Understanding the Difference Between Mac USB and Thunderbolt Ports
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 ต.ค. 2024
- macmost.com/e-... It is easy to be confused by the different types of ports on Maca, especially then names like USB and Thunderbolt are sometimes uses interchangably. Learn the differences between these kinds of ports and how to avoid confusion when talking about them.
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The FIRST time I have really understood the ports!! And in a way I think I will actually remember!! Thank you so much!!
Holy cow! I can’t even imagine the time it took to research and document all of this. Thanks for that. However, my head is spinning. I think the electronics industry has done an abysmal job of making this information understandable by your average consumer (i.e., me!). They use those stupid cryptic symbols (sometimes) to indicate types of connections, but who remembers what they mean?
AMEN
my MacBookAir M1 has 2 holes and not even a symbol..
I want to know how you come up with all the ideas of what to teach us next? I learn something every time! Thank you
Loved your analogy with language. Very helpful. Thanks.
As a long time mac owner, you explained this really well and the diagrams were great as well
A masterful video, explaining all that is need to know about how to manage the complex connections of old and new Macs. Thank you Gary.
Wow. You cleared up several questions I have in my process of determining which new external hard drive I can buy. Thank you
As a first time MacBook Pro 💻 owner, i am so grateful for these videos. It doesn’t matter how long ago they were made, they are still relevant and extremely helpful. Thanks Gary for all you do.
Excellent presentation!
Super helpful thank you for the simplified explanation
The language analogy is brilliant.
Brilliant! Been using Macs for years. Now I get it.
This video was EXTREMELY helpful and the absolute clearest in explanation on TH-cam. I'm moving from a PC to a new 24" M1 iMac and am doing research on different external hard drives and am glad I found this video!
Good summary!
Very clearly explained, thank you.
Thanks Gary this video is so helpful!!
This helped a lot! I just still don't know how to tell if i have a thunderbolt 1 or 2
You made this so simple.
Your knowledge and delivery is impecable - I always turn to your channel for all my mac related questions. Do you have any videos on the ways newer imacs can use an older imac 2009 as a display. Other channels are saying that this function has been disabled by Apple now with the last upade of macos Monterey in light of the new Apple studio display monitors.
You can't use an older Mac as a display. This was a feature of some old iMac models (before high resolution displays, so they wouldn't be good displays now anyway). But current versions of macOS don't work with that feature anyway. Nothing to do with the Studio Display. Getting a cheap 4K display is a much better option anyway for energy savings and better quality (2022 vs 2009 tech).
Just one word: HELP
Result: THANK YOU 😊
I thought I understood the different ports. Boy was I wrong 😑
Thanks for clearing all this up!
This is so helpful. Thank you very much!
Excellent explanation, thanks...
WOW! Finally someone explaining adequatly what I was wondering about USB-C vs Thunderbolt/USB-4 behing my newest iMac 24' M1. THank you so much gary!
I experienced some issue with my external hard drive LaCie USB-C while performing update using Time Machine. I was wondering if it was because I was using the wrong cable into the USB-4. According to your great exemple: my USB-C LaCie should be able to speak to my port USB-4/Thinderbolt, so the issue isn't there. Very great visual and way to explain with Country and language! Bravo Thank you
I use thunderbolt to connect my second monitor.
Great video, thanks for the work you put into it.
Hi Gary, watch your videos daily, great work, my problem is I'm wanting to buy an EGPU for my Mac mini ,2012, most units I see are for thunderbolt 3 , I have thunderbolt 2 will it work with an adapter ? There are also USB ports on units what are they for ?
Great review of the basics, and well presented. Thunderbolt/USB C connector commonality represents a major change from Apple's earlier approach of having unique connectors for different functions. It would be utterly simple if any cable that fits would do the job, but or course there's also identical-looking cables that do different things - e.g., USB vs Thunderbolt. Perhaps in another video ….
If a fairy godmother would ask me what I'd like to do with a zero ... I would ask her to append it to the number of your subscribers! Many thanks for your great work!
