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I want to connect a Lacie thunderbolt usb-c mobile drive to my 2017 iMac. The port on the iMac is for thunderbolt 2. Is there a converter that can connect from usb-c to thunderbolt 2?
iMac, OS X 10.11
Identify the ports on your Mac - Apple Support
"These Mac models have Thunderbolt 3 ports:
...
iMac introduced in 2017 or later"
Is this the drive?
https://www.amazon.com/LaCie-Rugged-Thunderbolt-External-Portable/dp/B0727PN9ZX
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91KqJYztIDL.pdf
"Your LaCie device is shipped with the following cables:
Thunderbolt (integrated on the device): use this cable if your computer has a Thunderbolt or Thunderbolt 2 port.
USB 3.1 Gen 2 (USB-C): use this cable if your computer has a USB-C port.
USB 3.1 Gen 2 (USB-C)–to–USB 3.0/2.0 (Type A): use this cable if your computer does not have a Thunderbolt/Thunderbolt 2 port or a USB-C port."
If the iMac has Thunderbolt 2 The drive's attached cable will plug in. No adapter needed.
If the iMac has Thunderbolt 3, the USB-C to USB-C cable that comes with the drive will plug into the iMac's Thunderbolt 3 port.
Note that this is not a Thunderbolt 3 cable (no Lightning Bolt icon on the plugs).
If the iMac has Thunderbolt 3 and you want to use Thunderbolt instead of USB protocols, you would connect the Apple Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt adapter's Thunderbolt 3 cable into a Thunderbolt 3 port on the iMac and plug the drive's Thunderbolt cable into the adapter. It won't be any faster than the USB-C connectiom:
"While Thunderbolt 2 has the potential to reach transfers rates up to 20Gb/s, the port on LaCie Rugged Thunderbolt USB-C is Thunderbolt, which can reach up to 10Gb/s."
Are you sure you have a 2017 iMac? It has Thunderbolt 3. Maybe you have a 2015 iMac, even if purchased in 2017.
Click the at the top left of the screen and select "About This Mac".
Are you sure the LaCie drive is Thunderbolt 3, not just USB-C? What is the model number of the drive? A non-Thunderbolt USB-C device will not work with the Apple Thunderbolt adapter, even though the plugs will fit.
My thanks for your concern and suggestions.
The Drive is a 5TB Rugged Thunderbolt® USB-C Professional All-Terrain Mobile Drive
I have confirmed that my iMac is a 2017 from my about this mac tab.
I have ordered the Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adaptor that rkaufmann87 recommended.
I am waiting for the cord to arrive. I am also holding my breath and dreading the process of cloning and setting up this drive with the goal speeding up my Mac's performance by booting from this drive.
Yes, it's a Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter. You can find them on Apple's website.
Adapter usb- c thunderbolt to 2017 Imac thunderbolt 2
