2011 Mac Mini (Thunderbolt 2) to LaCie D2 (Thunderbolt 3/USB-C) using adapter

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2011 Mac Mini (Thunderbolt 2) to LaCie D2 (Thunderbolt 3/USB-C) using adapter

I am having trouble with the Thunderbolt 2 to Thunderbolt 3/USB-C adapter. I have a 2011 Mac Mini connected to a Lacie D2 Thunderbolt 3 external HD using a Thunderbolt 2 cable and the aforementioned adapter.

Plugging these items in results in nothing, the HD does not power on and nothing shows up on my Mac desktop or in Disk Utility.

My Mac is updated to High Sierra and everything on paper looks compatible. WHAT AM I MISSING?

Cheers

Posted on May 6, 2020 10:34 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Malcolm J. Rayfield

Level 7

22,945 points

May 7, 2020 12:16 AM in response to BrendonNC

The LaCie d2 Thunderbolt 3 drive in this link is silver and has two Thunderbolt 3 ports (with lightning bolt icons) and one USB-C port (labelled "USB 3.1").

https://www.lacie.com/ca/en/products/d2/

The only Thunderbolt cable sold by Apple is 2.0 m.

Apple Thunderbolt Cable (2.0 m) - White - Apple

There is also the LaCie d2 Professional in same link. It is black and has only one USB-C port (USB 3.1, no lightning bolt icon).

That drive is not Thunderbolt 3 and will not work with a Thunderbolt adapter or cable. You can connect it to your Mac mini with a USB-A to USB-C cable:

https://www.apple.com/shop/product/HN892ZM/A/mophie-usb-a-cable-with-usb-c-connector-1-m

but since the 2011 Mac mini has USB 2.0 ports you will get only about 30 Mb/s speeds. To run that drive at higher speed you would need a Thunderbolt dock with USB 3 ports.

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Answer 2

May 6, 2020 11:20 PM in response to BrendonNC

LaCie says it should work:

https://www.lacie.com/ca/en/products/d2/

and Apple says it should work:

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

"This adapter 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."

If it's the Apple Thunderbolt 3 adapter and a Thunderbolt, not Mini DisplayPort cable it should work. Make sure the adapter is plugged into one of the drives Thunderbolt 3 ports (lightning bolt icon) not the USB 3.1 port.

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Answer 3

BrendonNC Author

Level 1

8 points

May 7, 2020 12:31 AM in response to Malcolm J. Rayfield

Thanks again, I do have the black one. It came with the USB-C to USB-A cable that I will have to use now.

Apple NZ does sell it in a 0.5m cable, photo attached. May not be available in North America.

I will look into a Thunderbolt dock now instead, cheers!

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Answer 4

BrendonNC Author

Level 1

8 points

May 6, 2020 11:44 PM in response to Malcolm J. Rayfield

“Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter”

” Thunderbolt Cable (0.5 m)”

The LaCie D2 does not show a lightning bolt on the back but is assured compatible with Thunderbolt and I purchased from Apple directly, the adapter is plugged into the HD. The cable connected from it to my only Thunderbolt 2 port on my Mini.

I have read everything listed and as said previously, everything looks as though it should work seamlessly. But it simply is not.

Thanks for your response

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Answer 5

May 7, 2020 12:37 AM in response to BrendonNC

You may be able to return the Apple adapter and cable.

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2011 Mac Mini (Thunderbolt 2) to LaCie D2 (Thunderbolt 3/USB-C) using adapter

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