Connect Thunderbolt Display to Mac Mini and MBP 2018

Question

Connect Thunderbolt Display to Mac Mini and MBP 2018

Context:

I have an older Mac Mini and a newer MacBook Pro 2018 with USB-C. I have the Thunderbolt to USB-C adapter, so I can use the Thunderbolt Display with this adapter to connect to my MBP, or I can plug directly into the Mini-Displayport on the Mac Mini. I use a virtual software switch called Synergy that allows me to share my keyboard and mouse of the server system (Mac Mini) and the client (MBP). The mouse and keyboard simply continue to work when seamlessly moving from the Mac Mini / Thunderbolt Display to the MBP 2018 Laptop Screen.

Problem:

The issue is that I would like to simply use a hardware solution (KVM Switch) so that I can use just one display and switch to either the MBP or the Mac Mini / TB Display. I found a few solutions, but without buying and testing, it's impossible to find good information. To make matters worse, Apple has done its best to hide information about the Thunderbolt display from its website and highlight the only available option, the Pro Display XDR.

Possible Solves:

IOGEAR GTD732 (looks like the best option but discontinued and cannot find it anywhere!)
- https://www.iogear.com/product/GTD732/
ATEN (parent company of IOGEAR)
- https://www.kvm-switches-online.com/us7220.html
CalDigit TS3 (on Apple's shop)
- https://www.apple.com/shop/product/HMX12ZM/A/caldigit-ts3-plus-dock

Plea for Help:

Has anyone needed this? Has anyone found a product to do this? Do any of the available products above solve this issue?

Mac mini, macOS 10.13

Posted on Apr 18, 2020 7:57 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Apr 18, 2020 9:26 PM in response to wturnerharris

The ATEN Thunderbolt KVM switch should work. You could also plug the keyboard and mouse into the USB ports on the back of the Thunderbolt display, instead of running them through the KVM switch.

If you only have one computer on at a time, you don't need the switch. Connect the display to both computers, one with the displays Thunderbolt cable, the other via a Thunderbolt cable from the Thunderbolt port on the back of the display.

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Answer 2

Apr 18, 2020 10:46 PM in response to wturnerharris

Just based on the specs. The other two you listed are docks, not switches.

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Answer 3

Apr 18, 2020 10:39 PM in response to Malcolm J. Rayfield

Hey Malcolm,

Thanks for replying. Have you used the ATEN, or are you just basing on the specs?

I do fully intend to have both computers on at the same time, which is why Synergy is a good software solution, but I'm looking for a hardware solution to do the same with one screen for both computers.

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Answer 4

Apr 19, 2020 12:05 PM in response to Malcolm J. Rayfield

Thanks, Malcolm.

I'm also looking for other recommendations on KVM Switches that would work in the manner in which I described. If no one else has any experience there, I may take the plunge and see what the ATEN device offers.

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Answer 5

Apr 19, 2020 12:27 PM in response to wturnerharris

Also came across this combination that might work:

Sabrent 2-Port USB-C
- https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-2-Port-Type-C-Delivery-USB-KCPD/dp/B07Y2HKN37
Mini-DP to HDMI Adapter for TB Display
- https://www.amazon.com/Cable-Matters-DisplayPort-Mini-Adapter/dp/B014DV2RGG/

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Answer 6

Apr 19, 2020 3:08 PM in response to wturnerharris

Those won't work. The switch is USB-C, and while it says "Fully compatible with Thunderbolt 3", that just means it can be plugged into Thunderbolt 3 ports, not that it actually handles Thunderbolt 3 signals. Its video output is HDMI, not Thunderbolt.

There are adapters for connecting HDMI displays to Thunderbolt/Mini DisplayPort, but none will work in reverse to connect a Thunderbolt display to HDMI.

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Answer 7

Apr 18, 2020 8:34 PM in response to wturnerharris

IOGEAR GTD733 (newer version of the discontinued version but TB3)
- https://www.amazon.com/IOGEAR-Thunderbolt-Quantum-Docking-Station/dp/B071WWNCH1

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Connect Thunderbolt Display to Mac Mini and MBP 2018

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