Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter

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  • Overview

    The Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter lets you connect Thunderbolt and Thunderbolt 2 devices — such as external hard drives and Thunderbolt docks — to any of the Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports on your MacBook Pro.

    As a bidirectional adapter, it can also connect new Thunderbolt 3 devices to a Mac with a Thunderbolt or Thunderbolt 2 port and macOS Sierra or later.

    In addition, it can be used to connect Thunderbolt-enabled displays — such as the Apple Thunderbolt Display and LG Thunderbolt 2 displays — to any of the Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports on your MacBook Pro. However, using this adapter with an Apple Thunderbolt Display requires a power source, because the display does not provide power through the adapter.

    Note: This adapter does not support DisplayPort displays like the Apple LED Cinema Display or third-party DisplayPort and Mini DisplayPort displays. For more information, visit the Apple Support page for the Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter.

    What’s in the Box

    Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter

    Tech Specs

    Thunderbolt 2

    Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C)

    USB-C

  • Mac Models

  • 2.0 Average
    2 out of 5 stars
    Number of stars Percentage Number of reviews
    5 Stars(Read all reviews)
    22%
    		66reviews
    4 Stars(Read all reviews)
    8%
    		25reviews
    3 Stars(Read all reviews)
    4%
    		11reviews
    2 Stars(Read all reviews)
    6%
    		18reviews
    1 Star(Read all reviews)
    61%
    		185reviews
    Write a review
    • 1.0 out of 5 stars

      Problems with chained displays, waking up from sleep / restarts

      This adapter does NOT duplicate the functionality of the Thunderbolt ports on MacBook Airs and legacy MacBook Pros when daisy-chaining accessories together. For This adapter does NOT duplicate the functionality of the Thunderbolt ports on MacBook Airs and legacy MacBook Pros when daisy-chaining accessories together. For example, I have a external hard drive chained to a DisplayPort monitor. On my old MacBook Air, the two would be recognized right away. I could wake up my computer from sleep (clamshell shut, hooked to external monitor and keyboard / mouse) and the hard drive would spin up and the monitor would turn on. With my new MacBook Pro and this adapter, however, waking up the computer from sleep, with the exact same connections, and the hard drive turns on but the monitor doesn't. If I open the lid of the laptop, then magically both displays will start working. Similarly, if I try to restart the computer in clamshell mode when the monitor is recognized and working (again, daisy-chained to the hard drive), upon being restart the monitor isn't recognized. If I try to open the lid of the laptop, then the MacBook Pro's own display won't even turn on, making me have to restart it. In short, this adapter doesn't work unless you have the most basic Thunderbolt setup. Don't expect anything daisy-chained to work. Don't expect restarts to work. Don't expect waking up from sleep to have your plugged-in accessories to work the same as when you put your computer to sleep.

      • Written by Josh H from Washington

      571 of 659 people found this useful

      Is this review useful?Problems with chained displays, waking up from sleep / restarts

    • 5.0 out of 5 stars

      Thunderbolt Display

      Just brought this home to use on my new late-2016 MacBook Pro 13. This adaptor allowed me to use my Thunderbolt display. Very happy!

      • Written by Gregory H from San Diego

      360 of 452 people found this useful

      Is this review useful?Thunderbolt Display

    • 1.0 out of 5 stars

      Doesn't work with my Dell P2715Q 4k on mini-displayport

      Tried multiple mode (SST, MST Seconday) neither is working. it just does not detect my display at all. worthless for 2016 MacBook Pro. returning tomorrow.

      • Written by Gonghua D from Mason

      426 of 750 people found this useful

      Is this review useful?Doesn't work with my Dell P2715Q 4k on mini-displayport

    • 1.0 out of 5 stars

      Essentially Garbage

      I have been a mac user for many years and recently bit the bullet and "upgraded" from my 2014 MB Pro a 2019 MBP with four USBC ports. I have two apple cinema di I have been a mac user for many years and recently bit the bullet and "upgraded" from my 2014 MB Pro a 2019 MBP with four USBC ports. I have two apple cinema displays from prior years that connected fine to my previous machine. After much searching around, I decided not to buy a 3rd party dongle and instead connect my new machine to my displays using these adapters. As most of us know, Apple's closed ecosystem historically meant that everything "just worked" together. Those days are apparently gone because these $50 dongles cannot be used to connect a MBP with USBC ports to Apple displays. I spent $100 on two (one display at home, one display at my office), but neither work. Why would I be so stupid and buy these incompatible dongles? Well, allow me to paste the language on the Apple webiste about these dongles. ********** About the Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter Connect a Mac that has a Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) port to a device that uses a Thunderbolt or Thunderbolt 2 cable.The Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter connects a Mac that has a Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) port to a device that uses a Thunderbolt or Thunderbolt 2 cable. This adapter is not compatible with USB-C ports that don't support Thunderbolt 3, such as USB-C hubs or the USB-C port on MacBook models from 2015 or later. ********** As you can see, this language is misleading-- these dongles cannot connect a Mac that has Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports to a device that uses Thunderbolt or Thunderbolt 2 cable-- Apple displays use these, but apparently they are actually "mini-display port", which is not compatible with these adapters. And it appears Apple doesn't even sell an adapter that is compatible. This means they KNOWINGLY decided to ignore consumers who have Apple displays. They did not make this adapter compatible and did not make a separate one that actually is. THAT is what you get for sticking with the ecosystem. So, it just doesn't work. And, as anyone case tell by the poor ratings, I'm not the only one (by far). What happened to making things work in a closed ecosystem? How can anyone at Apple justify charging $50 for a dongle that doesn't work with Apple products? And why can I NOT FIND the actual dongle I need to connect my "new" machine to my existing displays? I'm regretting buying a new machine. But hey, at least there's a headphone port on my Mac that is compatible with my 3rd party speakers-- maybe someday I'll be able to connect my Apple displays to my Apple computer.

      • Written by Jason T from SHAWNEE

      3 of 4 people found this useful

      Is this review useful?Essentially Garbage

    • 2.0 out of 5 stars

      Sort of works

      Used adapter to connect to Thunderbolt Display. When directly connected to new MacBook Pro, the screen kept flickering every so often. Tried several things to Used adapter to connect to Thunderbolt Display. When directly connected to new MacBook Pro, the screen kept flickering every so often. Tried several things to get it working without flickering, but to no avail. Then had the thought of connecting the adapter to a thunderbolt cable going to my docking station. I then connected the monitor to the docking station. Well, guess what? It worked! Seems that routing the video through a third party docking station helped to prevent the flickering screen. Way to go Apple!

      • Written by Manuel M from Ellicott City

      2 of 2 people found this useful

      Is this review useful?Sort of works

    • 1.0 out of 5 stars

      Unreliable

      Tried to connect a usb-c powered hard disk to a mid 2012 macbook pro, but it does not work. Same problem with 2011 and 2014 mac mini.

      • Written by Anastasios K from Nea Makri

      2 of 8 people found this useful

      Is this review useful?Unreliable

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