Macbook Pro A1278 not compatible with Cinema Display A1316?

Hi landsalmon1,

Thank you for using the Apple Support Communities! I understand you are unable to get your Apple Cinema Display working with your MacBook Pro. I'd like to help.

The ideal setup between these two devices is to use a single USB-C to Mini DisplayPort adapter. I would suggest trying the troubleshooting steps in this article: Get help with your Apple Cinema Display - Apple Support. This article also leads to checking for a software update for the Cinema Display: About the 27-inch LED Cinema Display Software Update 1.0 - Apple Support.

Best regards.

landsalmon1,

Thanks for following up!

Based on what we know so far, these two devices should be compatible with one another. Let's continue isolating to figure this out.

Let's have you boot up into safe mode. It’s a way to start up your Mac so it performs certain checks, repairs, emptying of system cache, and prevents some software from automatically loading: Use safe mode to isolate issues with your Mac - Apple Support. Once in safe mode, check to see if the same behavior continues when connecting your Cinema Display to your Mac. Sometimes safe mode can successfully resolve some issues. With this being said, after testing in safe mode, restart and log in as normal to see if that helps resolve the issue.

If the issue remains, I will have you test a new user account next, to isolate if this is a user-specific issue, or a system-wide issue. Here’s how: How to test an issue in another user account on your Mac - Apple Support. Once in a new user account, see if the same thing happens when you connect the Cinema Display.

Keep us posted with the results.

landsalmon1,

Thanks for following up!

Based on what we know so far, these two devices should be compatible with one another. Let's continue isolating to figure this out.

Let's have you boot up into safe mode. It’s a way to start up your Mac so it performs certain checks, repairs, emptying of system cache, and prevents some software from automatically loading: Use safe mode to isolate issues with your Mac - Apple Support. Once in safe mode, check to see if the same behavior continues when connecting your Cinema Display to your Mac. Sometimes safe mode can successfully resolve some issues. With this being said, after testing in safe mode, restart and log in as normal to see if that helps resolve the issue.

If the issue remains, I will have you test a new user account next, to isolate if this is a user-specific issue, or a system-wide issue. Here’s how: How to test an issue in another user account on your Mac - Apple Support. Once in a new user account, see if the same thing happens when you connect the Cinema Display.

Keep us posted with the results.

To amplify what jeremy_v already said:

You must provide a Mini DisplayPort input to the display to get a picture, and you can not "stack" adapters to get there. You must make the transition from Computer output to display input in at at most ONE adapter.

But OP said both units were from years ago, without any USB-C ports. Shouldn’t the Apple Cinema Display A1316 Mini DisplayPort male plug be compatible with the MBP A1278 Mini DisplayPort female port?