Does Mac target mode work with USB?

Target Disk Mode is a special boot mode that enables nearly any Mac to behave like an external hard drive for another Mac. You can connect the Macs using Thunderbolt 3, USB-C (on the MacBook), Thunderbolt 2, or FireWire.

How do I put Mac in target mode?

How to Enter Target Disk Mode. To enter Target Disk Mode, click the Apple menu and select System Preferences. Click the “Startup Disk” icon and click the Target Disk Mode button to restart your Mac in Target Disk Mode. You can also enter Target Disk Mode by rebooting your Mac and holding down the T key as it boots.

Can I use my old Mac as an external hard drive?

To make a Mac act as an external hard disk, you can put it in Target Disk Mode and connect it to another Mac with a FireWire or Thunderbolt cable, as follows: Note: Target Disk Mode is available on most recent Macs; however, computers that do not have FireWire or Thunderbolt ports are excluded.

What is Firewire on MacBook Pro?

Firewire is most often used to connect digital camcorders, external hard drives, and other devices that can benefit from the high transfer rates (up to 480 Mbps) supported by the Firewire connection. Firewire was originally developed by Apple and comes standard on many Macintosh computers.

Is FireWire compatible with Thunderbolt?

Thunderbolt is backward compatible, as is FireWire and USB. However, none of them are forward compatible. So while you can use an adapter to plug an older FireWire device into a newer port (like Thunderbolt 2 or USB3) the other way is simply not feasible.

What is Firewire on Macbook Pro?

How do I Put my Mac in Target Disk Mode?

To activate Target Disk Mode, you hold down the T key immediately after you turn on your Mac, before the Apple logo appears in the center of the screen. Target Disk Mode has only been available for Macs with Thunderbolt or FireWire (and, for you old-timers, PowerBook SCSI).

Can you use Target Disk Mode over USB?

Nor can Target Disk Mode be used with Apple’s USB-C charge cable, which is a USB 2 cable when used for data. So, to use Target Disk Mode over USB, you can use:

What kind of USB cable do I need for Target Disk?

Nor can Target Disk Mode be used with Apple’s USB-C charge cable, which is a USB 2 cable when used for data. So, to use Target Disk Mode over USB, you can use: a USB 3 C-to-A cable if connecting to a Mac with USB-A ports (most Macs) a USB 3 C-to-C cable if connecting to a Mac with USB-C ports (MacBook 12″, 2016 MacBook Pro)

Can a Thunderbolt adapter be used in Target Disk Mode?

There are, however, exceptions. Using adapters to connect Thunderbolt to FireWire will usually work, as will Thunderbolt to USB-C. But not all adapters are known to work correctly in Target Disk Mode, so if you can, connect directly to the same port type.