Questions & Answers for Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter
Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter
145 Questions + 243 Answers
145 Questions from the Community
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Answer
They look exactly the same. Thunderbolt 3 has all the features of USB-C and more.
Thunderbolt 3 allows PCIe signals. The 2016 15" MacBook Pro has 4 Thunderbolt 3 ports, which is like having four PCIe 3.0 x4 slots. In comparison, the 2012 Mac Pro had four PCIe 2.0 slots: x16, x16, x4, x4.
Thunderbolt 3 also allows Thunderbolt displays, which is different than DisplayPort displays.
The Thunderbolt 3 ports also allow USB (10 Gbps), DisplayPort 1.2, and HDMI 1.4 signals, like the USB-C ports do.
Some USB-C ports that are not Thunderbolt 3 might have slower USB (5 Gbps) and/or no DisplayPort/HDMI.- Answered by Joseph V from Fort Langley
- 19-Dec-2016
- Flag as inappropriate Answer (What’s the difference between Thunderbolt 3 & USB-C port? Do they look exactly the same, exchangeable?)
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Can MacBook Pro (2016) models be charged from a 3rd party Thunderbolt 2 monitor (like the LG 34UC98-W) through this?
Does the design of this adapter allow power to come back from a Thunderbolt 2 device if that device supports sending power? Or does the adapter itself make that impossible.
Thanks,
Colin- Asked by Colin F from Toronto
- 18-Nov-2016
- Flag as inappropriate (Can MacBook Pro (2016) models be charged from a 3rd party Thunderbolt 2 monitor (like the LG 34UC98-W) through this?)
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Is this required to connect an existing Thunderbolt display to the new MacBook Pro? Does it pass the USB and ethernet data to and from the display?
- Asked by Joseph B from Mayhill
- 28-Oct-2016
- Flag as inappropriate (Is this required to connect an existing Thunderbolt display to the new MacBook Pro? Does it pass the USB and ethernet data to and from the display?)
AnswerYes it is required, and yes it will enable the use of the display, audio, camera, microphone, USB ports, and ethernet port.
- Answered by Thomas N from Aurora
- 29-Oct-2016
- Flag as inappropriate Answer (Is this required to connect an existing Thunderbolt display to the new MacBook Pro? Does it pass the USB and ethernet data to and from the display?)
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Answer
The Apple support document HT207266 "Connect devices and displays with the Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter" says you can use the adapter to connect the 2016 MacBook Pro to Mac computers that have Thunderbolt or Thunderbolt 2. I assume this will allow Target Disk Mode, Target Display Mode, and Thunderbolt networking.
- Answered by Joseph V from Fort Langley
- 19-Dec-2016
- Flag as inappropriate Answer (May I target 27-inch iMac (Mid 2011 to Mid 2014) with the new Macbook pro and this adapter?)
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Answer
Yes, sort of. You need a USB-C to USB-A cable, and then you can provide a very low voltage to the laptop like it would to an iPhone or iPad. in my tests it only works when the laptop is asleep, but if you leave it overnight, it will be fully charged when you wake up
- Answered by Valerio A from New York City
- 13-Feb-2017
- Flag as inappropriate Answer (Can the new (2016) macbook pro models be charged from an Apple thunderbolt monitor?)
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Is it working with a dell xps with thunderbolt 3 ?
- Asked by Aggelidis N
- 08-Jun-2017
- Flag as inappropriate (Is it working with a dell xps with thunderbolt 3 ?)
AnswerI used this with my Razer Blade 2017 on the Thunderbolt 3 port and it worked straight away.
- Answered by Richard S
- 16-Jun-2017
- Flag as inappropriate Answer (Is it working with a dell xps with thunderbolt 3 ?)
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Answer
It will connect, but not charge
- Answered by Eduardo M from Torreon
- 01-Nov-2016
- Flag as inappropriate Answer (Will I be able to not only connect but also CHARGE my new MacBook Pro with the (now "obsolete") Apple Thunderbolt Display using this adapter?)
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Answer
The Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter is only for Thunderbolt devices.
You need a USB-C to mini DisplayPort adapter or a USB-C to DisplayPort cable and a DisplayPort to mini DisplayPort adapter.- Answered by Joseph V from Fort Langley
- 16-Mar-2017
- Flag as inappropriate Answer (will this work with my 6 year old mac monitor with a mini display port)
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Will this also deliver power from an Apple thunderbolt display?
...and would that be sufficient to charge the MBP?
- Asked by Ben D
- 28-Oct-2016
- Flag as inappropriate (Will this also deliver power from an Apple thunderbolt display?)
AnswerNo, the Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter does not pass power to charge the MacBook Pro.
Read Apple support document HT207266 "Connect devices and displays with the Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter".- Answered by Joseph V from Fort Langley
- 17-Mar-2017
- Flag as inappropriate Answer (Will this also deliver power from an Apple thunderbolt display?)
