MacBook Pro and iPad Pro will not connect via any Thunderbolt cable

Question

MacBook Pro 2021 (16"), latest OS Tahoe.

iPad Pro 5. Gen. 12,9", latest OS, too.

Had already a cable from

Cable Matters

Exchanged it with this one here, as I thought above might be incompatible.

But BOTH cables only connect via USB 3.1.

I would like to have Thunderbolt speed for quicker backups and syncs.

Why is it always such a fuzz with cables and Apple devices? I am very angry.

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: MacBook Pro 2021 (16") <--> iPad Pro 5. Gen. 12,9": will not connect via any Thunderbolt cable

MacBook Pro 16″

Posted on Nov 3, 2025 5:39 AM

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Answer 1

What does it say under the Thunderbolt/USB4 section?

I would not expect Thunderbolt connections to show up on the USB panel.

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Answer 2

Cables required for running high resolution displays or high speed data connections over ThunderBolt are limited to 0.5 meters, maximum length.

If you need more length, you MUST use a (much more expensive, starting at US$125) ACTIVE ThunderBolt cable instead.

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