Port Compatibilty When Upgrading Mac Mini (late 2014)

[mikethebook]

Currently I run Mojave on a late 2014 Mac Mini which has 4 USB ports which I use for various externals including an external backup drive. I'm thinking of upgrading to a refurbished Mac Mini M1. It has 4 similar ports: Two Thunderbolt 3 / USB 4, Two USB-A. Can I use them in the same way without problems or do I need to use some kind of adapter on the ports?

 

[maflynn]

Can I use them in the same way without problems

Here's what Apple details of the ports you get with the M1 Mini

Here's what's being details on the 2014 Mini

TB2 and TB3 ports are physically different. USB-A and USB-C are physically different, though you do get a couple of usb-a on the M1 mini

 

[mikethebook]

Thanks for all your information though you didn't really answer my question. Do I take it that the USB-A ports I can use with two of the externals just as before but with the USB-C ports I will need to use USB-A/USB-C adapters for the other two USB-A plugs? Will that work?

 

[Bigwaff]

Thanks for all your information though you didn't really answer my question. Do I take it that the USB-A ports I can use with two of the externals just as before but with the USB-C ports I will need to use USB-A/USB-C adapters for the other two USB-A plugs? Will that work?

Yes.

 

[Fishrrman]

Get one, two, or three of these:

Cable Matters 5Gbps USB C to USB 3.0 Adapter - 6 Inches, USBC Male to USBA Female OTG Adapter, Black

The Cable Matters USB 3.1 Type-C to Type-A adapter provides a convenient connection between the newest devices with USB Type-C and legacy USB peripherals with Type A. It adapts the Type-C port on a computer to connect all legacy equipment, peripherals, cables, hubs and chargers that ...

www.amazon.com

I have one hanging off the back of my m4 Mini, and another hanging from the front.
I also keep a USbc-USbc cable attached to the other front port.
This arrangement makes it easy to connect external stuff, be it USBa or USBc.

If you'd really like a full complement of ports, get something like a thunderbolt dock.
Many choices available.
One I'd suggest -- plugable.com TBT4-UDX1...

 

[mikethebook]

Thanks. Very helpful.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

All info given is correct - but - personally, I avoid adapters. They're points of failure and interference. I also avoid docks for a similar reason; but, I will use a USB hub if necessary for additional ports.

You'll still have two USB-A ports so whatever's in your 2014, two of those will work in those without change.

So for two of the four USB cables plugged into your 2014 - see what's at the OTHER end (USB-A 3.0, MicroUSB3.0, USB-C, whatever it is) and order a replacement with USB-C on the computer end, in whatever length you need.

I did that when going from my 2012 to my M1 mini, and from my M1 mini to my M4 Pro mini, and it's always been a bulletproof solution.