Apple equips its Macs with Thunderbolt ports which are suitable with USB-C. The MacBook Professional comes with both two or three of those ports, relying on the mannequin you decide. A brand new MacBook Air has a pair. A 24-inch iMac comes with two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports; some fashions additionally embrace two USB-C ports. A Mac Studio has 4 Thunderbolt 4 ports. The Mac mini has two or 4 Thunderbolt 4 ports.
You most likely have gadgets that use USB-A, Thunderbolt 1, Thunderbolt 2, DisplayPort, HDMI, or one thing else. How do you join these gadgets? With an adapter.
Should you’re planning to purchase a brand new 24-inch iMac, Mac Studio, Mac mini, MacBook Professional, or MacBook Air, be sure you put aside a substantial amount of money for the adapters you want. Apple doesn’t embrace any within the field, aside from an influence adapter. Even if you’re getting a Mac Studio, Mac mini, or 14- or 16-inch MacBook Professional that has a variety of ports apart from Thunderbolt, you might want to show to an adapter, dock, or hub when you have a variety of gear to attach.
Your finest guess is to get a mix dock, just like the Satechi Slim Aluminum Sort-C Multi-Port Adapter ($48/£70 on Amazon). It connects by way of USB-C and features a USB-C pass-through port, two USB 3.0 ports, and an HDMI port with 4K (30Hz) help. With this, you don’t have to hold round a number of adapters.
Essentially the most elegant resolution is to make use of a docking station, which may have as much as 18 ports. Smaller multiport hubs are additionally out there. We’ve rounded up the finest USB-C hubs and adaptors for Mac in addition to the finest Thunderbolt and USB-C docking stations.
Should you don’t desire a dock, or you possibly can’t discover a dock with the combo of connections you want, Apple or one other firm most likely has an adapter for you. We’ve give you this information that can assist you type out what you want, and we hyperlink to the suitable adapter within the on-line Apple Retailer or on Amazon. Quoted costs are topic to vary with out discover.
You should definitely verify the return insurance policies; typically adapters from third events don’t work. Learn consumer evaluations every time potential, and skim the specs to ensure the adapter can do what you want it to do.
If there’s a connection we missed, or you could have recommendation on what adapters to purchase, tell us on Twitter or Fb.
Easy methods to join USB-C gadgets
The Thunderbolt ports within the present Mac Studio, 24-inch iMac, Mac mini, MacBook Professional, and MacBook Air work with USB-C gadgets, which have the identical connector form. If you wish to use a USB-C system, you possibly can simply plug it into one of many Thunderbolt ports. No adapter is critical.
Now, there is a matter on whether or not a cable can carry knowledge and present sufficient energy to cost a tool. Now we have a separate article that explains learn how to inform whether or not a USB-C cable can carry high-wattage energy and Thunderbolt 3 knowledge.
Easy methods to join USB-A gadgets
USB-A is the USB connector with which you’re most likely most acquainted. It’s the USB connector that was on the earlier MacBooks. (Phrases like USB 4, USB 3 and USB 2 confer with the velocity at which knowledge travels via the connector.)
You may get a dock, just like the before-mentioned Satechi. Or you will get Apple’s $19/£16 (Amazon) USB-C to USB-A Adapter cable. Anker sells a two-pack of area grey USB-A (feminine) to USB-C (male) adapters for $17/£11 on Amazon.
Apple
If it’s good to join a number of USB-A gadgets, get a USB-C to USB-A hub. UGreen sells a USB-C to 4-Port USB 3.0 Hub ($14 on Amazon or £15 on Amazon UK) that gives 4 USB-A ports.
Easy methods to join micro B SuperSpeed gadgets
This connector is commonly used with exterior storage gadgets. You’ll want a brand new cable, just like the $16/£13 (Amazon) StarTech USB-C to Micro USB Cable.
The identify of the cable is complicated as a result of it may very well be mistaken for micro USB. However if you happen to verify the product web page on StarTech’s web site, you possibly can see a transparent shot of the micro B SuperSpeed connector on the cable, which is sort of completely different from micro USB.
Easy methods to join an iPhone or iPad
For the iPhone and iPad, if you’re nonetheless utilizing the USB-A to Lightning (or 30-pin if you happen to’re utilizing an older system) cable that got here along with your system, you will get the USB-C to USB Adapter talked about above within the USB-A bit.