I'm sooooo confused. But thanks. LOL
The USB, Thunderbolt, DisplayPort mixology is certainly confusing, but Gary got it right in less than 10 minutes. I can't wait to see his 40-minute video explaining the miserable world of buying the right USB-C cable 🙂
I just can't wait that USB4 and Thunderbolt 4 use the same USB-c connection. I want to be able to use just the one cord for everything, across all my devices. MACs, PCs, Android, iPhones. It's very tedious, if you don't have the right connector. Amen to just 1 connector that both does data transfer, and power transfer.
Get a high-quality REAL Thunderbolt 4 cable..
Problem solved.
I use an Anker Thunderbolt4 rated cable. For my M1 iPad Pro. Works on chargers and data. Expensive, but worth it.
Very good, I like you better on the other guy!
Hi Gary, I have an iMac with thunderbolt 2 ports and 4 USB 3.1 ports. I bought a new Samsung t7 external hard drive and I’m wondering if there any speed advantage in trying to adapt to the thunderbolt ports or should I just use the USB ports? It comes with two cables. One is USB C to USB C. And the other is USB C to USB A. Any help would be appreciated to maximize the performance. Thanks!
Thank you so much for explaining! Apple should have this video on their FAQ for people who are confused about the ports.
Simply the best TH-cam video on Mac Cable Connectivity. many thanks, Michael from Australia.
You left out USB 4 which Apple references in a few of their NEWEST systems like the MacBook AIR. They're calling their USB-C connectors a Thunderbolt 3 / USB 4. I think that just brings a USB signal up to the 40 Gbps speed of the Thunderbolt spec.
You were reading my mind this morning! Thank you for explaining this - the way you used various languages made it easier for sure!
what about a usb-c device (audio interface) to a thunderbolt 2 equipped 2015 macbook pro?
Have to remind myself vid is 2years old pre-dates Mac mini m1. It still has a pair of usb-a ports plus a pair of thunderbolt/c.
I need a usb hub and i have a windows 10 machine. Amazon is listing some usb hubs as Mac and do not mention pc. Does anyone know if there is a difference or is Amazon just being stupid?
Meh… you never mentioned that a USB physical port has colors that indicate the type of USB port (A or Gen 1 or 2).
My Analog Audio port on my iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2014) is not working. So I am unable to connect many external audio devices. Using Wi-Fi for audio is not my favourite (sub-optimal quality). Can I "replace" this Analog Audio port by using a "hub" in, say, a Thunderbolt port, or one of the other ports on the iMac? I have not (yet) try to "blow" the audio port clean with pressurised air, but just in case this doesn't help...
Gary,I love your videos! Very helpful. There is a way to check what ports you have under about this Mac. My 2019 iMac has two thunderbolt ports with a speed up to 40 Gb/s (Thunderbolt 3) and USB 3.1 bus.
About This Mac, then click on System Report. Then look at Thunderbolt and USB for some details.
Thanks a lot Gary! Very useful information, well explained (as usual) and presented in a ready-to-access-again format.
Hi Gary, can I connect two computer monitor to a 2010 MacBook Pro 15”, thank you.
how do I connect my iphone earbuds with a male lightning end to my mac ? my mac is only 2 years old I need some kind of adapter
Good advice, per normal, but where does Lightning fit into the mix?
Nice video. I have a MacBook Air from "mid-2013." Do you know if my thunderbold port can be connected for networking (to an ethernet cable), or is it just a display port?
I think you have Thunderbolt 2, correct? There used to be Thunderbolt 2 to ethernet adapters. If you can find one, that would do it for you.
@@macmost I think I have Thunderbolt 2. Going by the description in your video, I'd call it "Thunderbolt 1/2." I'll get one of those adapters and give it a try. Thank you!
Great explanation and thanks for all the detailed analyses but I still need help! Im trying to connect my older Sony Handycam Camcorder which uses IEEE 1394 4Pin Male iLink Firewire DV connector for digital output and I want to connect it to my 2015 MacBook Pro which uses Thunderbolt 2. Is a $130 dollar apple adapter (that’s only available on Ebay) the only option I have to get these old digital tapes into my computer to preserve the memories?
Probably. Or, find an old Mac you can borrow that has Firewire.
Great clarification, Gary!
I've recently bought a Mac Mini M1 which has 2 USB-A and 2 USB-C (Thunderbolt) connectors.
