No Wi-Fi, no flash drive, two Macs, and a pile of files that must move right now. It sounds like a dead end — but a single cable turns one Mac into an external drive for the other, no network or removable storage required. Here is how to copy files directly between two Macs in minutes.
What you need
Just a cable connecting the two Macs — USB, USB-C, or Thunderbolt, depending on which ports each machine has. A Thunderbolt cable is the recommended choice: it is fast and reliable for this job. One caveat: a Thunderbolt-equipped Mac paired with a plain USB-C cable can be finicky, so match the cable to the ports when you can.
Put the source Mac into Target Disk Mode
Decide which Mac holds the files (the source). Then:
- If the source Mac is powered on: open System Settings → Startup Disk → Target Disk Mode… and click Restart.
- If it is powered off: hold the T key while turning it on.
One important distinction: classic Target Disk Mode (holding T) is for Intel Macs. On Apple Silicon Macs, the equivalent is the “Share Disk” option in the startup options screen. Apple Support’s Mac guides document both paths — use the one matching your source Mac’s chip.
Copy your files
The source Mac now boots into Target Disk Mode and appears on the second Mac as a removable drive. Open it in Finder and copy whatever you need — you will be asked for the admin password when opening the user folder, which is normal. As MacRumors and 9to5Mac have noted in their Mac migration coverage, this cable method is often faster than Wi-Fi for large transfers.
Eject and restart properly
- When the copying is done, eject the mounted Mac properly — via the Finder sidebar, Disk Utility, or by dragging its icon to the Trash.
- Restart the source Mac so it boots back into normal mode.
If it still doesn’t work
If the source Mac never appears as a drive, suspect the cable first: try a different cable and a different port, and confirm you are using a Thunderbolt cable with Thunderbolt ports. If FileVault is enabled on the source Mac, you may need its password before the disk mounts. And double-check you used the right mode for the chip — Intel Macs take the T key, Apple Silicon Macs use Share Disk.
FAQ
Does Target Disk Mode work on Apple Silicon Macs?
Classic Target Disk Mode (holding T at startup) is Intel-only. On Apple Silicon, boot into startup options and choose the “Share Disk” option instead — it serves the same purpose.
Will the source Mac’s files be safe?
Yes — you are simply reading from (and optionally writing to) its disk like any external drive. Eject it properly before restarting and nothing is harmed.
Conclusion
One cable, Target Disk Mode (or Share Disk on Apple Silicon), copy, eject, restart — that is the whole trick, and it beats hunting for a flash drive every time. For everyday wireless continuity instead, learn how to set up message sync between iPhone and Mac, or how to set up automatic hotspot connection from iPhone on Mac.
