Target disk mode between thunderbolt 2 and thunderbolt 3. Usb target disk mode works with the right cable which apple doesnt sell. Using target disk mode with rmb usbc macrumors forums. Jul 22, 2019 flag as inappropriate target disk can this cable be used to connect an older imac to a macbook air to use the imac as a target disk. I want to use my imac 27 late 2009 as target display for my pc. If you want to use a usbc device, you can just plug it into one of the. The old drive mounted on the new mac and they could see files. If you have a device that doesnt connect to this port, you might be able to use an adapter to connect it. Click the startup disk icon and click the target disk mode button to restart your mac in target disk mode. They booted old macbook into target disk mode and connected it to new macbook with an ethernet cable and it worked fine. Connect your macs via a firewire or thunderbolt cable. Use thunderbolt 3 with displays and other devices that connect using either a thunderbolt 3 cable or usbc cable.
The mini displayport is purely a video out port, and cannot be used for data transfer, despite the identical connector in the 20172019 timeframe, most air have thunderbolt 3 or 2 and do support target disk mode. That usually involved using a firewire cable between two machines. Fits snugly in my macbook and works perfectlythe cable is a great way to connect your tablet to your hd display via a fullsize hdmi cable without having to use a. Both the imac and the source computer or device will need to be booted up and awake. You can also connect a usbc power adapter and cable to charge your notebook computer. I have an hdmi to mini display port cable, which im trying to use for target display mode. Target disk mode is a feature that allows a mac to act as an external hard drive. For all devices, an additional supported option for transferring data between two macbook air. The macbook lacks thunderbolt and firewire interfaces, which are required for target disk mode tdm, in which a mac is mounted on another mac as a drive. Connect the two computers with a firewire or thunderbolt cable. If you have a newer retina macbook pro, you can just use a plain old hdmi cable. For some reason i cant activate target display mode by the shortcut cmdf2.
Target mode with thunderbolt not working macrumors forums. Mac target disk mode includes usb the ivanexpert mac blog. Target disk can this cable be used to connect a 2019 mac pro to a 2009 mac pro to use the 2009 as a target disk in migration assistant. Get it today with same day delivery, order pickup or drive up. Simply hold down the t key when you boot up and the mac in question, as long as it supports this mode, will boot into firewire target disk mode. Connects to hdmi using an adaptor, such as the apple usbc digital av multiport adaptor.
Now that all things mac are so connectable target disk mode seems a little antiquated, but dont bet on it. Apple originally hinted at the imac being used with dvd and bluray players as an hdtv display, and even as a display for another computer. Until recently, you enabled target disk mode by connecting two macs together via firewire. At any rate, my new macbook pro just arrived and id like to grab some files off the old machine using target disk mode. The mode still works normally as i am seeing the appropriate usb and thunderbolt icons on the machine that i am tbooting but the drive will not appear on any host machines. There is an thunderbolt 2 to thunderbolt 3 usbc adapter from apple. Target disk mode over usb only works when connected via usb 3, so it can only be used with 2012 and later macs despite apple s support article erroneously suggesting older models, by stating any mac. I dont know if its the shortcut that is set up right or my cable.
Start up your old mac in target disk mode and connect it to the new machine via either a thunderbolt or firewiretofirewire cable. Once theyre ready, use the appropriate mini displayport or thunderbolt cable to make the connection between the two. But in the end, target display mode became an apple only technology that allowed mac users to drive an imacs display from another mac. Im trying to transfer all of the music and videos and a few documents off of it but cant get the target disk mode to show up on the new computer. Older nonunibody macbooks could use a dvito hdmi converter or cable. When apple introduced its late2009 imac systems, it was clear the large builtin display on these systems could not only be used for the accompanying computer, but similar to the functions of target disk mode for hard drives, the display could be used for another mac. Now, with target disk mode enabled on the macbook, simply connect a thunderbolt cable from the macbook to the mac mini. They are connected via thunderbolt 2, and most of the time target disk mode works well when i need to move large files between the two. Access files, use migration assistant, and boot from another mac. Troubleshooting imac target display mode macissues. Qgeem usb c to hdmi adapter 4k cable, usb typec to hdmi adapter thunderbolt 3 compatible macbook pro 20182017, samsung galaxy s9s8, surface book 2. Thunderbolt target disk mode macessence mac blog on all. Transfer files between two mac computers using target disk mode.
Find low everyday prices and buy online for delivery or instore pickup. Specifically, to use your imac as a display, connect it to another mac using the correct cable see system requirements below. Transfer files between two mac computers using target disk. You can also enter target disk mode by rebooting your mac and holding down the t key as it boots. Connect it to another mac with a firewire cable and. Target display mode hdmi to mini displa apple community. Thunderbolt 3 usbc if youre using an apple thunderbolt 3 usbc cable or other thunderbolt 3 usbc cable with your display or other device, it should work with your mac without an adapter. Target disk can this cable be used to connect an older imac to a macbook air to use.
How to enable target disk mode via thunderbolt macworld. Amazonbasics apple certified 30pin to usb charging cable for apple iphone 4, ipod, ipad 3rd generation, 3. But my wife didnt want to hang around the apple store for hours waiting for a copy to finish. As youll notice, the hard drive or drives from the macbook. How to boot your mac in target disk mode for easy file. Target disk mode is not supported on macbook air that lack a true thunderbolt port. Target disk can this cable be used to connect an older imac to a macbook air to use the imac as a target disk. While in target disk mode, your mac will act as an external drive and appear in the. I assumed id need something like firewire to usbc, but im not really finding them online. Target disk can this cable be used to connect a 2019 mac. If the computer is on, choose apple menu system preferences, click startup disk, then click target disk mode.
Then, and only then, turn on your tv and your computer. To enter target disk mode, click the apple menu and select system preferences. So, to make this connection work, you want to have your computer shut down and your tv set off. I already have a late 2014 mac mini and late 20 mac pro. In the old days of tech support we used target disk mode a ton. Just got a new computer, target disk mode not showing up. I support primary 20161017 macbook pros that only have usbc connectors and i am unable to run target disk mode on them. If the computer is off, start it up while pressing and holding the t key.
Philips 4 high speed hdmi cable with ethernet black philips. Minidisplay connected to computer, hdmi to your tv most likely the hdmi2 slot, then attach the two cables to each other. I understand the included oem apple usbc cable does not support tdm. Does target disk mode word with usbc cab apple community. Nor can target disk mode be used with apple s usbc charge cable, which is a usb 2 cable when used for data. Since the 2012 macbook has got thunderbolt 2 and the new macbook has got the usbc style thunderbolt 3 i was wondering if target disk mode will still work between these two machines and which cable i would need. Nor can target disk mode be used with apples usbc charge cable. The lg ultrafine 5k display uses thunderbolt 3 usbc. Target disk can this cable be used to connect an older. While target disk mode requires you to restart the system into a special. I have an old late 2011 macbook pro that died due to what looks like a logic board failure. Philips display port to hdmi adapter black philips. The old computer is definitely working in target disk mode because it has the grey screen with the target disk. Now open the migration assistant application on your new mac you can find it by choosing go utilities, or using spotlight or launchpad, select from a mac, time machine backup, or startup disk and click.