Mac Book Pro 2020 (4 Thunderbolt ports) & Thunderbolt Display (2011)

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Mac Book Pro 2020 (4 Thunderbolt ports) & Thunderbolt Display (2011)

Hi all,

I have replaced my 2012-Mac Book Air with a 2020-Mac Book Pro (4 Thunderbolt ports). I use the new Mac Book Pro with the 2011-Thunderbolt Display with Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter (from Apple) so that I can still connect the Mac Book Pro with the old display. It works fine for the past 2 years.

The problem happens when I upgrade MacOS to 12.2.1 this week. After upgrading, my Mac Book Pro does not detect the display properly. Most of the time, it does not find the display, i.e, I cannot add the display or cannot use the Thunderbolt Display at all. For a few times, it can find and use the display as nothing has happened. But after turning my Mac Book Pro off and turn on again, it does not find the display.

I have no idea what happens. I suspect that the new macOS does not support the Thunderbolt Adapter and the Thunderbolt display anymore; however, why it does work sometimes.

Can anyone help to point me how to solve this so that I can still use the Thunderbolt Display? I really appreciate any help or advice.

Best

Posted on Feb 11, 2022 4:56 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Grant Bennet-Alder

Level 10

140,255 points

Feb 12, 2022 8:33 AM in response to anukal_chiralak

to get a Mac display to become active, you need the Mac to query the display, and the display to answer with its name and capabilities. Otherwise, the display will not be shown as present, and no data will be sent to the display. "No signal detected" is generated by the DISPLAY, not by the Mac.

This query is only sent at certain times:

• at startup

• at wake from sleep — so momentarily sleeping and waking your Mac may work

• at insertion of the Mac-end of the display-cable, provided everything on that cable is ready-to-go

• on invoking Option-(Detect Display) button in Displays preferences (from another display)

The issue is made more complex because the ThunderBolt adapter may be late waking up. This will cause the query to be lost. So try doing some of those things again.

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Answer 2

Feb 12, 2022 8:08 AM in response to anukal_chiralak

Hello anukal_chiralak,

Welcome to Apple Support Communities. It sounds like you're having trouble using your Mac Book Air as a display for your MacBook Pro. We are happy to share information that may help.

First, are you able to use a different external display with your MacBook Pro? If not, try the steps here: If your external display isn't detected or appears blurry on your Mac

You might also want to check out whether using AirPlay would work for what you need: Use AirPlay on your Mac

Take care.

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Mac Book Pro 2020 (4 Thunderbolt ports) & Thunderbolt Display (2011)

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