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I just upgraded from a late 2014 Mac Mini to a Mac Mini M4. Can I use the old Mini as an external HD to the new Mac Mini? If so how would I connect the two and is there any steps involved so the M4 will see the external drive?
Mac mini (M4)
Yes, you can use your old Mac mini as an external drive for the new one if you wish.
Apple provides guidance for Target Disk mode here: Transfer files between two Mac computers using target disk mode - Apple Support
I have just opened the old Mac and taken out its HDD (I replaced it with a SSD and continued to use the old Mac for light tasks) and used the old HDD as a bare drive with a StarTech SATA to USB-A/C adapter. Another option might be to boot the Mac mini to target disk mode.
What you may want to do is simply use your old mac mini as a computer on your (home) network. My understanding is that you aim to store stuff you want to access, just luke an external drive.
Indeed, that old mac mini could serve a purpose of storing stuff (basically actung as a server). No need to have a monitor on it (perhaps just to set it and make it part of your home network). Then at any time, from your newer mac you could access soecific folders, edit files, move them back and forth, or just store.
Not the most optimal use of a computer (tasks you could simply do with external drives), but certainly better than letting it go for peanuts, unless you eventually wish to give it as a gift to family member.
Can I use old Mac Mini as external Hard drive to new Mac Mini M4
