imac 27 inch (late 2015) thunderbolt ports not working with new external ssd.

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imac 27 inch (late 2015) thunderbolt ports not working with new external ssd.

Just bought two new Crucial external SSDs for extra storage. They have USB 3 ports. Having connected a new Thunderbolt 2 to Thunderbolt 3 adapter to the SSD and a new Thunderbolt cable to the Thunderbird 2 port on the iMac results in nothing. The external drive doesn't show up in the finder sidebar, nor can Disk Utility see it.

Also tried it on my 2016 MacBook Pro and my wife's 2014 iMac, all with negative results.

I have tried every combination of new cables, adapters and drives but nothing works. Would be grateful for any pointers as to what I'm doing wrong.

iMac 27″

Posted on Dec 16, 2023 5:10 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

den.thed

Level 10

92,788 points

Dec 16, 2023 6:42 AM in response to bodger

Those USB 3 SSDs will not work connected to the Thunderbolt 2 ports of your older Mac's.

You need to connect them to the USB-A 3.0 ports of those older Mac's using a male USB-A to female USB-C adapter.

for example's

see > https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083XXLW77/ref=sspa_dk_detail_1?

and > https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CBTWYKFF/ref=sspa_dk_detail_6?

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Answer 2

hcsitas

Level 6

13,970 points

Dec 16, 2023 6:43 AM in response to bodger

Connect to the USB port, should work.

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Answer 3

den.thed

Level 10

92,788 points

Dec 19, 2023 9:38 AM in response to bodger

You're welcome.

Yeah' the Thunderbolt 2 to Thunderbolt 3 adapter can not supply power to bus powered external drives in that direction.

Plus the Thunderbolt 2 ports on that iMac was for display output and Thunderbolt 2 drives that never really hit the market big, because they were too expensive and then surpassed by USB-C the following year.

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Answer 4

bodger Author

Level 1

4 points

Dec 19, 2023 9:04 AM in response to hcsitas

Thanks both. Much appreciated.

#den.thed - Amazing isn't, I read various online articles on this and at least 3 said it was possible. Hey ho. Thanks, the task is now done.

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imac 27 inch (late 2015) thunderbolt ports not working with new external ssd.

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