About the Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adaptor

Connect a Mac that has a Thunderbolt 3 port to a device that uses a Thunderbolt or Thunderbolt 2 cable.

Thunderbolt 3 to USB-C Adaptor

The Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adaptor connects a Mac that has a Thunderbolt 3 port to a device that uses a Thunderbolt or Thunderbolt 2 cable.

This adaptor 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.

Video

ThunderboltThunderbolt or Thunderbolt 2Thunderbolt 2

No alt supplied for Image

Use the Thunderbolt port of this adaptor to connect your Mac to a display that uses a Thunderbolt or Thunderbolt 2 cable. For example, you can use this adaptor to connect your Mac to an Apple Thunderbolt Display or LG Thunderbolt 2 display.

This adaptor is not compatible with displays that use DisplayPort or Mini DisplayPort, such as the Apple LED Cinema Display. Thunderbolt and Thunderbolt 2 are not the same as Mini DisplayPortMini DisplayPort, though the ports have the same shape.

Data transfer

ThunderboltThunderbolt or Thunderbolt 2Thunderbolt 2

No alt supplied for Image

You can also use the Thunderbolt port of this adaptor to connect an external hard drive, dock, Mac or other device that uses a Thunderbolt or Thunderbolt 2 cable for data transfer. This adaptor supports data-transfer speeds up to 10Gbps with Thunderbolt devices, and up to 20Gbps with Thunderbolt 2 devices.

This adaptor 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 must provide its own power.

Learn more

  • This adaptor doesn't receive power over Thunderbolt, so you can't charge your Mac by connecting the adaptor to an external Thunderbolt display or other device that delivers power over Thunderbolt.

  • Other adaptors for Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C

Published Date: