why is the usb connector bigger than any standard usb plug I own?

janielaurel wrote:

Have a "newer" Monterey MacBook Pro.

What is the exact model? Monterey is a version of macOS which can run on lots of different laptops with different ports. You can get the exact model by clicking the Apple menu & selecting "About This Mac". Since the ports are different than your old High Sierra MBPro, it tells me your "Monterey" laptop has USB-C ports.

It appears to be that the adapter USB connector is about 1/16" larger than a standard USB plug.

Sounds like you are looking at a USB type B connector of some sort. If so, that type of connector is not typcially connected to a computer since most computers have either USB-A ports like your old High Sierra laptop, or USB-C ports like your newer Mac (2016+). It may help to know what cable you are using for the external drive(s) & see a picture of the end you are trying to connect.

Some USB drives may utilize either a USB-C port or a micro-USB-B port on the back of the drive. You will need the appropriate cable to connect to the back of the USB drive. The other end of that USB cable should either have a USB-A connector or a USB-C connector. If it is a USB-A connector, then you need to use a USB-C to USB-A adapter to connect the drive to the new Mac.

Here is a picture of the various USB connectors:

The only connectors which get connected to a computer are the Type-A or Type-C ones. All of the other USB connectors shown Mini/Micro A/B are usually only found as ports on external devices such as drives and cameras.

And you're certain you've purchased the Apple USB - USB C adaptor, and not a different one? (They sell several different adaptors at most stores).

I suppose it's possible you have a defective adaptor, but must admit I've never heard of this issue before.

Please take a picture of this connector with your phone and

post the picture with the Image Insertion tool in the reply footer.

for you to compare, these are the ports on your MacBook Pro 2011 model

Magsafe, Ethernet, FireWire-800, Thunderbolt-2, USB-A, USB-A, SD card, Sound

could your cables on hand be ThunderBolt-2 or Firewire-800 and not USB ??

what model-year MacBook Pro running High Sierra?

<< too snotty >>

Macs from previous years communicate freely with modern Macs. But file privacy is important, and the correct physical connection methods are important as well.

USB-A is used on older Macs for USB connections.

USB type C is used for USB-C and ThunderBolt connection on recent Macs

Mini DisplayPort/ThunderBolt-2 may be found on some Macs before 2016 models

on the left side of a MacBook Pro 2011 15-in model are:

Magsafe, Ethernet, FireWire-800, Thunderbolt-2, USB-A, USB-A, SD card, Sound-out, Headphones

External Drives you would have bought at the same time could be connected with Firewire.

<< Can't upgrade the OS, so apparently that seems to be the "migration" issue. >>

There is No migration issue. Upgrading the MacOS to TODAY's MacOS is not a requirement.

That 2011 model is perfectly capable of Migrating to a later model directly. But the setup, cables, and procedure may be a bit obscure. and direct migration is remarkably SLOW. Migrating from a Time machine backup is faster.

Does you backup drive enclosure have one of the "OTHER" USB connectors HWTech posted?

Forgot to mention that sometimes connecting USB-A cables into an Apple USB-C to USB-A Adapter can be very snug until they've been used a few times.