I'm assisting someone in a remote location who is trying to get data from a MacBook in Target mode since it won't boot into the OS without crashing. The Target Mode MacBook has Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports and so does the Mac he's trying to connect to. The problem is he not able to purchase a Thunderbolt 3 cable or get one quickly where he is currently located and is trying to use a Thunderbolt 2 cable with two Thunderbolt 2 to 3 adapters. Also, trying a Thunderbolt 3 to 2 cable with Thunderbolt 2 to 3 adapter. The target mode drive is not showing up. Should these cables with adapters work or is a straight Thunderbolt 3 cable required?
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Target Mode -- Two Thunderbolt 3 MacBook Pros, no Thunderbolt 3 cable
- Thread starter Seven47
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If the adapters the person is trying to use is not the official Apple bidirectional adapter, I do not think it will work. Only Apple makes a TB3>TB2 bidirectional adapter.
The thing is, it is cheaper to by a TB3 cable than to get just one Apple bidirectional adapter, so I would suggest just getting a TB3 cable.
This would actually be a really quick solution if the problem is just trying to access some files.
The thing is, it is cheaper to by a TB3 cable than to get just one Apple bidirectional adapter, so I would suggest just getting a TB3 cable.
You can work on this issue instead of trying to figure out a cable solution. If troubleshooting isn't an option, the person can try to install MacOS on an external drive, thumb drive, or even an SD card, and then attempt to access those files that they need.
This would actually be a really quick solution if the problem is just trying to access some files.