WhatCable Download Pro 1.3.0 for Mac

WhatCable is a USB-C diagnostics app for Apple Silicon Macs available in the menu bar, free and open source fundamentally designed to analyse USB-C connections and explain cable speed, charging power and e-marker data without the need for a helper daemon, private API or background uploads. The free version does what most people need, which is to tell you what a cable is capable of and tell you in plain English why your MacBook might be charging slowly or a peripheral isn’t hitting its expected speed. On a plain USB connection, WhatCable reads the e-marker chip data of the cable. On a Thunderbolt or USB4 connection it goes further, comparing the speed macOS's controller actually negotiated against what the e-marker claims — catching cables that under-report their real capability. WhatCable Pro goes to really deep diagnostics for engineers and power users: Negotiation Diagnostics shows each connection side by side by Mac port, cable and device, highlighting the weak link and cross-checking the cable’s e-marker against the Thunderbolt controller to catch cables that under-report themselves. The live power metering shows the real-time wattage, voltage and amperage per port, with an update every 2 seconds or so, as well as hardware and port health monitoring (lifetime port errors, resets, liquid detection sensor monitoring), full Power Delivery (PD) contract inspection, cable resistance estimation and DisplayPort Alt Mode lane mapping. CLI monitor mode (whatcable --monitor or --dashboard) and desktop widgets support developer-style, script-friendly workflows. Pro windows can be detached for easy reference while swapping cables. Version 1.3.0 continues WhatCable's active development following 1.2.1 (a reliability patch fixing a MagSafe wattage-freezing bug with third-party adapters) and other recent point releases fixing HDMI port labelling consistency across the main view and Display Diagnostics. WhatCable Pro costs £9.99 as a one-off purchase for up to two Macs, includes free updates while actively developed, email license delivery and a 30-day offline grace period. Both the free and Pro apps require macOS 14 (Sonoma) or later, and Apple Silicon only — Intel Macs don’t have the exposed controller data that the deep IOKit reads depend on. The WhatCable is not in the Mac App Store because the sandbox prevents the required IOKit access.

Step 1: Download WhatCable Download the free WhatCable app at macospace.com. Step 2: Setup & Open Install the app, launch it and have it sit in the menu bar. Step 3: Verify Basic Cable Information Plug in a USB-C cable and device, and receive WhatCable’s plain-English explanation of the cable’s speed, charging power and e-marker data. Step 4: Buy and Activate Pro Buy a WhatCable Pro license (one-off £9.99 for up to two Macs) and then right-click WhatCable in the menu bar, choose License, and paste in your key to unlock the Pro features. 5. Perform Negotiation Diagnostics Use Negotiation Diagnostics to compare what your Mac port, cable and connected device each support to what was actually negotiated, and highlight the weak link. Step 6: Watch Power Live When testing a charger or cable under load , the live power metering window will show the real-time wattage, voltage, and amperage per port . Step 7: Review PD Contracts and Cable Health Look at Power Delivery contract details, estimates of cable resistance, and port health counters for a closer view of the real-world performance of your setup. Step 8: Use CLI Monitor Mode (Optional) You can run whatcable --monitor or whatcable --dashboard in Terminal to script, log or pipe live diagnostic data as part of a developer workflow. 9. Add the Desktop Widget Allow the desktop widget to check power and cable status without opening the full app.