Apple

Apple Thunderbolt 3 to 2 Adapter USB-C

4.6 (9332 reviews)

Apple Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter: Seamless Connectivity Bridge the gap between new and old with the Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter. This bidirectional adapter allows you to connect Thunderbolt and Thunderbolt 2 devices, such as external hard drives and displays,...

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*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated:Jul 14, 2026.Price and availability are subject to change.

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Overview

Apple Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter: Seamless Connectivity

Bridge the gap between new and old with the Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter. This bidirectional adapter allows you to connect Thunderbolt and Thunderbolt 2 devices, such as external hard drives and displays, to Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports on your Mac. It also enables connecting newer Thunderbolt 3 devices to Macs equipped with Thunderbolt or Thunderbolt 2 ports. Note: Apple Thunderbolt Display requires a power source when used with this adapter, and DisplayPort displays are not supported.

Specifications:
  • Brand: Apple
  • Type: Thunderbolt Adapter
  • Connector 1: Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C)
  • Connector 2: Thunderbolt 2
  • Compatibility: iPad mini, iPad Pro, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac Pro, Mac mini with Thunderbolt ports

Key Features

The Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 adapter lets you connect Thunderbolt and Thunderbolt 2 devices — external hard drives and Thunderbolt displays, for example — 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.

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 th

Note: This adapter does not support DisplayPort displays like the Apple LED Cinema Display or third-party DisplayPort and Mini DisplayPort displays.

Compatible with iPad mini, iPad Pro, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac Pro and Mac mini with thunderbolt ports

Specifications

Adapter Type
Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter
Connectors
Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2
Bidirectional
Yes
Display Compatibility
Thunderbolt-enabled displays (e.g., Apple Thunderbolt Display, LG Thunderbolt 2 displays)
Incompatible Displays
DisplayPort displays (e.g., Apple LED Cinema Display, third-party DisplayPort/Mini DisplayPort displays)
Power Requirement (Apple Thunderbolt Display)
Requires external power source
Device Compatibility
iPad mini, iPad Pro, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac Pro, Mac mini with Thunderbolt ports

Pros & Cons

👍 Pros

  • Enables connection of Thunderbolt and Thunderbolt 2 devices to Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports on a MacBook Pro.
  • Functions as a bidirectional adapter, allowing new Thunderbolt 3 devices to connect to older Macs with Thunderbolt or Thunderbolt 2 ports.
  • Supports connection of Thunderbolt-enabled displays, including Apple Thunderbolt Display and LG Thunderbolt 2 displays, to Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports.
  • Offers broad compatibility with various Apple devices, including iPad mini, iPad Pro, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac Pro, and Mac mini with Thunderbolt ports.
  • Provides a solution for integrating legacy Thunderbolt peripherals with newer USB-C equipped Apple hardware.

👎 Cons

  • Requires a separate power source when used to connect an Apple Thunderbolt Display, adding to setup complexity.
  • Does not support DisplayPort displays, such as the Apple LED Cinema Display or third-party DisplayPort/Mini DisplayPort displays.
  • The adapter's functionality is limited to Thunderbolt technology, not extending to generic USB-C peripherals for display output.
  • While compatible with many devices, specific performance or data transfer rates may vary depending on the connected devices.
  • The adapter itself adds another component to the connection chain, which could potentially introduce points of failure.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Apple Thunderbolt 3 to 2 Adapter allows you to connect Thunderbolt and Thunderbolt 2 devices to the Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports found on your MacBook Pro and other compatible Apple devices.
Yes, this adapter is bidirectional; it can also connect new Thunderbolt 3 devices to a Mac equipped with a Thunderbolt or Thunderbolt 2 port.
Yes, it can be used to connect an Apple Thunderbolt Display, but it requires a separate power source for the display to function.
No, this adapter specifically does not support DisplayPort displays, including the Apple LED Cinema Display or other third-party DisplayPort and Mini DisplayPort displays.
This adapter is compatible with iPad mini, iPad Pro, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac Pro, and Mac mini, provided they have Thunderbolt ports.
The adapter connects to any of the Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports on your MacBook Pro.