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I have a Thunderbolt Display 27-inch that I am trying to connect to my 2017 15-inch MacBook Pro. I have the Thunderbolt 2 to Thunderbolt 3 adapter and it worked great for years. However, now the monitor won't power up. My 2017 MacBook Pro does not have the mag-safe power port that the integrated video and power cable the display has. Yet, the monitor worked for several years without having to connect the display's mag-safe cable. Any hints on trouble shooting? Thanks.
that Mag-safe cable is for your display to be able to power the MacBook Pro. Otherwise, it is not used. It was never required for using the display.
ThunderBolt-3 <--> Thunderbolt-2 adapter can run genuine ThunderBolt displays ONLY, not Mini DisplayPort, Not USB-C, not any adapters. The adapter does not provide power in either direction.
that Mag-safe cable is for your display to be able to power the MacBook Pro. Otherwise, it is not used. It was never required for using the display.
ThunderBolt-3 <--> Thunderbolt-2 adapter can run genuine ThunderBolt displays ONLY, not Mini DisplayPort, Not USB-C, not any adapters. The adapter does not provide power in either direction.
A better description of my problem is that the display is not waking up. I’ve tried resetting SMC and PRAM. The insulation around the terminus end of the Thunderbolt 2 cable is cracked, but the shielding doesn’t seem to be broken or kinked. Any hints?
If my memory serves me, at least some of those older Apple displays have an LED on the front that works in a very unusual way. They light up when the display has AC power, but there is no picture. When there is any attempt at picture, the LED shuts off (since the picture, if visible, would tell you it's on).
Hello. After intermittently working, the problem persists. Using the detect displays button does not detect the external display. I'm stymied by this problem. All adapters are genuine Apple. All efforts to reset SMC have not solved for this either. Any more ideas? Thanks.
on a 15-in 2017 MacBook Pro, use:
system Preferences > Displays ...
... hold down the Option key and when the (Detect Displays) button appears, click on it.
Unfortunately, no luck. Thanks for your continued help.
The other common method to get a display to be recognized is to sleep-and-wake your Mac, but that should not work any better that (Detect Displays) button.
thunderbolth display power
