Mac Pro is designed for pros who need to build high‑bandwidth capabilities into their systems. With four double‑wide slots, three single‑wide slots, and one half‑length slot preconfigured with the Apple I/O card, it has twice as many slots as the previous Mac tower. The Thunderbolt port on my trusty several-year-old MacBook Pro is failing. Avi for mac free. To connect an external display, I now have to wiggle the cable around, then pull it out a few millimeters until the contacts are lined up just right. It's only a matter of time before the port breaks entirely. Everything else about the machine is in great shape.

Information about these and other types of Mac ports is in the specifications for your Mac: Choose Apple menu  > About This Mac, click Support, then click Specifications. Or check your Mac user guide.

Thunderbolt 3

Use Thunderbolt 3 with displays and other devices that connect using either a Thunderbolt 3 cable or USB-C cable. You can also connect a USB-C power adapter and cable to charge your notebook computer. If you have a device that doesn't connect to this port, you might be able to use an adapter to connect it.

These Mac models have Thunderbolt 3 ports:

MacBook Pro introduced in 2016 or later
MacBook Air introduced in 2018 or later
iMac introduced in 2017 or later
iMac Pro (all models)
Mac mini introduced in 2018
Mac Pro introduced in 2019

If your Mac notebook or desktop computer has more than one port like this, each port supports ThunderBolt 3 and USB-C.

USB-C

Use USB-C with displays and other devices that connect using a USB-C cable. You can also connect a USB-C power adapter and cable to charge your notebook computer. If you have a device that doesn't connect to this port, you might be able to use an adapter to connect it.

MacBook models introduced in 2015 or later have a single USB-C port. This port doesn't support Thunderbolt devices.

If your Mac has only one port like this, it's a MacBook that supports USB-C but not Thunderbolt.

Thunderbolt

Use Thunderbolt or Thunderbolt 2 with displays and other devices that connect using a Thunderbolt cable.

These Mac models have Thunderbolt or Thunderbolt 2 ports:

MacBook Pro introduced in 2011 through 2015
MacBook Air introduced in 2011 through 2017
Mac mini introduced in 2011 through 2014
iMac introduced in 2011 through 2015
Mac Pro introduced in 2013

Thunderbolt and Thunderbolt 2 are not the same as Mini DisplayPort . They have the same shape, but use different symbols on the cable and port. However, this port does support Mini DisplayPort for video output, so you can use a Mini DisplayPort cable to connect a Mini DisplayPort display.

Mini DisplayPort

Use Mini DisplayPort with displays that connect using a Mini DisplayPort cable.

These Mac models have Mini DisplayPort:

MacBook Pro introduced in late 2008 through 2010
MacBook Air introduced in late 2008 through 2010
Mac mini introduced in 2009 and 2010
iMac introduced in 2009 and 2010
Mac Pro introduced in 2009 through 2012

Mini DisplayPort is not the same as Thunderbolt or Thunderbolt 2 . They have the same shape, but use different symbols on the cable and port.

USB-A

Use USB-A with devices that connect using a USB cable. USB ports are sometimes known by the USB specification of the port, such as USB 2 or USB 3.

Left to right: power, two Thunderbolt, USB-A, and Audio-Out.

HDMI

Use HDMI with displays and TVs that connect using an HDMI cable.

Ethernet

Use Ethernet with networks and devices that connect using an Ethernet (RJ45) cable.

FireWire

Use FireWire with devices that connect using a FireWire 400 or FireWire 800 cable.

SD card

Use the SD card slot with SD, SDHC, SDXC, MMC, and UHS-II media cards, such as those used by digital cameras.

Audio

Use Audio-Out — or — with headphones, speakers, and other audio-output devices that connect using an audio cable that has a 3.5 mm (1/8 inch) audio jack.

Use Audio-In with a microphone or other audio-input device that connects using an audio cable that has a 3.5 mm (1/8 inch) audio jack.

Power

Use the power port , if available, to connect your computer to AC power using a MagSafe cable or adapter. This port isn't available on newer Mac notebook computers, which use Thunderbolt 3 or USB-C for power and charging. Learn more about power adapters and cables for Mac notebook computers.

Learn more

Thunderbolt 3 offers a connection with state-of-the-art speed and versatility. Delivering twice the bandwidth of Thunderbolt 2, it consolidates data transfer, video output, and charging into a single compact connector. And with the integration of USB-C, convenience is added to the speed of Thunderbolt to create a truly universal port.

Supports up to four 4K displays or up to two 6K displays¹

Connect new and existing devices

Blackmagic eGPU and eGPU Pro. More power to every pixel.

Blackmagic Design has created two external GPUs (eGPUs) ideal for your Thunderbolt 3–enabled Mac.² So you can have desktop-class graphics performance without giving up the portability of a notebook. Housed in an all-in-one aluminum enclosure, Blackmagic eGPUs are powerful yet quiet, charge your Mac using Thunderbolt 3, and have built-in I/O connections to drive both a Thunderbolt 3 display and VR accessories simultaneously. Choose the Blackmagic eGPU to accelerate pro apps and enjoy supersmooth gaming or the Blackmagic eGPU Pro for the ultimate workstation-class graphics performance for your pro app workflows and VR content creation.

Buy Blackmagic eGPU
Buy Blackmagic eGPU Pro

Transferring data at speeds of up to 40Gb/s, which is two times faster than Thunderbolt 2 and eight times faster than USB 3, Thunderbolt 3 delivers the fastest connection to any dock, display, or device. You can also daisy-chain up to six Thunderbolt devices through a single port without needing a hub or a switch. So connecting a storage device to your computer, and then a display to your storage device, works as it’s meant to — with powerful throughput.⁸

Less than one minute to copy 25,000 photos

6K resolution. 20.4 million pixels.
One remarkable cable.

Thunderbolt 3 provides twice the display bandwidth of Thunderbolt 2, enabling your Mac to support up to four 4K displays or up to two 6K displays.¹ Which means that with two Thunderbolt controllers in the 16-inch MacBook Pro, you can send graphics to dual 6K displays for the perfect high-resolution photo and video editing setup. Thunderbolt 3 connects to DisplayPort displays and monitors with a cable, while supporting HDMI and VGA displays with the use of an adapter.

With Thunderbolt 3, a single USB-C port can deliver power in both directions. So a port can charge a device or, alternatively, be charged by one. And it’s capable of delivering up to 100 watts of power, so a single cable can be used to connect to a dock or display and charge your MacBook Pro or MacBook Air simultaneously.

Up to 15W for
bus-powered devices

Up to 15W for bus-powered devices

Compatible with your existing devices.

Thunderbolt 3 with USB-C technology is a truly universal connection. With the help of an adapter or cable, you can connect just about any of your devices, including your existing Thunderbolt 2 devices.

Thunderbolt For Mac Pro 2008 Manual

Displays

Plug into displays using HDMI, VGA, DVI, DisplayPort, or Thunderbolt.

iOS Devices

Connect to iOS devices like iPhone and iPad.

Accessories

Use peripherals compatible with USB‑A, SD, Micro‑B, and Mini‑B.

Performance

Mac Thunderbolt 3

Connect external graphics processors like the Blackmagic eGPU and external hard drives for extra stora