How do I get my old Cinema Display to work with my new MacBook Pro?

Apple Cinema Display not working on new MacBook Pro


I bought a new MacBook Pro 2018 and I'm having problems connecting it to my Mac Cinema Display. The new MacBook Pro has 2 Thunderbolt 3 ports and nothing else. With my old MacBook Pro I used the DVI adapter that comes out of the Cinema Display. I then plugged that into a mini display port to DVI adapter and plug that into the old MacBook Pro. (This one: Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter - Apple) That always worked fine and I could have 2 screens when I'm in my office.


I bought this adapter USB-3-1 to Thunderbolt from Amazon but the Cinema Display stays black and doesn't appear in the System Preferences Display tab:

https://www.amazon.com/USB-3-1-Type-Mini-Adapter-Easily/dp/B071LGXVFY/ref=sr_1_2?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1503638130&sr=1-2&keywords=USB-3+to+Mini+display+adapter



MacBook Pro 15-inch, 2018

macOS Mojave 10.14.3

Thunderbolt 3 - 4 ports

2.9 GHz Intel Core i9

32 GB 2400 MHz DDR4

Intel UHD Graphics 630 1536 MB

MacBook Pro 15”, macOS 10.14

Posted on May 5, 2019 4:09 PM

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Posted on May 5, 2019 11:51 PM

That Apple Mini DisplayPort to DVI adapter is passive, so will not work with a USB-C adapter. You need an ACTIVE adapter, such as:

https://www.startech.com/AV/display-and-video-adapters/Displayhttps://ca.uptab.com/uptab-usb-c-type-c-to-mini-displayport-a


If it's the 30" display, you will need a Dual-link adapter (which is active):

Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter - Apple (PH)


Also that Amazon adapter has contradictory information as to whether it will work with a DVI adapter. If it doesn't, this one will:

https://ca.uptab.com/uptab-usb-c-type-c-to-mini-displayport-adapter-4k-60hz-silver/

"With our new chip this adapter will work together with Active in-line DVI-D or DVI to Mini DisplayPort Adapters."

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

May 5, 2019 11:51 PM in response to WallyBoy13

That Apple Mini DisplayPort to DVI adapter is passive, so will not work with a USB-C adapter. You need an ACTIVE adapter, such as:

https://www.startech.com/AV/display-and-video-adapters/Displayhttps://ca.uptab.com/uptab-usb-c-type-c-to-mini-displayport-a


If it's the 30" display, you will need a Dual-link adapter (which is active):

Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter - Apple (PH)


Also that Amazon adapter has contradictory information as to whether it will work with a DVI adapter. If it doesn't, this one will:

https://ca.uptab.com/uptab-usb-c-type-c-to-mini-displayport-adapter-4k-60hz-silver/

"With our new chip this adapter will work together with Active in-line DVI-D or DVI to Mini DisplayPort Adapters."

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How do I get my old Cinema Display to work with my new MacBook Pro?

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