How to connect Intel and Apple M5 Pro MacBook Pros via cable

how can I connect two Macbook Pros via cable. They are intel MacBook pro 2019 and an Apple M5 pro 16in


It's the type of usb c that i need to know. The new computer keeps saying the cable is wrong.

MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 27.0

Posted on Oct 10, 2026 9:30 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Oct 11, 2026 6:11 PM

What are you trying to connect them for?


If you are trying to put the 2019 MacBook Pro into Target Disk Mode, you'll need a Thunderbolt 3 or Thunderbolt 4 cable – not just a regular USB-C cable. These days, there's a restriction on Target Disk Mode such that if either of the Macs is running Big Sur or later, the connection must be a Thunderbolt one.


Transfer files between two Mac computers using target disk mode - Apple Support


Note that if you are trying to migrate things from the old Mac to the new one, an alternative might be to back up the old Mac to an external drive, connect the external drive to the new Mac, and point Migration Assistant at it.

1 reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Oct 11, 2026 6:11 PM in response to fming

What are you trying to connect them for?


If you are trying to put the 2019 MacBook Pro into Target Disk Mode, you'll need a Thunderbolt 3 or Thunderbolt 4 cable – not just a regular USB-C cable. These days, there's a restriction on Target Disk Mode such that if either of the Macs is running Big Sur or later, the connection must be a Thunderbolt one.


Transfer files between two Mac computers using target disk mode - Apple Support


Note that if you are trying to migrate things from the old Mac to the new one, an alternative might be to back up the old Mac to an external drive, connect the external drive to the new Mac, and point Migration Assistant at it.

How to connect Intel and Apple M5 Pro MacBook Pros via cable

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