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.

    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

  • 2.5 Average
    2 out of 5 stars
    Number of stars Percentage Number of reviews
    5 Stars(Read all reviews)
    23%
    		61reviews
    4 Stars(Read all reviews)
    8%
    		21reviews
    3 Stars(Read all reviews)
    4%
    		10reviews
    2 Stars(Read all reviews)
    5%
    		12reviews
    1 Star(Read all reviews)
    61%
    		161reviews
    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

      461 of 529 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

      299 of 379 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

      378 of 621 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

      This adapter screwed me bigly.

      Just bought a new LACIE 2Big Dock Thunderbolt 3 for my new MacBook Pro. Now how do I transfer all my data from my old Lacie 5Big Thunder bolt 2 drive when this Just bought a new LACIE 2Big Dock Thunderbolt 3 for my new MacBook Pro. Now how do I transfer all my data from my old Lacie 5Big Thunder bolt 2 drive when this adapter can't do the job? The description says it can, but it can't! I have two of these adapters and neither work! Did i just lose over a thousand dollars because of this adapter? I'm so screwed!!! What do I do now?

      • Written by Eric W from Thunder Bay

      2 of 2 people found this useful

      Is this review useful?This adapter screwed me bigly.

    • 1.0 out of 5 stars

      They do not appear to work on older Macs

      Apple's documentation says that this adapter should work in both directions. That is allow a Macintosh equipped with Thunderbolt 2 ports to connect to a hard d Apple's documentation says that this adapter should work in both directions. That is allow a Macintosh equipped with Thunderbolt 2 ports to connect to a hard drive equipped with a Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) port. I tried this with a new G Drive mobile USB-C drive. It would not work. I tested the drive on the same Mac via the USB 2 port it works (slowly). I test the computer's Thunderbolt 2 ports with a native Thunderbolt 2 drive. This combination work also. That leaves the 'Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter' as the failing part. I contact Apple support. After about 30 minutes of texting and testing, they recommend I return the adapter as defective. However. I actually had a second adapter I wanted to connect two new hard drives to this computer. I tested the second adapter. The same problem, no connection. It appears that this adapter does not have the level of compatability Apple claims for older Macintoshes with Thunderbolt 2 ports.

      • Written by Don L from La Habra

      4 of 4 people found this useful

      Is this review useful?They do not appear to work on older Macs

    • 5.0 out of 5 stars

      Works as Advertised

      I was really concerned when I read all of the negative reviews of this product, but I needed it to make my old external drives work with my new MacBook Pro as w I was really concerned when I read all of the negative reviews of this product, but I needed it to make my old external drives work with my new MacBook Pro as well as to assist with transferring all of my files from the old MacBook Pro to the new one. This adapter worked perfectly for me. I had no trouble connecting my 2018 15" MacBook Pro to my old MacBook Pro to transfer my files. Furthermore, it works great for me to connect to my external hard drives, which are still running with Firewire 800, an adapter that converts that to a 2nd gen Thunderbolt cable, which was then plugged into this adapter. No problem with the drive mounting and being read or writing to it. This system (albeit a bit on the convoluted, too many dongles side) worked fine with external drives that have a separate power source as well as external drives (such as a LaCie Rugged Drive) that are powered through the Mac. Between the purchase of this adapter and a $40 hub, I am good to go with my new computer and my old peripherals.

      • Written by Guinevere M from Teague

      2 of 2 people found this useful

      Is this review useful?Works as Advertised

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