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Answer
No. You can connect the Thunderbolt display, but the display will not power the MacBook Pro via the adapter.
- Answered by Joseph V from Fort Langley
- 05-Nov-2016
- Flag as inappropriate Answer (If I connect my Thunderbolt display to a new MacBook Pro via the adapter will it charge the new MacBook Pro?)
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Does this adapter also include the display port video pass-through?
I have some displays, for example the Apple LED Cinema Display that use DisplayPort. I could plug them into my previous MBP Thunderbolt 2 port. Will the same functionality exist with Thunderbolt 3/USB C ports and this adapter?
- Asked by Brian S from Los Altos
- 27-Oct-2016
- Flag as inappropriate (Does this adapter also include the display port video pass-through?)
AnswerNo. See the Apple support document HT207266 "Connect devices and displays with the Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter".
Use a USB-C to MiniDisplay Port cable instead.- Answered by Joseph V from Fort Langley
- 19-Dec-2016
- Flag as inappropriate Answer (Does this adapter also include the display port video pass-through?)
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Will this work with a monitor (e.g. Dell P2715Q 4K Monitor) that has a Mini Display Port?
mDP is the same connector as TB2 and you could drive mDP displays from TB2
- Asked by Steven R from Warriewood
- 28-Oct-2016
- Flag as inappropriate (Will this work with a monitor (e.g. Dell P2715Q 4K Monitor) that has a Mini Display Port?)
AnswerThe Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter is only for Thunderbolt devices. It will not pass DisplayPort signals.
You need a USB-C to DisplayPort cable.- Answered by Joseph V from Fort Langley
- 16-Mar-2017
- Flag as inappropriate Answer (Will this work with a monitor (e.g. Dell P2715Q 4K Monitor) that has a Mini Display Port?)
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What exactly is the difference between the Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter to the USB-C to USB Adapter?
I want to connect an adapter to my MacBook Pro so that I can connect the Apple USB Superdrive. Does it matter which adapter I use? Would either work?
AnswerThe Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter is for Thunderbolt devices only.
You want to use a USB-C to USB-A adapter to use the apple USB Superdrive. This adapter is only for USB devices.
The USB-C port of the MacBook Pro 2016 does passively Thunderbolt 3, USB 3.1 gen 2, USB 3.1 gen 1, USB 2.0, DisplayPort 1.2, HDMI 1.4. There are also active adapters for VGA, DVI, Dual Link DVI, HDMI 2.0, Ethernet, FireWire, Audio, etc.
The USB-C port of the MacBook 2015 does all of the above except Thunderbolt 3 and USB 3.1 gen 2.- Answered by Joseph V from Fort Langley
- 12-Mar-2017
- Flag as inappropriate Answer (What exactly is the difference between the Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter to the USB-C to USB Adapter?)
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Answer
No. The Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 does not pass power from the Thunderbolt display to the MacBook Pro.
Read Apple support document HT207266 "Connect devices and displays with the Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter".- Answered by Joseph V from Fort Langley
- 17-Mar-2017
- Flag as inappropriate Answer (Can you power one of the New MacBook Pros from a Thunderbolt display using the Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter?)
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Does the "Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter" work together with the "Apple Thunderbolt to FireWire Adapter"?
I want to connect a multichannel (firewire-only) audio interface "RME Fireface 800" to the new mac book.
AnswerYes.
Apple has a support document entitled "About the compatibility of the Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter" detailing it (I'm not allowed to post the link here). -
Does this work to connect the Apple Thunderbolt Display to the 2016 MacBook Pros? If so, is there also an adapter for the display's MagSafe power?
- Asked by Kevin A from Colorado Springs
- 27-Oct-2016
- Flag as inappropriate (Does this work to connect the Apple Thunderbolt Display to the 2016 MacBook Pros? If so, is there also an adapter for the display's MagSafe power?)
AnswerYes for Thunderbolt. No for MagSafe.
See the Apple support document HT207266 "Connect devices and displays with the Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter".- Answered by Joseph V from Fort Langley
- 19-Dec-2016
- Flag as inappropriate Answer (Does this work to connect the Apple Thunderbolt Display to the 2016 MacBook Pros? If so, is there also an adapter for the display's MagSafe power?)
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Answer
The Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter is only for Thunderbolt devices.
The MacBook Pro has Thunderbolt but the MacBook does not.
Also, the Thunderbolt adapter does not pass DisplayPort signals. The Apple Cinema Display is a DisplayPort monitor (mini DisplayPort), so you need a USB-C to mini DisplayPort adapter (and a mini DisplayPort cable if the mini DisplayPort connector is female). Or you could use a USB-C to DisplayPort adapter and a DisplayPort to mini DisplayPort cable.- Answered by Joseph V from Fort Langley
- 16-Mar-2017
- Flag as inappropriate Answer (Can this adapter be used on my MacBook with USB-C?nullSpecifically, can it be used to connect my MacBook to my Apple Cinema Display?)