I also have an iBasso DC03 dongle DAC (with USB Type-C connector), but when I connect this device to one of the USB-C Thunderbolt ports, the Mac does not allow me to choose the DAC as an audio output. However if I connect the DAC via a USB-C to USB-A adaptor to one of the USB-A ports of the Mac, the DAC can be chosen as an audio output.
Kinda strange behaviour, because even if iBasso DC03 does not support Thunderbolt 2/3, it should also be recognized as a standard USB Type-C device via the Thunderbolt capable USB-C connectors. Or am I wrong? Nevertheless the USB C -> USB A conversion makes it possible to hook up this DAC to the Mac Mini.
I'm just curious what lies behind this strange behaviour.
No idea. You'd need to ask the company that makes it.
wonderfully helpful , thank you and subscribed , cheers .
Beautifully simple visual presentation. Great 'speaker/language' analogy. You speak my language ;) Thank you :) 2 questions if I may? There are 4 USB-C ports with 2 different types of 'language' on my iMac 24" M1 8GB. USB-C with thunderbolt symbol connect, via adapters, to my external hard-drive (Thunderbolt port) & 2nd screen (HDMI port). The other 2 ports charge my iPad, the bluetooth keyboard & mouse. But don't seem powerful enough for the magnetic iPhone charger that came with the iMac. (1) Can you help with types of accessories that can and can't run off each type of USB-C? (2) And how can I calculate the power so as not to trigger the 'power insufficient - please unplug' warning?
I wouldn't use any of them to charge devices, either your iPad or iPhone. Why not just charge directly from AC power instead of through your iMac? Leave those USB ports for things that you need to connect to your iMac. Also, I would not connect your second screen via USB. Does the screen has a DisplayPort input? It should. Get a USB-C (Thunderbolt) to DisplayPort cable and use that. This will give you a better connection rather than converting to HDMI.
You might want to remind people that using a USB-C multiport adapter can cause problems, which Apple will void your warranty for. I have a 2020 MacBook Air that’s a brick thanks to my being honest and saying I used a hub. The immediate response was, “It was damaged by the Hub,” and they refused warranty service saying I needed to contact the hub manufacturer.
I have the new M1 Macbook Pro with Thunderbolt ports and a external HDD with USB-A port (The drive have a separate power cord) The computer does not recognize the drive with four USB-A to USB-C cables I’ve tested. I can only get i to work if I use an USB-A cable with USB-C adapter. I would have preferred to use a single cable. Is the problem low quality of the USB-C cables i have?
Impossible for me to say. Maybe. They could be cables built for power delivery only, I suppose.
Hi. This video answered so many questions, thank you. I am expecting my new iMac next week with M3 chip and 2x USBC ports and 2x USBC Thunderbolt ports.
May I ask for your advice?
Is it possible to connect my iPhone or iPad to my iMac via USBC Thunderbolt port or just use the USBC port?
Either will work.
THANK YOU SO MUCH> YOU MAKE IT EASY TO UNDERSTAND> I spent ages today listening to people who say Like, Er Yeah etc ad nauseam, so, once again thank you for the detailed clarification. *****
Hi great video! I’m commenting inquiring some advice. You see, I have a 2020 iMac that I use for streaming games thru the el gato hd60s capture card. When I use the product cable (usbc to usb 3.0) it works fine but when I use a usbc to usbc my capture card won’t work. It won’t even turn on. I’ve tried multiple usbc to usbc thunderbolt cables and none work. Do you have any advice on how I can fix this?
Hi Gary, I’ve been watching your macOS Ventura updates and tips videos and found this video. Is there a difference between transfer rates when using a USB C/Thunderbolt mac) and an adapter to, as an example, an USB optical drive or a thumb drive that has a USB vs. USB to USB?
Unless the adapter is something strange it shouldn't make a difference.
Meanwhile, at the 'port party', HDMI pouts in the corner......
Seriously, though, awesome tutorial. I never realized the square USB was for peripherals only.
I'm totally confused. So Thunderbolt 3 is completely different than USB 3? (Ah, never mind, I didn't watch far enough into the video. It appears that USB 3 and Thunderbolt 3 are compatible? Please confirm this. Thank you!)
