Can I use storage on my MacBook Pro on my Mac Mini M1?

[aircanman]

I bought a MBP with 2TB storage a couple years back but things change and I thought I would try an M1 but on my desk with monitor. Thing is storage was very expensive. Is there any way I can link it to my MacBook Pro and use that storage? Would Ethernet do the trick and work seamlessly or am I going to have to resort to external drives.

 

[Weaselboy]

Set up file sharing on Mac

Share the files and folders on your Mac with others on your network. Share your entire Mac or allow specific users access to certain folders.

support.apple.com

You could set up file sharing so the Mini can use storage space on the MBP.

It won't be as fast as an external SSD, but it will work.

 

[justashooter]

Ethernet would be pretty slow access.

I don't know why you couldn't put the MBP in target disk mode - using a thunderbolt cable to connect the two computer together- and it should be like an external drive. The thunderbolt cable would give you the fastest speed possible. You may want to search "using target disk mode with M1 mac". Here is one line:

Transfer files between two Mac computers using target disk mode

You can connect two Mac computers using a USB, USB-C, or Thunderbolt cable, then transfer files.

support.apple.com

 

[HDFan]

Thing is storage was very expensive.

Are you talking about boot drive storage or data storage? Bulk HD external data storage is inexpensive.

 

[aircanman]

Are you talking about boot drive storage or data storage? Bulk HD external data storage inexpensive.

Data storage, I have numerous external drives but they struggle with my 600GB photos library which is mainly what this is all for, I tried target disk mode but still seemed quite slow considering, plus is not a long term solution sadly!

I have ordered a 2TB SSD drive so will pop that in a caddy and see how it goes! Thank you for the suggestions.