Target Disk Mode on Big Sur not displaying hard disk of one Mac on the other Mac desktop

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Target Disk Mode on Big Sur not displaying hard disk of one Mac on the other Mac desktop

I am trying to transfer files from the hard disk of a Catalina iMac to a new Big Sur iMac using Target Disk Mode and a Thunderbolt 3 cable. I can easily get the Catalina iMac into Disk mode (it displays a Thunderbolt icon and a Trident USB icon on its display), but the drive never shows up on the Big Sur desktop. I have used this technique several times on earlier macOS versions.

(I am NOT talking about Target Display Mode, which only works on High Sierra or earlier.)

I can find numerous discussion threads here about Target Display Mode and it no longer working, and numerous threads about upgrading to Big Sur forcing people into Target Disk Mode. But have not found a thread about this (yet).

The Apple SUPPORT website states in its current macOS User Guide (https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/transfer-files-mac-computers-target-disk-mode-mchlp1443/mac) that Target Disk Mode works with Big Sur.

Anyone have any ideas what is going on?

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 11.2

Posted on Mar 16, 2021 6:25 AM

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Answer 1

Mar 16, 2021 8:07 AM in response to mhwill

There is a default as to whether the disk shows up on the desktop, which may not be set. Does it show up in the Finder sidebar?

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Answer 2

mhwill Author

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94 points

Mar 16, 2021 8:16 AM in response to Keith Barkley

No, the disk is not showing up on the side bar nor desktop.

I have Finder Preferences : General set to show all Hard Disks, External Disks, etc. I also have Finder Preferences : Sidebar : Locations showing all Hard Disks, External Disks, etc.

I have experienced this problem on two different sets of computers:

my 2019 MacBook Pro in Target Disk Mode connected to my 27" 2017 iMac; both running Big Sur
a friend's 21" 2017 iMac, running Catalina, in Target Disk mode connected to his brand new (bought this month) 21" 2019 iMac

My next step is to confirm whether his Catalina iMac can connect to a Catalina or older macOS computer using Target Disk Mode - if I can borrow another friend's Mac which is not running Big Sur.

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Target Disk Mode on Big Sur not displaying hard disk of one Mac on the other Mac desktop

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