Thunderbolt Bridge on Mac: How to Set Up & Use It? [Air/Pro]

Harness the Power of Thunderbolt Bridge for Seamless Mac-to-Mac Data Transfer and Internet Sharing

Need to move large files or migrate your entire system between Macs? Want to share an internet connection between two macOS devices? Thunderbolt Bridge offers a high-speed solution for both. This article provides a comprehensive guide to understanding and utilizing this powerful feature.

Thunderbolt Bridge: A Deep Dive

Introduced with OS X Mavericks, Thunderbolt Bridge leverages the high-bandwidth Thunderbolt interface to enable ultra-fast communication between compatible Macs. This translates to rapid file transfers, peer-to-peer (P2P) networking, and more. It's a significantly faster alternative to Wi-Fi or Ethernet, particularly useful for migrating data to a new machine.

Enabling Thunderbolt Bridge

Activating Thunderbolt Bridge is straightforward:

1. Navigate to System Settings > Network.
2. Under Other Services, select Thunderbolt Bridge. A "New Interface Detected" popup may appear; click OK then Apply.
3. Configure settings (TCP/IP, DNS, proxy) within this menu as needed. You can also re-enable the feature here if previously disabled. For Target Disk Mode (accessing one Mac as an external drive), go to General > Startup Disk.

Verifying Thunderbolt Bridge Connection

To ensure a proper connection:

1. Use a Thunderbolt-compatible cable (not a standard USB-C).
2. Connect both Macs securely.
3. Check for a green indicator next to Thunderbolt Bridge in System Settings.

If Migration Assistant isn't functioning, try restarting your Macs or reopening the assistant.

Troubleshooting Thunderbolt Bridge Connectivity

If Thunderbolt Bridge shows as "Not connected," despite proper setup, it might be a System Settings glitch. File transfers may still work at full speed. However, for internet sharing, outdated settings are often the culprit. To resolve:

1. Open System Settings > Network.
2. Select Thunderbolt Bridge and choose Details.
3. Check TCP/IP settings under TCP/IP.
4. Click Renew DHCP Lease and select OK.

Transferring Files via Thunderbolt Bridge

Connect both Macs with a Thunderbolt cable. Your primary Mac will appear as a network device in Finder on the secondary Mac (and vice versa). Ensure File Sharing is enabled in System Settings > Sharing if it's not visible.

MacKeeper Antivirus for Data Migration Safety

Before migrating data, scan for malware to prevent infecting your new machine. MacKeeper's Antivirus provides a robust solution:

1. Open MacKeeper > Antivirus.
2. Click Start Scan.
3. Quarantine any threats found.
4. Restart the app and delete the threats.

Removing Thunderbolt Bridge

To disable Thunderbolt Bridge:

1. Go to System Settings > Network.
2. Select Thunderbolt Bridge.
3. Click Delete Service and confirm.

Conclusion

Thunderbolt Bridge provides a fast and efficient method for data transfer and internet sharing between Macs, also facilitating small P2P networks. This guide equips you with the knowledge to set up, troubleshoot, and remove Thunderbolt Bridge from your system. Remember to prioritize data security by running an antivirus scan before any data migration.

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