
- on May 4, 2019
- Can I hook it up to my iPad Pro?
- Asked by David H from Puyallup
- on May 19, 2017
Answer
Yes, but not until iPadOS 13 arrives. :-)- Answered by Graham B from Battery Point
- on Jun 4, 2019
- DVD Drive connection to iPad
- Asked by Kathy C from San Antonio
- on Feb 10, 2019
- Will this work with all other MacBook (2011) and MacBook AIr (2011).When I bought SuperDrive last year, it only work for MBA but not MBP or any others
- Asked by Leonard O from Portland
- on Jun 11, 2012
Answer
All of the Apple USB SuperDrives only work with Macs which do not have a built in SuperDrive.- Answered by Mark G from MOBILE
- on Jun 20, 2012
1 Answer(Will this work with all other MacBook (2011) and MacBook AIr (2011).When I bought SuperDrive last year, it only work for MBA but not MBP or any others) - Will this work on the new 13' Mac Book Pro? The text specifies a 'Mac Book Pro with Retina Display'. The new 13' MacBook Pro does not have Retina.
- Asked by Karl S from newcastle upon tyne
- on Jun 11, 2012
Best Answer:
Like the previous USB SuperDrive this one is only designed to work with computers that do not have o Like the previous USB SuperDrive this one is only designed to work with computers that do not have one built in. It only works with Mac mini, Macbook Air and Macbook Pro with Retina.- Answered by Steve B from FILEY
- on Jun 13, 2012
9 Answers(Will this work on the new 13' Mac Book Pro? The text specifies a 'Mac Book Pro with Retina Display'. The new 13' MacBook Pro does not have Retina.) - Can it be used to add songs to iTunes library
- Asked by Ritch G from PORT SAINT LUCIE
- on Feb 10, 2013
Answer
Yes. It works just like the built in Superdrive of any Macbook.- Answered by Carnell G from Mishawaka
- on Feb 23, 2013
2 Answers(Can it be used to add songs to iTunes library)
- Mac External Superdrive
- Apple Superdrive Problems
- Mac Superdrive Manual Ejector
- Mac Superdrive Manual Eject Tool
- How can the answer be improved?
- Jun 07, 2017 You can use a SuperDrive with Mac mini (late 2009) and later, MacBook Pro with Retina Display, MacBook Air, iMac (Late 2012) and later, and Mac Pro (Late 2013) computers. Note that there is no eject button on these models to eject a disc.
- Jun 23, 2017 How to Eject a Jammed/Stuck DVD from Mac's SuperDrive Top 10 Ways Way 1 - via Disk Utility Step 1: Go to Application Utility and launch Apple's Disk Utility application. Step 2: Choose First Aid, after which you will see your DVD drive and disk stuck in there.
Apple computers without a built-in optical drive can connect an external Apple USB SuperDrive or MacBook Air SuperDrive to read optical media such as CDs and DVDs. The Apple USB SuperDrive has a slightly longer (340mm) cable compared to the cable on the MacBook Air SuperDrive (250mm). Both SuperDrives are functionally equivalent.
The doctor gave me a dvd of my heart stent placement,and when i tried to view it it said it was not supported by apple,so when i tried to eject it won’t eject,can anyone help, it is a 2012 13 inch pro laptop with the apple superdrive on out side thanks. Tony Lama November 14th, 2016, 6:19 PM. If you’ve ever tried to eject a disc and nothing happened, it’s both frustrating and more than a little panic-inducing. Will you get your disc out in one piece without having to crack open your Mac? In this quick tip, we’ll go over a bunch of ways to force eject that stuck disc safely, without causing any damage to either the disc or your.
Older models of the MacBook, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac Pro, and Mac mini computers have a built-in SuperDrive. The SuperDrive uses a slot-loading mechanism which pulls the disc directly in rather than first placing the disc onto a loading tray. Older Mac Pro models use a loading tray.
First steps
- Make sure the Apple USB SuperDrive is lying flat on a surface with the silver top facing upward (shown below). If the Superdrive is oriented upside down it will not read discs.Correct:Aluminum enclosure is facing upIncorrect: Apple logo should be facing downBecause the USB port on external displays may not be powered at startup, connect the drive directly to the USB ports on your Apple computer when you need to use the Superdrive as a startup device. Reconnect the Superdrive directly to the display when you no longer need to start the computer from the SuperDrive.
- The Apple USB SuperDrive and MacBook Air SuperDrive are designed exclusively for use with Mac computers that do not have a built-in optical drive. Plug in the SuperDrive directly to the computer's USB port. Don't use a USB hub.
- You can also connect the SuperDrive to the USB ports on the back of the Apple LED Cinema Display (24-inch, Late 2008), Apple LED Cinema Display (27-inch), or Apple Thunderbolt Display.
- Be sure not to put the drive underneath anything heavy, underneath your computer, or on top of your computer.
- If you have trouble using a SuperDrive with Microsoft Windows, try starting the computer with the SuperDrive already plugged in.
Check your disc
Before troubleshooting, first confirm the discs you are using will work with your computer. Inserting a non-standard sized or shaped disc into a drive that is not designed to accommodate it may damage the drive. Use of such discs is not supported and any damage caused will not be covered under your Apple warranty or applicable extended service contract. The slot loading drives used in Apple computers work with only standard 120 mm round discs.
