How to Connect FireWire 800/400 Devices to a USB-C Mac (v2 preview)

If you've recently upgraded to a modern Mac with USB-C or Thunderbolt 3/4 ports, you may be wondering how to connect older devices that use FireWire 400 or 800. These legacy ports were once common on camcorders, audio interfaces, external drives and other peripherals — but Apple phased them out years ago in favour of Thunderbolt and USB-C. The good news: with the right combination of adapters, you can still use FireWire devices on your new Mac. Here's how to bridge the gap between past and present.

Understanding the Ports

FireWire 400 (IEEE 1394a)

An early high-speed data transfer standard offering up to 400 Mbps. Commonly used in older Macs, DV camcorders and external hard drives.

FireWire 800 (IEEE 1394b)

A faster upgrade with speeds up to 800 Mbps and a 9-pin connector. Popular with professional audio/video setups and legacy Mac users.

USB-C / Thunderbolt 3 & above

A universal, reversible connector for data, power and display. Thunderbolt 3/4 offers up to 40 Gbps — ideal for 4K displays, fast storage and eGPUs.

What You'll Need

If your device has FireWire 800:

Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter

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Apple Thunderbolt to FireWire 800 Adapter

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9-Pin to 9-Pin FireWire 800 Cable, 1.8m (Black)

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First, connect your device to the Apple Thunderbolt to FireWire 800 Adapter, then plug that into the Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter, which connects to your Mac.

If Your Device Has FireWire 400

To connect a FireWire 400 device (4-pin or 6-pin) to a Mac with USB-C, use the same setup as above — but you'll also need either a FireWire 400-to-800 adapter (with a FireWire 400 cable) or a FireWire 400-to-800 cable to connect your device to the Apple Thunderbolt to FireWire 800 Adapter.

FireWire 800 to 400 Adaptor 9P (M) to 6P (F)

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9-Pin to 4-Pin Bilingual FireWire 800–400 Cable, 1.8m (Black)

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9-Pin to 6-Pin Bilingual FireWire 800–400 Cable, 1.8m (Black)

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Final Thoughts

While FireWire is a legacy interface, Apple's adapter chain keeps it usable even in a USB-C world. It may not be elegant, but it works — and it might just save the day when you need that old project or footage.