Thanks for giving these explanations to the many connections used on Macs. Can you help me please? I have a MacBook Air 2017, with what looks to be a Thunderbolt 2 connection. I want to add a monitor to the laptop, how do I go about this? Do I need a TB2 adaptor to USB-C cable to then connect to a Display port to then onto a monitor PD outlet? Can you please tell me what is he best way to connect to a monitor for my MacBook Air?
But what does your display have? If your Mac has a Thunderbolt 2 port, and your display has a DisplayPort port, then you'd need a cable that goes between the two of those.
good job bro. But it can be better if you can include firewire. Also, it’s difficult to get thunderbolt2 products such as thunderbolt2-to-usb-c adapter, thunderbolt2 hub, and etc. Even when they are available the prices are unreasonably high.
Firewire was retired a long time ago.
in my laptop with type c both sign usb and thunderbolt with double ss now what that mean
hi do you know where I can find a Thunderbolt 1/2 to Usb C adapter I tryied on amazon but I could not find any , I have a Catalina Samsung ssd star up disk and I want to boot via the Thunderbolt por for the moment I am using normal usb to do it I have a 2015 macbook pro witch comes with 2 thunderbolts ports
It is called: "Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter"
Thunderbolt 3 is downside compatible to firewire, that is the predecessor of thunderbolt 1
Not really. You need an adapter.
Hi Gary, thanks for all that you do to make Macbook ownership so much easier. I wonder if You can help and tell me if there is a way to connect my Samsung ML 2165 printer to my new Macbook Air. Thanks again in anticipation.
Will USB-C accept all Thunderbolt 3?
Not a word about how to access whatever USB input I have my USB device plugged into....it doesn't actually pop up on the screen.
What type of USB "input" do you have? A mouse? A keyboard? A drive? A camera? Something else?
The best video on this topic! Quick question. So the new iPad Pro now has thunderbolt. All it means is that the iPad now supports thunderbolt data type, but still uses USB C as the physical connection. Am I understanding it right ?
I have EVO8 type C > type C audio card that needs power and want to connect it to imac 2015, that has thunderbolt 2 connector. Can i do this via adapter, or od i need some TB2 dock with external power?
You'd have to check with the manufacturer and ask them. Or, just try it.
I have a MacBook Air 2017. What can I connect to the thunderbolt port?
What do you mean? You have a USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 port, right? There are lots of things you can connect to that. What would you like to connect?
Is this anything to do with the fact that the EU have recently said that, in order to do away with the confusing plethora of cables, in future ALL phone etc chargers in europe must be USB-C?
This predates that.
Anyone know if Thunderbolt 1/2 would allow linking two MacBook pros together for using the "Target Disk Mode" option?
Probably. Why not try it and see?
So, if I understand correctly, I am Dutch and I speak 7 languages fluently. I am a Thunderbold 3 (or even not invented higher) 😂
Your TH-cam Channel is a mine of knowledge for Mac users!!!!
I have set a calendar event every 2 days to watch one of your videos, and I always learn so many things!!!
Awesome work !!!!
Thank you!!!
Thank you! Very clear! What about the cables? They look the same, but you need the right one (speaking from experience).
Just get the right cable for what you want. If you need USB 3.2, get that. If you need Thunderbolt 3, get that.
Don't forget USB 3.1 Gen 2X2...20 MB/s
Thanks for this. I'm a Mac-head from waaay back, and even I didn't understand the distinction between port and protocol fully.
I have a iMac 27" Late 2013. There are two Thunderbolt ports at the back . Can i use this pots for a Boot ssd drive. as this is Up to 10Gb/s
Probably. I don't have that model or anything close to that old. But you should be able to boot with an external drive. However, I don't think you'll find many Thunderbolt 1 drives available today. They were hard to find back then even.
Brilliant - thanks so much - much clearer now!
Brilliant video , excellent explanation , the mystery is solved . THANK YOU SO MUCH .
So I have Thunderbolt 1 and I want to buy the new Sandisk SSD drive with USB C. Can I use a USB C to Thunderbolt cable ?
You would connect that drive to USB, not Thunderbolt. It wouldn't be nearly as fast as on a newer Mac though. Might be a waste of money to get a fast SSD like that and then just use it over an old slow USB connection.
Great explanation to help wrap my head around the abused vocabulary- you are definitely Sheldon without his social inadequacies !
Sheldon would be using the auto like TH-cam extension which is one of his social inadequacies, hopefully you are not ....
