External drives · Speed, cables and hardware
Will a USB drive work in my Mac's Thunderbolt port?
Short answer: Yes — a Mac's Thunderbolt ports also work as USB ports, so USB drives run normally in them. A Thunderbolt-only drive won't work in a USB-only port, though, so check the port if one doesn't appear. Many drives support both.
Yes. Thunderbolt ports on Macs also work as USB ports, so a USB drive plugged into one runs at its normal USB speed. The reverse isn't always true: a drive that only supports Thunderbolt won't work in a port that is USB-only, such as some ports on displays and hubs. Many current drives support both.
If a Thunderbolt-only drive won't appear, check that the port really is Thunderbolt — on most Macs it's marked with the lightning-bolt symbol, and System Information lists it. See how to tell whether a Mac has Thunderbolt.