TouchMe not recognized on Mac or Windows

The device powers on — LEDs light up, the arpeggiator moves — but your computer sees nothing. This is the most common setup question we receive. Work through the steps below in order. Most people are sorted by step 1 or 2.

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Step 1 — Use the included cable, or a confirmed data cable

This is the single most common cause. Many USB cables only carry power; they do not carry data.

Do this: Plug in using the white cable that came in the box. If you lost it, use a cable you have confirmed transfers files (for example, one that works for syncing photos to a phone). A cable from a phone charger or a power bank is very likely charge-only.

"Shame on me — I was sure I was using the USB cable that came with the TouchMe, and it was not the case! My other cables were not transmitting digital signals." — customer, 2026

TouchMe v1 has a Micro-USB port. TouchMe v2 (2024 onward) has USB-C. Make sure the cable matches the port on your device.

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Step 2 — Plug in the device before opening the browser

Web MIDI has to detect the device at startup. If you open Chrome or Brave first and then plug in TouchMe, the browser often misses it.

Do this:

1. Unplug TouchMe.
2. Close Chrome or Brave completely (Quit, not just close the tab).
3. Plug in TouchMe. Wait for the LEDs to come on.
4. Open Chrome or Brave.
5. Navigate to your synth or the settings page.

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Step 3 — Use Chrome or Brave (not Safari, not Firefox)

TouchMe uses Web MIDI. Web MIDI is supported in Chrome and Brave only. Safari does not support it. Firefox does not support it.

If you are on Safari or Firefox, nothing will work regardless of your cable or connection.

Also check: some browsers prompt for MIDI permission the first time a site requests access. If you dismissed that prompt, the browser remembers "deny." Clear the permission:

Chrome: Address bar → click the lock icon → Site settings → MIDI → Allow.

Brave: Same as Chrome. Also check brave://settings/content/midi if the lock icon is missing.

After changing the permission, refresh the page with the device already plugged in.

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Step 4 — Mac: check that the device appears in Audio MIDI Setup

This confirms whether the problem is the cable/connection or the browser.

Do this:

1. Plug in TouchMe.
2. Open Finder → Applications → Utilities → Audio MIDI Setup.
3. In the Audio MIDI Setup window, go to Window → Show MIDI Studio.
4. Look for "TouchMe" or an unrecognized USB MIDI device in the list.

If TouchMe appears here but not in your browser: the issue is browser permissions (see Step 3).

If TouchMe does not appear here at all: the Mac is not seeing the device at the hardware level. Try a different USB cable (Step 1), a different USB port, or remove any hub or adapter and connect directly.

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Mac-specific: USB adapter issues

If your Mac only has USB-C ports and you are using an adapter, the adapter must support data transfer, not just charging. Many small white USB-C adapters are power-only. The adapter included in some bundles is a confirmed data adapter. Third-party adapters vary — test with a known-good one.

Customers with new MacBook Pros (M1, M2, M5, running Sequoia or Sonoma) have reported that cheap multiport hubs drop the MIDI connection. Connect directly to a USB-C port with a USB-C to USB-C cable if possible, or use Apple's own USB-C adapter.

Older TouchMe (Micro-USB) on a USB-C Mac: You need a Micro-USB to USB-C adapter or cable that carries data. Standard phone charging adapters often do not.

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Windows: device visible in Device Manager but no MIDI

Windows users sometimes see the TouchMe in Device Manager under "Sound, video and game controllers" or "Universal Serial Bus devices" but it does not appear as a MIDI device in their DAW.

Do this:

1. Open Chrome or Brave (not Edge, not Internet Explorer).
2. Go to settings.playtronica.com.
3. If the page connects to your device, the hardware is working. The issue is DAW recognition — check your DAW's MIDI input list and enable the TouchMe port there.
4. If the settings page also cannot connect, try a different USB cable first, then a different USB port.

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Still not working after all four steps

Before contacting support, send us a short video showing:

• The device plugged in with LEDs active.
• The Audio MIDI Setup window (Mac) or Device Manager (Windows).
• Your browser attempting to connect.

This lets us confirm whether it is a hardware fault or a configuration issue and speeds up the response significantly.

Contact: [email protected]

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Quick reference

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Related: Firmware update and factory reset · TouchMe with Ableton Live · Supported browsers