Questions & Answers for Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter
Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter
86 Questions + 111 Answers
86 Questions from the Community
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Will this also work with Mini DisplayPort displays that use that same connector but do not support Thunderbolt (e.g. Apple Cinema Display)?
- Asked by Robert R from San Francisco
- 28-Oct-2016
- Flag as inappropriate (Will this also work with Mini DisplayPort displays that use that same connector but do not support Thunderbolt (e.g. Apple Cinema Display)?)
AnswerAccording to Apple, no. See Apple Support article HT207266.
- Answered by Edward K from Oakland
- 02-Nov-2016
- Flag as inappropriate Answer (Will this also work with Mini DisplayPort displays that use that same connector but do not support Thunderbolt (e.g. Apple Cinema Display)?)
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Will it be able to pass Ethernet from a Thunderbolt monitor as well?
- Asked by Mary A from Austin
- 28-Oct-2016
- Flag as inappropriate (Will it be able to pass Ethernet from a Thunderbolt monitor as well?)
AnswerYes.
- Answered by Joseph V from Fort Langley
- 05-Nov-2016
- Flag as inappropriate Answer (Will it be able to pass Ethernet from a Thunderbolt monitor as well?)
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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?)
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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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Can you boot the new MacBook Pros into PXE Mode using this adapter?
- Asked by Jason S from Duarte
- 27-Oct-2016
- Flag as inappropriate (Can you boot the new MacBook Pros into PXE Mode using this adapter?)
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Can this adapter be used on my MacBook with USB-C? Specifically, can it be used to connect my MacBook to my Apple Cinema Display?
- Asked by Will P from Chicago
- 28-Oct-2016
- Flag as inappropriate (Can this adapter be used on my MacBook with USB-C? Specifically, can it be used to connect my MacBook to my Apple Cinema Display?)
AnswerNo. Source: apple support document HT207266 "About the compatibility of the Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter". Not only will it not work with the MacBook at all, it does not work with the non-thunderbolt Cinema Display at all, since neither one is a Thunderbolt product.
- Answered by Thomas N from Aurora
- 29-Oct-2016
- Flag as inappropriate Answer (Can this adapter be used on my MacBook with USB-C? Specifically, can it be used to connect my MacBook to my Apple Cinema Display?)
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Will this work with the Early 2016 Retina MacBook?
- Asked by Ryan S from Walnut Creek
- 27-Oct-2016
- Flag as inappropriate (Will this work with the Early 2016 Retina MacBook?)
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If you use this adaptor to connect to a thunderbolt display, will the single USB-C to Thunderbolt connection both charge and display the laptop?
- Asked by Heather N from Hillsborough
- 28-Oct-2016
- Flag as inappropriate (If you use this adaptor to connect to a thunderbolt display, will the single USB-C to Thunderbolt connection both charge and display the laptop?)
AnswerNo. The Thunderbolt display provides power via a MagSafe connector; this adapter does not have a MagSafe connector, and there is currently no way to get one on the new MacBook Pro.
- Answered by Thomas N from Aurora
- 29-Oct-2016
- Flag as inappropriate Answer (If you use this adaptor to connect to a thunderbolt display, will the single USB-C to Thunderbolt connection both charge and display the laptop?)
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If I get the thunderbolt 2 to USB-C connector will that also drive power to my MacBook Pro That has USB-C only ports. I have a Thunderbolt display
- Asked by Roger N from Mount Prospect
- 27-Oct-2016
- Flag as inappropriate (If I get the thunderbolt 2 to USB-C connector will that also drive power to my MacBook Pro That has USB-C only ports. I have a Thunderbolt display)
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Can this adapter be used to connect a USB C monitor to a Mac Mini (which only has USB A and Thunderbolt ports)?
In particular, I'd like to connect an AOC i1601fwux monitor which would need both power and video from the single USB C cable.
- Asked by Michael P from Waban
- 27-Nov-2017
- Flag as inappropriate (Can this adapter be used to connect a USB C monitor to a Mac Mini (which only has USB A and Thunderbolt ports)?)
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Best Answer:
The Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter is for Thunderbolt devices only.
The Samsung Portable T5 2TB USB 3.1 SSD is a USB device. It comes with a USB-C to USB-A connector so you can connect it to one of the iMac's USB ports.
The iMac's USB ports are USB 3.0 allowing up to 5 Gb/s which might get you up to 430 MB/s from the T5.
To add USB 3.1 gen 2 (up to 10 Gb/s) to the iMac, you could use a Thunderbolt 3 dock attached to the iMac using the Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter. You would connect the T5 to the second Thunderbolt 3 port of the Thunderbolt 3 dock which could allow you to get up to 540 MB/s from the T5.
A Thunderbolt 3 dock to get one USB 3.1 gen 2 port is not worth the expense.
Another option is a Thunderbolt 2 PCIe enclosure (or Thunderbolt 3 PCIe enclosure plus Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter) with a USB 3.1 gen 2 PCIe card which would get you at least two USB 3.1 gen 2 ports. But that is still expensive.- Answered by Joseph V from Fort Langley
- 29-Sep-2017
- Flag as inappropriate Answer (I'm looking to get a Samsung Portable T5 2TB USB 3.1 SSD and have an iMac with tb2 ports would this adapter work?)