Not Enough Ports (Air 13" 2018)

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Level 1

4 points

Not Enough Ports (Air 13" 2018)

Attached is a pic of the side ports on my macbook.

Top (left) connection is an adaptor for HDMI that enables external monitor. It works.

Bottom (right) is from my audio interface which enables music recording input and sound output to studio monitors. This works fine as well.

However, now I cannot charge my macbook. I have other adaptors and gadgets but no matter how I connect a power cable the macbook won't charge.

Why can't I do all three at the same time???

PLEASE...WHAT AM I MISSING HERE????

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 14.8

Posted on Nov 9, 2025 1:58 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Servant of Cats

Level 7

34,073 points

Nov 9, 2025 3:10 PM in response to mfasr

That Mac charges through its USB-C ports, and you’ve put both of them to use for devices that do not supply power.

You need a USB-C or Thunderbolt hub or dock that has places to plug in accessories, has its own power supply, and supports USB-C power delivery to the Mac. There are many of these with different levels of features and prices.

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Answer 2

Nov 9, 2025 2:37 PM in response to mfasr

Perhaps something like this Anker USB-C Hub for MacBook available at Amazon.

This particular hub has a dedicated HDMI port on the end, a Thunderbolt/USB-C power pass-thru port, a USB-C data port and two USB-A ports that can be used with USB-C devices via adapters.

Seems to me this would solve your problem.

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Answer 3

Nov 9, 2025 2:14 PM in response to mfasr

You have discovered a shortcoming of the MacBook Air vs the MacBook Pro and other Mac’s. The MBA lacks connectivity.

All you can do is find another USB hub that has the ports you need, or replace the MBA with another Mac that has more ports.

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Answer 4

Nov 9, 2025 3:53 PM in response to mfasr

I suggest you get a hub with usb-c PD support

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Answer 5

mfasr Author

Level 1

4 points

Nov 9, 2025 3:27 PM in response to Servant of Cats

Thanks! Do you believe this will do the trick???

https://www.amazon.com/Anker-MacBook-PowerExpand-Thunderbolt-Lightning/dp/B0823H9K3R/ref=sr_1_4?crid=3UAIH3GJASIQ4&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.INsBF8wUkNBLYYmvstcBqKUlLkBCoYiKU88Tv60CLD79Wl2aLtpeBJzEgy1XJGWR1Dti-QS0r8aNcajtnYLH1SN5W_dlcGQzjRqaRCnndnM_QVAfX3dZyEHoIy8H2o9MEkHYMHn9CFgkdqJsMWgTyFcBL4fhZaeppDtSr1eE8xKVKm3xE7ng6V2eGvaFzXgknFc3jcrZrv7lmXeNVZGm7QCnrzRpuFtBK0l4jdV4IOI.mZ8rYLL5BT9AjOw4pgsj80f9wCEjHRyuyXPw6x1o5hU&dib_tag=se&keywords=macbook%2Bair%2B2018%2Bhub&qid=1762727331&sprefix=macbook%2Bair%2B2018%2Bhub%2Caps%2C200&sr=8-4&th=1

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Answer 6

Nov 9, 2025 4:46 PM in response to mfasr

That looks like it could work. You would plug a USB-C power brick and cable (such as the one that came with your Mac) into the multi-purpose USB-C port.

Note that it will take up both of your USB-C ports, and that aside from the multi-purpose USB-C port (where you will be plugging in your power supply), it only has three USB data ports -two USB-A and one USB-C.

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