Don’t need an adapter? Purchase a $19/£19 Lightning to USB-C Cable (1m). You may also get a 2-meter model for $29/£29.
Newer iPhones and iPads embrace a USB-C to Lightning cable, and the iPad Professional features a USB-C charging cable, so that you don’t want the adapter for these gadgets.
Easy methods to join the Lightning EarPods
Anker makes a USB-C to Lightning adapter for $33/£27 on Amazon. This adapter has a feminine Lightning connector on one finish, so you possibly can plug in your Lightning earphones. The opposite facet is a typical USB-C connector that you just plug into your Mac.
Easy methods to join headphones with a 3.5mm headphone plug
You’re in luck. The MacBook Professional, MacBook Air, Mac Studio, Mac mini, and 24-inch iMac have a 3.5mm headphone jack. Simply plug it in and also you’re good to go. That was straightforward.
Now, say you want a second headphone jack. You need to use a splitter, just like the StarTech Headphone Splitter ($6/£6 on Amazon).
Easy methods to join Thunderbolt 1 and Thunderbolt 2 gadgets
Older variations of Thunderbolt have a special connector than the Thunderbolt connector on the present MacBook Air, MacBook Professional, Mac mini, Mac Studio, and 24-inch iMac. The adapter you want is Apple’s $49/£49
Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter.
Apple
Easy methods to join an exterior show
This one can eat up a bit of your finances as a result of there are such a lot of various kinds of show connectors. Be ready to purchase a number of adapters.
We additionally cowl learn how to join a show to a Mac right here: Easy methods to join your Mac to an additional monitor.
Apple’s Thunderbolt Show and older shows
Should you’re a longtime Mac consumer, perhaps you invested in Apple’s Thunderbolt show some years in the past. You need to use Apple’s Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter to attach these shows to an Intel Mac.
Nonetheless, individuals on-line have reported issues with utilizing the Thunderbolt Show or Apple’s LED Cinema Show with Apple’s M1 Macs. As detailed by Macworld, these shows present a line of flashing pixels on the high proper of the display. Apple issued a repair for this in macOS Monterey 12.3, so if you happen to run into this downside, replace macOS.
DisplayPort and mini DisplayPort
To hook up with a DisplayPort show, you want a USB-C to DisplayPort cable or adapter. Amazon sells the Cable Issues USB-C to DisplayPort Adapter cable for $19 (£18 on Amazon UK), and it helps 4K video at 60Hz.
To attach a show with mini DisplayPort, you want an adapter just like the StarTech.com USB-C to Mini DisplayPort adapter ($39 on Amazon; £29 on Amazon UK) .
HDMI
You probably have the 14- or 16-inch M1 Professional/Max MacBook Professional or Mac Studio, they’ve a full-sized HDMI 2.0 port. You need to use a daily HDMI cable just like the Amazon Fundamental HDMI cable ($17/£12 on Amazon) and plug it in. Needless to say the port helps HDMI 2.0, so the utmost decision and refresh price it could possibly run is 4k at 60Hz.
The M2 Professional/Max 14- and 16-inch MacBook Professional has an HDMI 2.1 port and might run a 4K show at 240Hz, or as much as an 8K show at 60Hz. For an 8K show, you want an HDMI 2.1 cable with help for 48Gbps bandwidth, such because the Belkin Extremely HD HDMI 2.1 Cable ($28/£42 on Amazon)
For different Macs, Apple gives the USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter, a $69/£75 system that additionally gives a USB-A port and a USB-C port that’s for charging solely. Be warned: Apple launched a brand new model of this adapter (mannequin quantity A2119) in August 2019 that helps HDMI 2.0. The older model (mannequin quantity A1621) helps HDMI 1.4. When procuring, verify the mannequin quantity (at an Apple retailer, you probably will get the brand new mannequin). Apple has a help doc that particulars the variations between the 2 adapters.
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Should you don’t need to spend that a lot, you will get an adapter that’s only a USB-C to HDMI adapter, corresponding to Anker’s USB-C to HDMI Adapter ($18/£20 on Amazon). When looking for such adapters, look out for no less than 1080p help.
DVI
Cable Issues has a 6-foot USB-C to DVI Adapter ($22 on Amazon or £20 on Amazon UK). Additionally they promote 3-foot ($19) and 10-foot ($23) variations.
VGA
To attach a VGA show, Apple has a USB-C VGA Multiport Adapter ($64/£42 on Amazon). Along with a VGA to USB-C connection, it additionally gives a USB-A port for connecting a USB system, and a USB-C charging port to maintain your laptop computer battery completely happy.
