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The solutions in this article work with these Mac models, which have Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports:
iMac Pro
iMac models from 2017
Mac mini (2018)
MacBook Pro models from 2016 or later
MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018)
MacBook Pro (pictured), MacBook Air, iMac Pro, iMac, and Mac mini have multiple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports.
If your Mac has only one port like this, it's a MacBook with USB-C . That port supports all but the Thunderbolt solutions in this article.
MacBook has just one port, which supports USB-C but not Thunderbolt.
iPad Pro 11-inch and iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation) have one USB-C port. Learn more about using the USB-C port on your iPad Pro.
Identify the connector used by your cable
To find the right solution for your Mac or iPad Pro, use these images to identify the connector on the end of the cable used by your device. Check the end that plugs into your Mac or iPad Pro, not the end that plugs into your device.
Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C)
If you're using an Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) cable or other Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) cable with your display or other device, it should work with your Mac without an adapter.
The LG UltraFine 5K Display uses Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C).
USB-C
If you're using a Belkin USB-C to USB-C cable or other USB-C cable with your display or other device, it should work with your Mac or iPad Pro without an adapter.
The LG UltraFine 4K Display uses USB-C.
Thunderbolt or Thunderbolt 2
If you're using a Thunderbolt or Thunderbolt 2 cable with a Thunderbolt display or other device, use the Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter.
This is the correct solution for the Apple Thunderbolt Display.
Thunderbolt and Thunderbolt 2 are not the same as Mini DisplayPort , though the ports have the same shape. If you're using a Thunderbolt or Thunderbolt 2 cable with a Mini DisplayPort display, this solution won't work.
Mini DisplayPort
If you're using a Mini DisplayPort cable with a Mini DisplayPort display, use a third-party USB-C to Mini DisplayPort adapter. Check with its manufacturer for compatibility with your Mac and display model.
This is the correct solution for the Apple LED Cinema Display.
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.
DisplayPort
If you're using a DisplayPort cable with your display, use a third-party USB-C to DisplayPort adapter or cable, such as the Moshi USB-C to DisplayPort Cable.
HDMI
If you're using an HDMI cable with your display, use the Apple USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter or a third-party USB-C to HDMI adapter or cable.
VGA
If you're using a VGA cable with your display, use the Apple USB-C VGA Multiport Adapter. Or use a third-party USB-C to VGA adapter, such as the Belkin USB-C to VGA Adapter.
Ethernet
If you're using an Ethernet cable with your device, use a third-party USB-C to Ethernet adapter, such as the Belkin USB-C to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter.
USB-A
If you're using a USB-A cable with your device, use the Apple USB-C to USB Adapter. The Apple USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter and the Apple USB-C VGA Multiport Adapter also include a USB-A port.
To charge an iPhone, iPad, or iPod from a Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) or USB-C port without one of these adapters, you can use the Apple USB-C to Lightning Cable instead.
DVI
If you're using a DVI cable with your display, use a third-party USB-C to DVI adapter or cable. Check with its manufacturer for compatibility with your Mac and display model.
This is the correct solution for the Apple Cinema Display.
Learn more
You can use your USB-C Power Adapter and charge cable with any Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) or USB-C port on your MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, MacBook, or iPad Pro.
If you have an Apple TV connected to your TV, projector, or other display, you can use AirPlay to wirelessly stream video to that display, or extend the desktop of your primary display.
To use Time Machine to make a backup of your Mac, you need any of these types of storage devices:
External drive connected to an AirPort Extreme Base Station (802.11ac) or AirPort Time Capsule
After setting up the storage device, you can use Time Machine to make a backup of your Mac. And after making your backup, you can use Time Machine to restore files from your backup.
External drive connected to your Mac
Time Machine can back up to an external drive connected to a USB, Thunderbolt, or FireWire port on your Mac.
External drive connected to an AirPort Extreme Base Station (802.11ac) or AirPort Time Capsule
Time Machine can back up to an external USB drive connected to an AirPort Extreme Base Station (802.11ac model) or AirPort Time Capsule.
Make sure that the USB drive is formatted for Time Machine.
Connect the drive to a USB port on your AirPort base station, then turn it on.
Open AirPort Utility, then select your base station and click Edit to view its settings.
Click the Disks tab in the settings window.
Select your backup disk from the list of partitions, then select ”Enable file sharing”:
If more than one user on your network will back up to this disk with Time Machine, you can use the Secure Shared Disks pop-up menu to make sure that they can view only their own backups, not yours. Choose ”With accounts” from the menu, then click the Add (+) button to add users.
Click Update to restart your base station and apply the settings.
AirPort Time Capsule
Time Machine can back up to the built-in hard disk of an AirPort Time Capsule on your network.
Mac shared as a Time Machine backup destination
To use another Mac on your network as a Time Machine backup destination, complete these steps on the other Mac:
Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Sharing.
From the list of services on the left, select File Sharing.
From the list of Shared Folders on the right, Control-click the folder that you want to use for Time Machine backups.
From the shortcut menu that opens, choose Advanced Options.
From the Advanced Options dialog, select ”Share as a Time Machine backup destination.”
When setting up Time Machine on your other Mac computers, you should now be able to select the shared folder as a backup disk.
Network-attached storage (NAS) device that supports Time Machine over SMB
Many third-party NAS devices support Time Machine over SMB. For details, check the documentation for your NAS device.
How to format a disk for Time Machine
Time Machine supports all Mac OS Extended (Journaled) formats and Xsan formats. If the disk isn't using the correct format, Time Machine automatically prompts you to erase it when you connect it to your Mac:
If you need to erase the disk manually, use the Disk Utility app to erase using the Mac OS Extended (Journaled) format.
Time Machine can't back up to an iOS device or disk formatted for Windows. And if your disk uses the Master Boot Record (MBR) partition scheme, some of its partitions might not be available for use with Time Machine.