---
id: external-drives.can-i-use-an-old-usb-2-drive
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/can-i-use-an-old-usb-2-drive
category: "External drives"
subcategory: "Choosing a drive"
question: "Can I still use an old USB 2 hard drive with my Mac?"
alt_questions:
  - "USB 2.0 external drive on new Mac"
  - "Old slow external hard drive use"
  - "Is USB 2 too slow for storage?"
  - "old usb hard disk compatibility mac"
short_answer: "Yes, with an adapter if needed — it's fine for archives, spare copies and swapping files, just slow. It isn't a good choice for running apps or active projects, and Storage Studio's speed check would likely flag it as too slow."
tags: ["usb 2", "old drive", "archive"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/why-is-my-drive-blocked-as-too-slow", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/can-i-use-a-spinning-hard-drive-as-my-fast-drive", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/can-i-use-the-drive-as-an-occasional-archive"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# Can I still use an old USB 2 hard drive with my Mac?

Yes — with an adapter if needed, it works fine for copying files, archives and occasional access. It's just slow, so large copies take a long time and anything run from it feels sluggish.

Good uses: an archive of old projects, a spare copy of photos, a drive for swapping files with another computer. Not good: running apps, active projects, or as the drive Storage Studio moves things to — its speed test would likely flag it. See [why a drive is blocked as too slow](https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/why-is-my-drive-blocked-as-too-slow).