Identifying the correct cable type for Mac's lightning bolt sockets

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Level 1

8 points

Identifying the correct cable type for Mac's lightning bolt sockets

Hi,

I wonder if any kind can tell me which type of cable I need for my Mac please? it is for the two sockets marked by a lightening bolt (see image below).

I have tried a usb c type cable which doesn't fit in the hole. although I've read elsewhere that a usb c is suppose to fit.

I am trying to come out of the socket and be able to plug in peripherals such as a card reader which has a male lighting connector so I assume I need a female to female lead but what type?

Thanks in advance for any info you might be able to supply.

Regards

Rob

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

iMac 27″, macOS 15.3

Posted on Feb 6, 2025 6:02 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

MartinR

Level 7

25,530 points

Feb 6, 2025 6:35 AM in response to Chieflx

Those ports with the lightning bolt icon next to them are not ... Lightning ports. They are Thunderbolt 1 or 2 ports, which use either a Thunderbolt or miniDisplayPort connector. (The version of Thunderbolt depends on the exact model iMac you have.)

If you have additional USB peripherals you want to connect to your Mac, either use the spare USB port in your picture or add a good quality USB hub to one of your USB ports.

You mentioned that your card reader has a male Lightning cable ... you may be able to use this adapter to connect it to your Mac. I have never used it myself, so I cannot vouch for it, just found it while searching. YMMV.

OTOH, it may be a good idea to get a new card reader that is USB.

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Answer 2

lkrupp

Level 7

24,525 points

Feb 6, 2025 6:41 AM in response to Chieflx

Thunderbolt cables will have the same indicators on them as the ports they plug into... a bolt of lightning.

You seem to be confusing Lightning ports with Thunderbolt ports. Macs do not and have never had Lightning ports. Only iPhones, iPads and other mobile devices have Lightning ports. Mac have USB-A, USB-C and Thunderbolt ports.

As for a card reader with a male Lightning port I’ve never heard of such a device. Please post a picture of this card reader for clarification.

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Answer 3

MartinR

Level 7

25,530 points

Feb 6, 2025 6:52 AM in response to MartinR

For what it's worth, if your card reader has a USB-C connector (not a Lightning connector) you can use an inexpensive USB-C to USB-A adapter like this one to connect it to one of the USB ports on your iMac.

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Answer 4

dialabrain

Level 10

137,119 points

Feb 6, 2025 6:32 AM in response to MartinR

MartinR wrote:

Those ports with the lightning bolt icon next to them are not ... Lightning ports.

+1 I should have done a better job explaining that bit of info. :)

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Answer 5

Chieflx Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 6, 2025 7:31 AM in response to MartinR

Hi MartinR,

Thanks for the reply. I was curious as to what those particular ports were, as I'm fairly new to Mac's.

The card reader I have can be plugged directly in to both my iPhone and iPad, using the same port as if I was charging them. It seems to act as an addition "drive" and allows me to download the photos from my Sony camera directly to my photos app. I was trying to find a way to plug the card reader in to the Mac so I could edit photos without having to download them via the iPad or iPhone. The card reader I am using is the Apple Lightning to SD Card Camera Reader.

It's not a problem as I can hopefully just get a sex changer and use as standard USB to lightening cable.

Thanks for your help,

Rob

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