Level 1

29 points

MacOS Big Sur, MacBook Pro 15 Late 2013, Thunderbolt Display

Following update to Big Sur, which also updates the firmware, my MacBook Pro 15 late 2013 will not boot if the Thunderbolt Display is connected. I can downgrade to Catalina but the firmware is not downgraded and the problem remains. I have reported it to Apple Support but wonder if anyone else is experiencing the same issue...

The system will boot correctly if the Thunderbolt Display is not connected

Connecting the display after boot the display works correctly on MacOS (which supports hot swop)

I use Bootcamp extensively and that does not support hot swop of the Thunderbolt Display so I

cannot use the display with Windows at all since updating (this is the big issue)

I have not found a reliable way of downgrading the firmware (which is where I believe the root cause of the issue lies)

Mike.

Windows, Windows 10

Posted on Nov 14, 2020 1:58 AM

Top-ranking reply

etienne68yellow

Level 1

18 points

Posted on Dec 15, 2020 11:21 AM

ALL SORTED...

I spent hours on the phone with Apple Ireland about this issue last week and they remotely took over my Macbook Pro and did loads of unfathomable tech stuff as I watched, including taking time-stamps of actions they did, as they occurred in real time.

They rang me to let me know that they were about to release macOS Big Sur 11.1 and that the engineers had inserted some coding to hopefully sort my/your issue.

They rang again tonight and asked me to download, install and restart to test it, and they waited while the install occurred etc.

And it works.... Macbook now happily reboots with Thunderbolt monitor attached, etc

Feel free to send me £10 notes in brown envelopes to show your eternal gratitude ;O)

Happy Christmas one and all.

Giles

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Similar questions

60 replies

Dec 15, 2020 10:22 AM in response to ddkpe

Can you use camera and speaker on thunderbolt screen after this 'fix' ? only these threads are really confusing as I thought this one was just about camera and speakers and firmware - not just the thunderbolt screen connection boot up issue which is on another thread!!

OUM2303279 Author

Level 1

29 points

Dec 23, 2020 8:08 AM in response to jackfromleigh-on-sea

I'm delighted that you have it working again.

Is it possible that you have a fault in the cables that you have overcome by jiggling them around in re-arranging them? (I'd leave well alone if I were you!)

Nov 14, 2020 9:31 AM in response to barbq55

FYI, it's the "dedicated" Apple 27" Thunderbolt Display.

Nov 14, 2020 9:33 AM in response to Donaldfromchippenham

Thanks for letting us know. Don, Nevermind. :) I typed my response and then refreshed the thread and sort of figured that out.

Nov 16, 2020 1:35 AM in response to OUM2303279

Hi Mike. What about performance on big sur with MacBook pro 15 late 2013? Thanx.

barbq55

Level 1

4 points

Nov 16, 2020 2:08 AM in response to Donaldfromchippenham

Hi, any updates from apple support on this issue yet?

Nov 16, 2020 11:24 PM in response to Conrad Taylor1

Thanks for your advise! This is great help for all of us.

Btw, I may leave in Big Sur and see any solution from Apple.

howardmd

Level 1

4 points

Nov 18, 2020 10:33 AM in response to Donaldfromchippenham

Ditto for me.. I also submitted a very detailed bug report with diags. The Apple rep said she did see any other reports about this issue. Hopefully, this has now changed.

Nov 19, 2020 9:19 PM in response to Conrad Taylor1

Please help, how fid you do it?

how did you install Catalina?

Dec 15, 2020 12:27 AM in response to keithkeith

Hear hear! I can now boot without disconnecting again.

There's still another issue over graphics remaining but I can live with that for now.

Dec 23, 2020 12:28 AM in response to philfnyc1

Following upgrade to Big Sur 11.1, can you use camera and speakers on Thunderbolt screen for video calls?

Dec 23, 2020 12:31 AM in response to jackfromleigh-on-sea

Yes, fully functional now and no need to disconnect on reboot.

Dec 23, 2020 3:41 AM in response to Donaldfromchippenham

Thanks. That’s a good result!

Dec 27, 2020 6:50 AM in response to OUM2303279

My MacBook Pro (15", 2017) is also not able to access the 27" Thunderbolt monitor after the Big Sur upgrade. Apple, please help!

Dec 27, 2020 8:28 AM in response to etienne68yellow

Yes, I installed 11.1 and Thunderbolt screen is blank

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MacOS Big Sur, MacBook Pro 15 Late 2013, Thunderbolt Display