thunderbolt logoApple today released Thunderbolt Firmware Update, a small update offering "performance and stability fixes" for machines supporting the new high-speed data connectivity standard.

This update provides Thunderbolt performance and stability fixes.

When your computer restarts a gray screen will appear with a status bar to indicate the progress of the update.

Do not disturb or shut off the power on your computer during this update.

There is no indication of exactly what the update does beyond the general note regarding "fixes". It is also unclear from Apple's description exactly which machines the update applies to, as Apple does not specify on the download page whether it applies to the company's latest MacBook Pros or iMacs or both, although the update page displays an image of a MacBook Pro. Consequently, all users of Thunderbolt-enabled machines should check Software Update to see if the update is available for their machines.

Thunderbolt Firmware Update weighs in at 486 KB and requires Mac OS X 10.6.8, which was released late last week.

Update: The firmware update does indeed apply to the current models of both the MacBook Pro and the iMac, Apple's only Thunderbolt-equipped Macs released thus far.

Top Rated Comments

jayhawk11 Avatar
179 months ago
Great! I've been having tons of performance issues with my Thunderbolt devices...


Oh, wait. That's right. I still can't buy any :rolleyes:
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Superman Y2K Avatar
179 months ago
If this updates blows the dust out of the port it might be effective.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TMar Avatar
179 months ago
And nobody even knew it was broken....
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Richdmoore Avatar
179 months ago
The only Thunderbolt update I want to have is one that makes thunderbolt drive bootable, like firewire & USB. Then when the prices come down I can upgrade to a SSD without cracking open my iMac and risking damage.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Porco Avatar
179 months ago
This has to be one of the funniest software updates ever. :D

Apple should release 1 comedy software update a month... just for fun.

Here's some suggestions:

Tuesday Powerbook G5 Alert
Alerts the user whether Apple has released a G5 Powerbook or not every Tuesday.

Safari Snappiness Update
Addresses an issue in Safari, where the user may not feel the browser is as snappy as it might be.

Blu-ray Pain Bag Update
Displays a finely crafted on-screen icon in the shape of a bag full of 'hurt' when trying to resize an iTunes movie from 720p to 1080p
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
winston1236 Avatar
179 months ago
how will i know it worked?
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

cook trump

Trump Responds to Apple Keeping Diversity Policies

Wednesday February 26, 2025 6:32 am PST by
In an all-caps post on Truth Social today, U.S. President Donald Trump said Apple should fully end its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. Tim Cook meeting with President Trump in 2017 "APPLE SHOULD GET RID OF DEI RULES, NOT JUST MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO THEM," he wrote. Trump's post comes one day after Apple held its annual shareholders meeting, during which a majority of...
iOS 18

Apple Says iOS 18.4 Will Be Released in April With These New Features

Wednesday February 26, 2025 7:15 am PST by
In a recent press release, Apple confirmed that iOS 18.4 will be released in April. From the Apple News+ Food announcement:Coming with iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4 in April, Apple News+ subscribers will have access to Apple News+ Food, a new section that will feature tens of thousands of recipes — as well as stories about restaurants, healthy eating, kitchen essentials, and more — from the...
apple watch ultra snow

6 Features Coming to the Apple Watch Ultra 3

Tuesday February 25, 2025 9:00 am PST by
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is expected to launch later this year, arriving two years after the previous model with a series of improvements. While no noticeable design changes are expected for the third generation since the company tends to stick with the same Apple Watch design through three generations before changing it, there are a series of internal upgrades on the way. By the time the ...
iPhone Fold Vertical Feature

Apple's 2026 Foldable iPhone Has No Visible Display Crease – Report

Tuesday February 25, 2025 2:58 am PST by
Apple is making significant headway on its long-rumored foldable iPhone, with a new report suggesting the company has achieved a major breakthrough by effectively eliminating the screen crease that plagues current foldable devices. According to Korean publication ETNews, Apple is finalizing its component suppliers for the foldable iPhone, with the selection process expected to be completed...
trump iphone dictation issue

Apple Fixing 'Trump' Dictation Processing Bug

Tuesday February 25, 2025 1:18 pm PST by
Multiple iPhone owners today noticed a pronunciation processing issue that causes the word "Trump" to momentarily show up when using dictation to send a message with the word "racist." In some cases, when speaking the word racist through the iPhone's built-in dictation feature, the iPhone briefly interprets the spoken word as "Trump" and "Trump" text shows up in the Messages app before being ...
airpods pro purple

Here's When AirPods Pro 3 Are Rumored to Launch

Monday February 24, 2025 9:14 am PST by
According to a post on X today from a leaker known as Kosutami, Apple plans to launch AirPods Pro 3 in May or June this year. The leaker also claimed that an AirTag 2 will launch around the same time. Kosutami is best known as a collector of prototype Apple hardware, but they have occasionally shared accurate information about Apple's future product plans. For example, they accurately...
airtag orange

AirTag 2 Rumored to Launch in May or June With These New Features

Monday February 24, 2025 6:11 am PST by
Apple plans to launch a second-generation AirTag in May or June this year, according to a post today from a leaker known as Kosutami. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman previously reported that a new AirTag would be released in mid-2025. May or June would align with that timeframe. Below, we recap three new features rumored for the AirTag 2: With a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip, the...
ios 18 4 carplay

iOS 18.4 Includes a Small But Useful Change for CarPlay

Sunday February 23, 2025 2:23 pm PST by
The first beta of iOS 18.4 is now available, and it includes a small but useful change for CarPlay. As we noted in our list of iOS 18.4 features, CarPlay now shows a third row of icons, up from two rows previously. However, this change is only visible in vehicles with a larger center display. For example, a MacRumors Forums member noticed the change in a Toyota Tundra, which can be equipped...