On the extra reasonably priced facet however with out the USB ports is the Benfei USB-C to VGA Adapter, which is out there on Amazon for $12/£9.
A number of shows on M1/M2 Mac
Macs with an M1 or M2 processor can run two shows complete; on a MacBook, that’s the laptop computer show plus an exterior show. If you wish to run extra show, it’s good to look ing a dock or one other system. The Plugable USB-C Quad HDMI Adapter ($119/£140) lets these Macs run 4 1920×1080 shows at 60Hz.
How to hook up with ethernet
You’ll most likely use Wi-Fi more often than not, however utilizing an ethernet connection has its benefits. To hook up with an ethernet community, you want an adapter just like the Anker USB-C to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter, which is out there on Amazon for $23/£17.
Easy methods to join SD playing cards
Should you use a DLSR or different kind of stand-alone digicam, it might need a strategy to switch your information wirelessly. If not, you want an adapter to entry the SD card, like the SanDisk Excessive PRO SD UHS-II USB-C Card Reader ($21 on Amazon or £21 on Amazon UK).
You probably have a USB-A card reader, you possibly can attempt utilizing Apple’s $19/£19 USB-C to USB Adapter, or get a USB-C dock.
Easy methods to join FireWire gadgets
You probably have a FireWire to USB-A cable, you possibly can attempt utilizing Apple’s $19/£19 USB-C to USB-A Adapter. You probably have a tool with a FireWire 1394 4-pin connector—it was generally used on video cameras and appears like this—and also you want a strategy to join, you possibly can attempt utilizing a USB-A to FireWire 1394 4-pin cable ($8/£10 on Amazon) with the Apple’s USB-C to USB Adapter.
Making an attempt to attach FireWire 400 and 800 gadgets will get iffy. Apple has a Thunderbolt to FireWire Adapter for $29/£29, but it surely has an older Thunderbolt connector that doesn’t plug into the Thunderbolt port on a brand new MacBook Professional, MacBook Air, or 24-inch iMac.
Apple
You may attempt daisy-chaining adapters, however that’s at all times dangerous and should not work, to not point out doubtlessly unhealthy for the adapters. Plug the Thunderbolt to FireWire Adapter into Apple’s $49/£49 Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter after which plug that into the Mac.
Easy methods to join a printer with USB-B
Many printers these days have wi-fi help, so there’s no want for a cable. However perhaps you could have an older printer, otherwise you discover wi-fi printing unreliable. Most shopper printers have a USB-B port. It’s a squarish connector, a lot completely different from USB-A or USB-C.
You want a cable just like the Cable Issues USB C Printer Cable, which has a USB-C to USB-B connection. A 1-meter cable is $8/£7 on Amazon; different lengths can be found.
If you have already got a USB-C to USB Adapter, you possibly can take the USB-A to USB-B cable that got here along with your printer and plug it into the adapter. Then you definately plug the adapter into the laptop computer.
Easy methods to add a traditional MagSafe energy connector to the MacBook Air or MacBook Professional
The facility adapter that comes with the 13-inch MacBook Professional and M1 MacBook Air doesn’t have a breakaway MagSafe connector. MagSafe was a laptop computer lifesaver in cases the place somebody tripped over the ability cable.
However you possibly can nonetheless add a MagSafe connector, and you’ll find a number of charging cables with magnetic connectors that may break free when the cable is yanked. Plenty of the adapters that you just discover on Amazon appear to be the identical product however are labeled by completely different sellers. And with Amazon consumer evaluate fraud so rampant, it’s arduous to depend on these evaluations for recommendation.
With out having examined these cables ourselves, the very best recommendation we may give is to search for cables that help Apple quick charging, have a size lengthy sufficient so that you can use (no less than 6 ft), and is made with good high quality materials (like a braided cable). Some cables may also be used for knowledge transfers, so it’s best to verify the information price. Some have a right-angle connector; verify to make sure such a connector doesn’t block the port subsequent to it. And clearly, be aware the assure and return coverage.
Additionally, learn Easy methods to add extra ports to a MacBook. In a separate article, we run via the completely different cables and connections it’s good to join an additional monitor to your Mac. We additionally focus on Which Mac has essentially the most ports and iPhone and iPad ports are included in our information to Mac, iPad and iPhone ports.