Hi Gary, great video! Interested in reviewing our latest Thunderbolt 4 Mini Dock?😎
Don't do reviews, sorry.
Very timely. Thank you. I bought a Mac M1 24” last Wednesday and was confused by the four ports on the rear that all accepted the same connector, though two were Thunderbolt 3 and two were USB-C. Now I understand the difference.
I recently purchased a flash drive with USB -A on one end, flip it around USB-C on the other. I used it to transfer files from an older MacBookAir (A) to a newer MacBook Pro (C). It worked but only after I watched one of your other videos on how to format it first. Thank you for your informative videos. They are excellent.
Brilliant! Best explanation of various type of USB/Thunderbolt ports I have seen so far.
Hi! I have a question, i want to connect my macbook pro retina (thuderbolt 2) to apple xdr display (tb3).I have to buy an adapter of i can plug them staight away?
I don't know as I don't have that combination of devices. Did you try it?
@@macmost Not yet, but theres some info that it is possible, i might have to try it
I wish our school system would teach us the same, clear, way.
Hi Garry. Thanks for another great video. I have a basic question. Can I charge the newest iPad Pros with 36.71 watt hour batteries using USB 2.0 wall socket ports and a USB-C to USB 2.0 cable? I gather the twin USB 2.0 ports in the wall sockets are 2.4 amps 5 volt shared. If this is possible, how long would it take to fully charge a 36.71 watt hour battery?
Very informative and easy to understand. I liked the human demonstration too because it made things even easier to get "Aha" now I understand. Can you do this demonstration for portable SSDs? Thanks!
I have the 2015 Mac Pro Monterey 12.7.4 Sir. I just bought it to see if I could get used to recording music on it via my DAW! So I must ask…
1. Are the regular usb ports on this 2015 model 3.0 or 2.0???
2. The 2-Thunderbolt inputs I can use for what purpose Sir??? Soooo confused with Mac!
Looking up the specs online, I see there is no "2015 Mac Pro." Maybe you mean the 2013 model? It comes with USB 3.0 ports and Thunderbolt 2 ports. Thunderbolt 2 can be used to connect Thunderbolt 2 devices, like drives or video cameras, provided you can find any. So probably not useful to you. But you would use them with the right cable to connect to a screen with DisplayPort.
@@macmost awesome thank you my brother ! At least now I know what the ports are for Sir!!!
Hi Gary, I have a 2011MacBookPro and a 2011 iMac. Using Migration Assistant I want to copy my 2TB boot drive to the iMac 2TB drive. I bought a 2M MD cable....the MBP does not show any connection to the iMac but the iMac show's Keith's-MBP but when I click on continue a message says Keith's-MBP could not be reached and says they have to be on the same Network, (I'm wondering what WiFi has to do with this). Is the problem the MD cable, should I be using a genuine Thunderbolt cable? I also hope that I might be able to display the MBP screen on the iMac 27".... that is not happening either. Your help would be very much appreciated. Once again, the video was very helpful. Looking forward to hearing from you. Cheers. Keith
Hi Gary, it seemed to me that the MDP cable was not right, so I bought an Apple 2M Thunderbolt 2 cable, connected between MBP and iMac, opened Migration Assistant and still not working. Please advise. Thx
Sorry, I'm not sure what could be going on there. Are you sure those old Macs have Thunderbolt 2, and not Thunderbolt 1 (or none -- just a Mini DisplayPort port)? Perhaps make an appointment at the Genius Bar for some firsthand help, or use the network option for this transfer.
Thank you for explaining this.
Really outdid yourself with this one! 👍
great information. thankyou sir
So French speakers are more sophisticated! 😅
How about where to get a thunderbolt 1/2 external drive?
Not sure. I don't think anyone would make them today. Even when 1/2 was the Thunderbolt standard drives weren't a major accessory you could easily find.
Great video! I’m wishing there was a way to connect an external SSD to the Thunderbolt 2 port on my 2013 MacBook Pro. Still can’t find the solution.
You could get a Thunderbolt 2 drive, but that's not a good solution. Years ago I used a "Kanex Thunderbolt to eSATA plus USB 3.0 Adapter" to do it. Doesn't seem to be easy to find now. Probably better to just use the USB ports. Why not?