M1 Mac Mini and Thunderbolt Display

Thunderbolt evolved out of Firewire. So initially it was seen as an improvement over USB. The TB1 spec allowed for a max throughput of 10gb/sec. The Thunderbolt display is TB1. It was released in 2011 with the initial Thunderbolt spec.

The adapters built into the cable as well as the port used the Mini Display Port (MDP) adapter, but a thunderbolt cable is not compatible with MDP cables, as Thunderbolt includes other protocols and different wiring.

For the most part TB2 cables work with TB1 devices, and the MDP connector was retained when TB2 was released in 2013.

When TB3 was released in 2015, apple changed the port to a USB-C connector. For this reason, to use your thunderbolt 1/2 device with current Apple computers that come withe the USB-C ports, you need an adapter to adapt the Thunderbolt MDP.

This is the Thunderbolt2 to 3 adapter I'm sure you've seen mentioned.

Previously, it was not a problem to daisy chain multiple Apple Thunderbolt displays with various mac laptops, imac's etc., but with the new M1 chip, the hardware/firmware apparently doesn't support more than 1 Thunderbolt display, so this thread is basically serving to point out this limitation to a lot of disappointed people. I have a Thunderbolt display myself, but only 1, so this is not a personal concern to me, as I always used it as a 2nd display with a macbook pro, but I understand that this engineering limitation is frustrating to a lot of people who were attracted to the advertised price/performance benefit of the M1 based mini.

What does work with the m1 mini's, is to use a thunderbolt display and an hdmi display so that's a viable path to have 2 displays, and one I am considering. My biggest issue with purchasing an M1 mini is that apple is upcharging $200 to go from 256gb SSD to a 512gb SSD, as I know that 256g isn't going to work for me, given what I do as a developer and occassional 4k video editor -- but that is another story.

Thanks for the details. When my M1 and TB2-TB3 adapter arrive I will go down to one Apple Thunderbolt monitor. I’ll run like that until either (1) Apple fixes the issue and supports two Apple Thunderbolt displays ...which they should but likely won’t....or (2) until I tire of it and purchase an ultra wide screen.

I guess I’ll need to pick up a web cam and decent speakers too as all of that is in the Apple Thunderbolt Display.

I have a Mac mini 16gb ram 256GB ssd and I am running it with the Thunderbolt Display. I am using a TB2-TB3 adapter and it works. I have read that the display needs the latest firmware, which my monitor did have as I used it often with my MacBook Pro and air as a large display dock since 2014. It is now my main display for my Mac mini and works flawlessly. I have connected ethernet, and usb through the display, the sound and brightness keyboard shortcuts work. It is great and looks awesome together!

I have the same issue when running the TB display from my Mac mini. Will have to test with my older MacBook Pro to see if this is an issue only for the macmini....

Edit...just did the test and I only have the small line of flickering pixels on the Mac mini. I do not have them on my 2015 MacBook Pro 13 inch. Seems to be related either to the TB2-TB3 adapter or apple silicon

Better sale the thunderbolt display, which is still fairly expensive and buy a Gigabyte M27Q with KVM (you use a single keyboard and mouse with 2 different laptops/Macs/PCs). It works directly via usb-c cable and the resolution is same like thunderbolt display (2k) and it also has high refreshrate and low response time which is good for games.

No camera, no speakers, no mics, its not a 1 on 1 replacement, but its antiglare (unlike thunderbolt), it has 170 hz refresh rate (you will love it compared to 60 hz).

2 x HDMI

1 x DisplayPort

1 x Audio out

2 x USB 3.0

1 x USB Type-C

For those interested in Gigabyte M27Q 170hz monitor check this video, its connected to a PC and a MacBook (not sure if M1 though), sharing the same keyboard and mouse using KVM (tech) from the monitor:

https://youtu.be/cfpdXtJzSTE?t=289

I returned the M1, kept both my Thunderbolts. If. IF BOTH Thunderbolts had worked with the M1, I would not be a part of this discussion. I see that a M1 Pro Mini is in the works...MIGHT even support 2 monitors. Might. Just spend more money. That will fix everything. Considering bailing on the whole Apple environment. Too restrictive, too Apple-centric.

Just keep in mind that you want to use old tech with first generation new tech. I doubt thunderbolt displays are the only monitors out there for you and the problem is the thunderbolt tech to begin with. Since you said you might bail apple you can ditch the TB displays and buy better alternatives that you can use with anything and not be restricted by a technology that is very specific.

Planned obsolescence, tech waste, deliberate dysfunction of a product that still works as intended creates not only excess volume for the landfill, it creates dissatisfied customers who rightfully expect better. Forcing users of existing Apple technology to upgrade unnecessarily (and at no small expense) may have the opposite of the intended effect: consumers who seek alternatives to the imperious and capricious whims of the Apple product developers.

I agree but got it solved by hooking up my M1 Mini, one apple monitor and I added a Gigabyte M27Q 27" 170Hz 1440P KVM Gaming Monitor, which has the same quality image to the HDMI port, working great. also since the new M1 Imac are 24" this also makes it a good solution. It cost $300.

I am updating my 2011 iMac to mac mini m1. My Thunderbolt display has been working as a second display and in a very good performance. I have read about not been able to use 2 thunderbolts, but I found video some using 2x apple displays with a mini, just because of Big Sur.

I have the opportunity to buy a second-hand apple display. Would anybody know it will work as a second display with the mini m1?

TIA

Share te video with us. Unfortunately, at this point all evidence point to the fact that 2 thunderbolt displays are not possible with any Big Sur update. I’d advise you to wait until more info on the subject is available. I shared a video back in this thread of Luke Miani who used an iMac display to convert it to hdmi input in order to work with the regular hdmi port on the mac mini, but the process involves some tinkering with aftermarket custom made component, which is not something I’d do with such expensive hardware. Best option is to use a regular HDMI or usb-c monitor as your second monitor and be done with it.

Found this thread while researching options for my M1 Mini...

Here's a possible workaround....

Use one Apple Thunderbolt Display on the Thunderbolt with the TB3>TB2 adaptor

and

Use one nearly identical Apple LED Cinema Display 27 on the HDMI with an HDMI>Mini DisplayPort adaptor.

The displays have essentially the same external appearance and screen panel. While a Thunderbolt display cannot be easily connected to HDMI, there are adaptors that can convert HDMI to DisplayPort. These adaptors require external power but that's no big deal. The LED Cinema Display lacks some of the ports of the TB Display but this shouldn't be a huge issue....

I have one TB display for the Mini and one LED Apple Cinema 27 on my eventually retiring 2010 Mac Pro but only use one monitor anyway.

So I have a 2021 M1 Mac Mini and cannot get a second monitor of any type to work with it. Seems we are stuck with only one monitor on a Mac Mini M1 (?). The only monitor that works is a brand new LG UltraFine 4K display plugged into USB-C.

My second monitor is a 27" Apple Thunderbolt Display that was working perfectly on my 2013 MacPro for the last 8 years. I've tried the apple-branded Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter and I've tried a 3rd-party https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B086MM1VKP/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1 adapter plugged into HDMI (and USB). Neither works.

Removing the LG UltraFine 4K and rebooting with just the 27" Apple Thunderbolt Display and again, it does not work. Plugging the LG UltraFine 4K into the USB-C works immediately. I just cannot see a path forward to getting two monitors to work on the new M1 MacMini.