Questions & Answers for Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter
Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter
151 Questions + 247 Answers
151 Questions from the Community
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Can i use this cable to transfer data from a 2014 MacBook air 11 inch to a 2018 MacBook 12-inch? I tried the migration wirelessly but did not work.
Transferring data from MacBook Air to new MacBook.
- Asked by Laurence S from Newberry
- 15/08/2018
- Flag as inappropriate (Can i use this cable to transfer data from a 2014 MacBook air 11 inch to a 2018 MacBook 12-inch? I tried the migration wirelessly but did not work.)
AnswerYes you can, according to Apple support document HT207266 "About the Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter".
It says "You can also use the Thunderbolt port of this adapter to connect an external hard drive, dock, Mac, or other device that uses a Thunderbolt or Thunderbolt 2 cable for data transfer. This adapter supports data-transfer speeds up to 10Gbps with Thunderbolt devices, and up to 20Gbps with Thunderbolt 2 devices.
This adapter is bidirectional, which means you can use it to connect Thunderbolt 3 devices to a Mac that has a Thunderbolt or Thunderbolt 2 port. In that case, the Mac must be using macOS Sierra or later, and the device using Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) must provide its own power."- Answered by Joseph V from Fort Langley
- 17/08/2018
- Flag as inappropriate Answer (Can i use this cable to transfer data from a 2014 MacBook air 11 inch to a 2018 MacBook 12-inch? I tried the migration wirelessly but did not work.)
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Will the Elgato Thunderbolt 2 dock work with this adapter to the new 2017 MBP with only Thunderbolt 3 ports?
I'd like to find out if I can still use my older Elgato Thunderbolt 2 dock on the new 2017 MBP I purchased.
- Asked by Earnie E from Clackamas
- 5/09/2018
- Flag as inappropriate (Will the Elgato Thunderbolt 2 dock work with this adapter to the new 2017 MBP with only Thunderbolt 3 ports?)
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can i connect my new 2018 macbook pro to my 2012 thunderbolt display
- Asked by Sonia N from Manhattan Beach
- 29/07/2018
- Flag as inappropriate (can i connect my new 2018 macbook pro to my 2012 thunderbolt display)
AnswerI have a 13-inch 2018 MacBook Pro, the Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter allows me to connect to the thunderbolt display, and the graphics are working fine.
The USB ports also functioned without a problem.
Updated:
To get the ethernet on the display working, I had to disconnect the USB-C adapter, delete (AFAIR) the Thunderbolt Bridge from the network preferences, and then reconnect the adapter.- Answered by Patrick M from Portland
- 16/08/2018
- Flag as inappropriate Answer (can i connect my new 2018 macbook pro to my 2012 thunderbolt display)
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Can you use this adapter with the I-TEC THUNDERBOLT 2 Docking Station? Connect a newer mac with Thunderbolt 3 and use this dock?
- Asked by Matt B from Perth
- 22/09/2018
- Flag as inappropriate (Can you use this adapter with the I-TEC THUNDERBOLT 2 Docking Station? Connect a newer mac with Thunderbolt 3 and use this dock?)
No answers yet
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Answer
Yes you can, according to Apple support document HT207266 "About the Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter".
It says "You can also use the Thunderbolt port of this adapter to connect an external hard drive, dock, Mac, or other device that uses a Thunderbolt or Thunderbolt 2 cable for data transfer. This adapter supports data-transfer speeds up to 10Gbps with Thunderbolt devices, and up to 20Gbps with Thunderbolt 2 devices.
This adapter is bidirectional, which means you can use it to connect Thunderbolt 3 devices to a Mac that has a Thunderbolt or Thunderbolt 2 port. In that case, the Mac must be using macOS Sierra or later, and the device using Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) must provide its own power."- Answered by Joseph V from Fort Langley
- 16/08/2018
- Flag as inappropriate Answer (Can i use this cable to transfer data from a 15" 2012 Mac Book Pro to a 2017 iMac? If so, will it still work after HighSierra gets replaced with anoth)
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Best Answer:
I have to disagree with the answers above. I have succefully connected an old Cinema Display to a current 2016 MacBook Pro 15" (touchbar). The path is DVI (from monitor) to HDMI adaptor, into the HDMI input of a USB C hub. Works without problem, including sleep/wake, mirroring and dual display.
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How to connect Thunderbolt of MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Mid 2014) to USB C Port ?
- Asked by Sheikh T from New York City
- 8/08/2018
- Flag as inappropriate (How to connect Thunderbolt of MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Mid 2014) to USB C Port ?)
- Asked about: Apple Thunderbolt Cable (2m) - Whit…
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Trying to connect my LaCie 5Big RAID (Thunderbolt 2) to my new iMac Pro (Thunderbolt 3).
