Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter

Need some help?

  • 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)
    20%
    		48reviews
    4 Stars(Read all reviews)
    9%
    		22reviews
    3 Stars(Read all reviews)
    3%
    		6reviews
    2 Stars(Read all reviews)
    4%
    		10reviews
    1 Star(Read all reviews)
    57%
    		135reviews
    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

      561 of 648 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

      355 of 446 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

      421 of 740 people found this useful

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

    • 2.0 out of 5 stars

      Similar to most reviewers, I too have been plagued with problems

      I bought this with the intent of connecting the USB-C / Thunderbolt end to why 2017 MBP and, along with an OEM thunderbolt 2 cable from Apple (I own a short and I bought this with the intent of connecting the USB-C / Thunderbolt end to why 2017 MBP and, along with an OEM thunderbolt 2 cable from Apple (I own a short and a long one, which were expensive when they were the current standard and rarely used AKA: like new) was planning to connect to my 2013 MBP's thunderbolt 2 port. My idea was to bypass wifi/Air Drop for maximum data transfer speeds. Was I successful? Of course not - if I had been, you'd see more stars on my review. Each OEM adapter/component cost around $50 when I purchased brand new (around $150 total). No need to detail the cost of the laptops themselves, but suffice to say, I expect my overpriced adapters and cords to work without exception - in a closed technological ecosystem such as the one Apple has created, I don't think this is too much to ask. The sad part is I also have really old and battered 2012 MacBook pro with a single thunderbolt 2 port on it. I was able to connect to that laptop without issue which means that there's either an issue with my MBP2013 thunderbolt port (both of them?) or there's something wrong with the adapter. Maybe there's some compatibility issue with my MBP2013's thunderbolt firmware, but where would I go to find out more info on this? I'm so frustrated by the fact that my 2017 MBP needs dongles and adapters for literally everything I want to do with it, standard functions on older machines, and when I shell out the money, I still have problems. Bottom line: Buy yourself a used 2015 MacBook Pro with a standard set of ports, don't buy this awful adapter because it clearly wasn't tested properly, and save yourself time, money, and headaches.

      • Written by Nathan T from Exton

      10 of 16 people found this useful

      Is this review useful?Similar to most reviewers, I too have been plagued with problems

    • 1.0 out of 5 stars

      Useless to connect TB2 Mac to SSD Drives that get power from thunderbolt 3

      Bought this because it says its bidirectional and should connect a thunderbolt 2 Mac (Late 2015 iMac in my case) to thunderbolt 3 peripherals. Unfortunately Bought this because it says its bidirectional and should connect a thunderbolt 2 Mac (Late 2015 iMac in my case) to thunderbolt 3 peripherals. Unfortunately nowhere on the box or the website does it say it doesn't transmit power between the ports. Most of the SSD drives expect to get power from Thunderbolt 3. Now I have to return everything and I can't use a modern SSD Thunderbolt 3 drive on my iMac.

      • Written by Robert B from Saratoga

      27 of 30 people found this useful

      Is this review useful?Useless to connect TB2 Mac to SSD Drives that get power from thunderbolt 3

    • 1.0 out of 5 stars

      DO NOT BUY - DOES NOT SUPPORT MINI DISPLAYPORT

      Apple needs to put this directly in the title of the product, because it's a pretty huge issue. I purchased this because I was using a mini dp display with my o Apple needs to put this directly in the title of the product, because it's a pretty huge issue. I purchased this because I was using a mini dp display with my old MBP, once I switched to the new one I thought I would just purchase this to make my existing setup work, which was wrong. This will NOT work with mini DP monitors so now it's a useless $50 dongle I can't return

      • Written by Jonah K from San Francisco

      15 of 25 people found this useful

      Is this review useful?DO NOT BUY - DOES NOT SUPPORT MINI DISPLAYPORT

    Read all 236 customer reviews

  • Answers from the community

    See all 84 Questions