Standard 120 mm round disc:
Example nonstandard sized or shaped discs that are not supported:
Specific troubleshooting
Below are several possible symptoms you may see. Follow the steps for the appropriate symptom to figure out whether the issue stems from the drive or the media. Be sure to inspect discs before use to ensure they are not cracked, scratched, or otherwise damaged. Inspection should include the inner ring of the disc which should be smooth and burr free. A disc with physical defects may become stuck in or cause damage to the drive.
Doesn't accept discs
- Be sure to check your disc to make sure it is flat. You can check this by putting the disc upside-down on a flat surface. If the disc is bowed up on any side or in the center, do not use the disc because it might get stuck in the drive. Do not use discs that have anything attached to them or dangling from them (such as 'sweeper' or cleaning discs).
- If the drive struggles when you put in a disc or stops part-way, carefully look at the disc for labels that may be interfering. If there aren't any raised labels then try putting the disc in a few more times.
- Try another disc to see if the issue is being caused by a specific disc.
- Make sure you insert the disc far enough for the drive mechanism to activate. You need to insert discs nearly all the way before the drive will activate and pull them in. If you don't completely insert a disc, the drive will reverse and push the disc back out.
- Allow the drive one or two seconds to accept the disc while it is fully inserted.
- Reset the System Management Controller (SMC).
- If the drive repeatedly does not accept discs, contact Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider, or make an appointment with an Apple Retail Store.
Accepts discs but they don't mount or are automatically ejected
- Make sure the drive is not placed upside down. The aluminum enclosure should be facing up as shown in section 1.
- Check the disc's surface for scratches and dirt, since these things can prevent the disc from appearing on the desktop.
- Connect the MacBook Air SuperDrive directly to the computer's USB port instead a USB hub.
- Reset the System Management Controller (SMC).
- Ensure your drive can read the specific type of disc being used. The System Profiler or System Information may provide additional information regarding what media your computer supports.
- OS X Snow Leopard v10.6 or earlier: Open Apple System Profiler by choosing 'About this Mac' from the Apple () menu. Then, click More Info.
- OS X Lion v10.7 and later: Click the Apple () menu and then hold down the Option key. Choose System Information from the menu.
- If the disc continues to not be recognized, contact Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider, or make an appointment with an Apple Retail Store.
Doesn't eject discs or discs eject slowly
- If the drive ejects discs slowly or appears to be struggling, insert and eject a single disc several times. Check the disc to see if it has a label or other material stuck to the disc that increases the thickness. Remove the label if possible.
- If the disc will not eject, try pressing the eject key on the keyboard. Some older keyboards may use the F12 key to eject discs.
- If the disc will not eject, try dragging the disc icon to the trash.
- If the disc will still not eject, try holding down the trackpad or mouse button after restarting the computer. The Superdrive should attempt to eject the disc.
- If the disc continues not to eject, reset the System Management Controller (SMC) and try steps 1-4 again.
- If the disc still does not eject, contact Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider, or make an appointment with an Apple Retail Store for additional assistance.
Noisy or vibrating drive
Mac External Superdrive
- Note that due to the way optical drives function by rotating the disc rapidly, some noise and vibration is expected.
- If you think the drive is making noise beyond what's expected when you insert or eject discs, try inserting and ejecting a disc several times to correct the issue.
- Try other discs to see if the issue can be isolated to a single disc, or type of disc, as opposed to the drive itself. If a disc is weighted unevenly, such as discs that have a labels or stickers, it can cause additional noise and vibration when spinning up in the drive.
- Reset the System Management Controller (SMC).
- Vibrations due to the optical drive being in use may be exacerbated by using the system on a surface that is not hard and level. Make sure all the plastic feet on your notebook computer are present as this could create an uneven surface.
- Be aware that the drive should only operate horizontally, and noise may increase if you try to use it at an angle. Picking up or moving the machine while a disc is being read may result in the disc becoming unbalanced. Any damage sustained to the drive or the disc as a result of operating it in this manner is not covered by the products warranty.
- While a certain amount of noise and vibration is expected, if you believe the noise or the vibrations being generated by the drive are not normal, please contact Apple, contact an Apple Authorized Service Provider, or make an appointment with an Apple Retail Store for additional troubleshooting, evaluation, or service options.
Scratched discs
Apple Superdrive Problems
If media is getting scratched after being used in the drive, contact Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider, or make an appointment with an Apple Retail Store for additional troubleshooting, evaluation, or service.
Mac Superdrive Manual Ejector
Learn more
- You can use a SuperDrive with Mac mini (late 2009) and later, MacBook Pro with Retina Display, MacBook Air, iMac (Late 2012) and later, and Mac Pro (Late 2013) computers. Note that there is no eject button on these models to eject a disc. In order to eject you can Control-click or right-click the disc icon and choose Eject from the menu that appears. You can also drag the disc icon to the trash.
- For computers that did not ship with an optical drive and do not have the Apple USB SuperDrive, you can use CD or DVD sharing to access a CD or DVD in another computer's optical drive.
Mac Superdrive Manual Eject Tool
See the compatibility list for Mac computers and the Apple USB SuperDrive or the MacBook Air SuperDrive.