I've read the 2015 MBP uses a proprietary connector but I can't find anything that looks right on Amazon. I don't need a fancy $60 enclosure, I just need a simple tool to connect to the SSD and to plug into my working Mac.
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What kind of connector/adaptor do I need to connect a failed 13" MacBook Pro Early 2015 SSD to USB C?
- Thread starter izzy0242mr
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Apple machines use proprietary connector for the SSD so you are probably be better off using a thunderbolt connection and target disk mode on the old machine. This will require a Thunderbolt 2 to 3 adapter and a Thunderbolt 3 cable. I don’t know if they can both be had anywhere for less than $60.
Alternatively you could set up a shared folder on the old Mac and move the data over a network connection.
Transfer files between two Mac computers using target disk mode
You can connect two Mac computers using a USB, USB-C, or Thunderbolt cable, then transfer files.
support.apple.com
Alternatively you could set up a shared folder on the old Mac and move the data over a network connection.
Set up file sharing on Mac
Share the files and folders on your Mac with others on your network. Share your entire Mac or allow specific users access to certain folders.
support.apple.com
Connect your Mac to shared computers and servers
Connect your Mac to shared computers and file servers on your network.
support.apple.com
I should have specified in the post and not just the title, but the old Mac is dead because the hard drive failed. I want to access the hard drive's files. Surely there's an adapter that exists.
"the old Mac is dead because the hard drive failed. I want to access the hard drive's files. Surely there's an adapter that exists."
If the Mac is "dead" because the internal SSD "failed" -- then it's not likely you're going to get anything off of it. Many times when an SSD "fails", it does so catastrophically, "never to be seen again".
If it was something that went wrong with the software on the drive -- that made the Mac unbootable -- then it -might- be possible to get something from the drive. See below.
There aren't many enclosures for these.
The connector is proprietary to Apple.
The only one I know of may be from Other World Computing, and it will run $75.
It might work, but again, if the SSD's circuitry itself has failed, you may "get nothing".
Like Clint Eastwood said... "Do you feel lucky??"
Think hard... is there anything on the old drive you really, REALLY need?
One last thought:
If the SSD is still IN the 2015 MBP, try this:
Boot to INTERNET recovery:
Command-OPTION-R
at boot.
You'll need your wifi password, the internet utilities take a while to load, so be patient.
Can you get to the internet utilities?
If the Mac is "dead" because the internal SSD "failed" -- then it's not likely you're going to get anything off of it. Many times when an SSD "fails", it does so catastrophically, "never to be seen again".
If it was something that went wrong with the software on the drive -- that made the Mac unbootable -- then it -might- be possible to get something from the drive. See below.
There aren't many enclosures for these.
The connector is proprietary to Apple.
The only one I know of may be from Other World Computing, and it will run $75.
It might work, but again, if the SSD's circuitry itself has failed, you may "get nothing".
Like Clint Eastwood said... "Do you feel lucky??"
Think hard... is there anything on the old drive you really, REALLY need?
One last thought:
If the SSD is still IN the 2015 MBP, try this:
Boot to INTERNET recovery:
Command-OPTION-R
at boot.
You'll need your wifi password, the internet utilities take a while to load, so be patient.
Can you get to the internet utilities?
I haven't tried yet (it's a friend's computer) but I think I'll be able to. It shows the flashing question mark when attempting to boot, and data recovery specialists and Apple specialists have said the hard drive failed. I'm just wondering if it's worth it to get the reader hardware + recovery software (which is free to see if the files are even accessible) vs shelling out $300+ to recover files my friend may not necessarily want but might potentially need.
If I am able to get access to Internet Recovery and the built-in tools (Terminal, Safari, etc.), what would you suggest I do from there?
In short, yeah, the files may well be inaccessible. But the fact that data recovery specialists are offering to take $300 from me to try suggests that trying is worth doing.
Last edited:
"But the fact that data recovery specialists are offering to take $300 from me to try suggests that trying is worth doing."
No.
What they are saying is they're going to charge you $300 just to "look at the drive".
They may send it back, saying "we couldn't do anything" -- and it STILL may cost you $300.
If they say they can get something from it, they may want at least $500 more to do so, maybe MUCH more $$$.
DON'T spend any of your own money on this.
What I'd try:
Boot to internet recovery (as above).
See if disk utility can "see" the drive.
If so, try to run first aid and see what happens.
If disk utility says the drive is ok (but it still won't boot), THEN I'd try to re-install the OS. This won't affect data on the drive.
If disk utility can't even "see" the drive -- at all -- then I doubt much on it is going to be "recoverable".
A data recovery outfit -might- be able to "get at it", or maybe not.
If they can, it's going to cost LOTS OF MONEY to get any data back on it.
My strongest suggestion to you (if you can't fix it on your own) is to hand it back to your friend and say, "next time, learn about the concept of backing up your data".
And let things go at that.
No.
What they are saying is they're going to charge you $300 just to "look at the drive".
They may send it back, saying "we couldn't do anything" -- and it STILL may cost you $300.
If they say they can get something from it, they may want at least $500 more to do so, maybe MUCH more $$$.
DON'T spend any of your own money on this.
What I'd try:
Boot to internet recovery (as above).
See if disk utility can "see" the drive.
If so, try to run first aid and see what happens.
If disk utility says the drive is ok (but it still won't boot), THEN I'd try to re-install the OS. This won't affect data on the drive.
If disk utility can't even "see" the drive -- at all -- then I doubt much on it is going to be "recoverable".
A data recovery outfit -might- be able to "get at it", or maybe not.
If they can, it's going to cost LOTS OF MONEY to get any data back on it.
My strongest suggestion to you (if you can't fix it on your own) is to hand it back to your friend and say, "next time, learn about the concept of backing up your data".
And let things go at that.