SSD external drive to 2012 late imac

There is no such thing as a Thunderbolt 2 to USB adapter, because Thunderbolt 2 does not convert to USB.

The 2012 iMac has USB 3.0 5G ports and that is what you need to use.

A USB-C drive like the Samsung T7 will run close to 500MB/s using a USB-C to USB-A 3.1 adapter.

for one example > https://www.officedepot.com/a/products/6104321/QVS-USB-31-Male-to-USB/?

for another > https://www.amazon.com/C2G-Female-SuperSpeed-Adapter-Converter/dp/B085X4N3PJ/ref=asc_df_B085X4N3PJ/?

den.thed wrote:

There is no such thing as a Thunderbolt 2 to USB adapter, because Thunderbolt 2 does not convert to USB.

There's nothing theoretically preventing someone from building a Thunderbolt 2 to USB adapter. However, the only ones that I know about are embedded in Thunderbolt docks. You'd be talking either

• Thunderbolt 1/2 docks with USB ports – which aren't sold any more, and would only be available used, or
• Powered Thunderbolt 3/4 docks, with USB ports, connected using a Thunderbolt 1/2 cable and an Apple Thunderbolt 3-to-2 adapter. (No bus-powered or USB-C-only docks need apply.)

This wouldn't be worth it in a practical sense.

The 2012 iMac has USB 3.0 5G ports and that is what you need to use.

den.thed wrote:

I don't understand your point in replying here. Is it to help the OP hgocht or is it to be critical of what I said....?

It's to provide accurate information. The OP may not be the only one reading the statement that "Thunderbolt 2 does not convert to USB." OWC seems to believe that pairing a TB3-to-2 adapter with a powered TB3 dock will work; they sell such a bundle as the "OWC Thunderbolt 2 Dock Solution."

If you want to sell the OP on cobbling together a Thunderbolt 2 cable, an expensive Apple Thunderbolt 3 to 2 adapter in reverse and an even more expensive OWC Thunderbolt dock to connect an external SSD to their 2012 iMac, then that is OK by me.

My main point was and still is that "There is no such thing as a Thunderbolt 2 to USB adapter"

No the Apple USB-C to USB-A adapter will not work.

You need an adapter with a female USB-C and male USB-A

den.thed wrote:

If you want to sell the OP on cobbling together a Thunderbolt 2 cable, an expensive Apple Thunderbolt 3 to 2 adapter in reverse and an even more expensive OWC Thunderbolt dock to connect an external SSD to their 2012 iMac, then that is OK by me.

I'm not trying to sell the OP anything.

I don't understand your point in replying here. Is it to help the OP hgocht or is it to be critical of what I said....?