I have updated all of the drives and software and purchased an adapter, but my iMac still cannot see the LaCie RAID. Just spent an hour with the LaCie support and they think it's the cable. Any advice would be helpful.
- Asked by Steve M from Bethesda
- 17/08/2018
- Flag as inappropriate (Trying to connect my LaCie 5Big RAID (Thunderbolt 2) to my new iMac Pro (Thunderbolt 3).)
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I have an Apple Thunderbolt monitor but getting a new PC laptop that has a Thunderbolt 3 (UCB C) adapter. Will this adapter allow PC to Mac monitor?
Specifically Lenovo P51s with the Thunderbolt Dock. Can I use this adapter to connect to the Mac Thunderbolt monitor and get full resolution?
- Asked by Michael T from Mckinney
- 4/06/2018
- Flag as inappropriate (I have an Apple Thunderbolt monitor but getting a new PC laptop that has a Thunderbolt 3 (UCB C) adapter. Will this adapter allow PC to Mac monitor?)
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Will this adapter allow me to connect a MacBook Air or a 15" MacBook Pro Mid-2012 to an LG UltraFine 22MD4KA-B display?
MacBook AIR 13.3 Q1 2016 128GB
MacBook Pro Mid-2012 15" (Non-Retina)
Both computers have a Thunderbolt port- Asked by Jean-françois B from Montreal
- 20/06/2018
- Flag as inappropriate (Will this adapter allow me to connect a MacBook Air or a 15" MacBook Pro Mid-2012 to an LG UltraFine 22MD4KA-B display?)
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Does the Apple Thunderbolt Display charge the new MacBook Pro 2016 over this adapter or should I use an external power supply for the computer?
- Asked by Martin V from Eindhoven
- 28/10/2016
- Flag as inappropriate (Does the Apple Thunderbolt Display charge the new MacBook Pro 2016 over this adapter or should I use an external power supply for the computer?)
Best Answer:No. The thunderbolt display does not provide power back over it's thunderbolt connection.
The thunderbolt display can only provide power via its Magsafe connector, but that can't be used to provide power to the USB-C ports on the MacBook Pro's. (unless some sort of MagSafe to USB-C adapter comes along, but I have not heard of such thing yet.) -
Can this adapter be used on a Windows platform/OS?
- Asked by Otis W from Brampton
- 28/10/2016
- Flag as inappropriate (Can this adapter be used on a Windows platform/OS?)
Best Answer:If you are attempting to connect a Thunderbolt 3 device to a Thunderbolt 2 computer, or to connect a Thunderbolt 2 device to a Thunderbolt 3 computer, then yes, this adapter will work regardless of platform/OS.
- Answered by Thomas N from Aurora
- 30/10/2016
- Flag as inappropriate Answer (Can this adapter be used on a Windows platform/OS?)
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Will this adapter allow me to connect an LG 27UK850 monitor (with USB-C) to my MacBook Pro (13", Early 2015) using a Thunderbolt 2 cable?
External Display to MacBook Pro Early 2015
- Asked by Philip B from Rancho Murieta
- 22/04/2018
- Flag as inappropriate (Will this adapter allow me to connect an LG 27UK850 monitor (with USB-C) to my MacBook Pro (13", Early 2015) using a Thunderbolt 2 cable?)
AnswerNo (except read below). The Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter is only for Thunderbolt devices.
The LG 27UK850 is not a Thunderbolt display. It has 3 inputs: HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB-C with DisplayPort alt mode (not Thunderbolt).
The USB-C port of the LG 27UK850 cannot be used to power the MacBook Pro 2015. It can be used to power the MacBook or a MacBook Pro 2016 or later (but only provides 60W where the MacBook Pro might consume more during heavy usage).
For video output to the display, the simplest connection to your MacBook Pro 2015 to the LG 27UK850 can be done with a Mini DisplayPort to DisplayPort cable (not included). To use the USB downstream ports of the display (for keyboard or mouse or thumb drive or whatever you like), you need to connect a USB-C to USB-A cable (not included). The downstream ports will work as USB 3.0 (5Gbps) in this configuration.
There is a way to get video over USB-C to the LG 27UK850 from the MacBook Pro 2015. Connect a Thunderbolt 3 device that has two Thunderbolt 3 ports (such as a Thunderbolt 3 dock or RAID drive) to the MacBook Pro 2015 using the Apple Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter. The second Thunderbolt 3 port of the Thunderbolt 3 device can be used to connect a USB-C cable to the LG 27UK850 for video and USB data.
Note that if you're using USB-C for video, then the downstream USB ports of the LG 27UK850 can only work as USB 2.0 (480 Mbps). This is because a 4K 60Hz display requires all four super-speed lines of the USB-C cable for the DisplayPort signal.- Answered by Joseph V from Fort Langley
- 23/04/2018
- Flag as inappropriate Answer (Will this adapter allow me to connect an LG 27UK850 monitor (with USB-C) to my MacBook Pro (13", Early 2015) using a Thunderbolt 2 cable?)
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Can I daisy chain two Thunderbolt displays to the MacBook Pro using the USB-C Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter? MBP->Adapter->TBD-(chain)->TBD?
Does the new USB-C (Thunderbolt 3) to Thunderbolt 2 adapter allow this chaining? My old MBP is connected to two Thunderbolt Displays in a daisy chain like this, and I want to continue the same approach
Best Answer:Confirming (I bought the adapter and tried it) this indeed works
- Answered by Richard J from Raleigh
- 4/05/2017
- Flag as inappropriate Answer (Can I daisy chain two Thunderbolt displays to the MacBook Pro using the USB-C Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter? MBP->Adapter->TBD-(chain)->TBD?)
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Does using this increase latency in audio transfer between a new MBP and an apogee audio interface?
I need minimal latency (basically unnoticeable) and sometimes stream 30+ channels of audio data at 96khz. There is no latency when i connect it to my current MBP but need to know if there will be an increase in latency because of this adapter?
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With this adapter can I connect an Apple Thunderbolt Display to a new MacBook Pro (USB-C) and power the laptop through the same connection?
- Asked by Brett K from Oceanside
- 29/10/2016
- Flag as inappropriate (With this adapter can I connect an Apple Thunderbolt Display to a new MacBook Pro (USB-C) and power the laptop through the same connection?)
AnswerI can confirm this adapter will not power the new MacBook Pro's. However all the usb and ethernet ports functionality works.
- Answered by Ryan S from Thompson's Station
- 16/11/2016
- Flag as inappropriate Answer (With this adapter can I connect an Apple Thunderbolt Display to a new MacBook Pro (USB-C) and power the laptop through the same connection?)
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Will this work for connecting my Universal Audio Apollo Twin MKII Audio Interface (Thunderbolt 2) Along with a USB-C cable, to my 2017 iMac?
- Asked by Jaret A from Kitchener
- 19/03/2018
- Flag as inappropriate (Will this work for connecting my Universal Audio Apollo Twin MKII Audio Interface (Thunderbolt 2) Along with a USB-C cable, to my 2017 iMac?)
AnswerConnect the Apollo's Thunderbolt 2 cable into the Thunderbolt port on this adapter. Then connect the USB-C port of the adapter into the iMac's USB-C port. Easy Peasy.
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Can I connect Mac Pro 2013 (Thunderbolt 2) to a Thunderbolt 3 device, like the OWC Envoy Pro EX, using the Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter?
- Asked by Thomas C from Hilton Head
- 2/05/2018
- Flag as inappropriate (Can I connect Mac Pro 2013 (Thunderbolt 2) to a Thunderbolt 3 device, like the OWC Envoy Pro EX, using the Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter?)
AnswerYes, if you mean the OWC Envoy Pro EX Thunderbolt 3 or other Thunderbolt 3 device. There is also an OWC Envoy Pro EX that uses USB 3.0 (5 Gbps) which does not require an adapter (it is much slower than Thunderbolt 3's 40 Gbps).
Apple Support document HT207266 "About the Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter" has more information in the last paragraph. For some reason, Apple removed the statement that says "Support for Apple Thunderbolt to FireWire Adapter is limited to devices that require less than 10W of power".
The OWC Envoy Pro EX Thunderbolt 3 has a captive (non-detachable) Thunderbolt 3 cable. The Apple Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter also has a captive Thunderbolt 3 cable. Therefore, you also need another Thunderbolt 3 device that has two Thunderbolt 3 ports (such as a dock, raid, or PCIe expansion box) to connect both the adapter and the OWC Envoy Pro EX Thunderbolt 3. The specs for the Envoy Pro EX Thunderbolt 3 doesn't state if it takes more than 10W of power, but that doesn't matter because it will be connected to a different Thunderbolt 3 device that will supply all the power.
Some older Thunderbolt 3 devices created before the first Thunderbolt 3 MacBook Pro are not compatible with macOS without a Thunderbolt enabler patch.
Thunderbolt 2 is slower than Thunderbolt 3, so the Thunderbolt 3 drive will not perform at full speed when connected to a Thunderbolt 2 Mac, but it should still be faster than 10 Gbps USB 3.1 gen 2 (which the Mac Pro doesn't have either but you can add it with a Thunderbolt 3 device or a Thunderbolt PCIe expansion chassis and USB 3.1 gen 2 PCIe card).- Answered by Joseph V from Fort Langley
- 3/05/2018
- Flag as inappropriate Answer (Can I connect Mac Pro 2013 (Thunderbolt 2) to a Thunderbolt 3 device, like the OWC Envoy Pro EX, using the Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter?)