I have a 2021 MacBook Pro 16 inch with M1 processor. I have connected the external display with a USB C cable and the monitor doesn't appear in add display anyone know why I cannot connect?
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
MacBook Pro Apple Silicon
<< used a USBC to USB C cable from my 2021 MacBook pro >>
the only USB-C cable "shipped in the box" with a MacBook Pro is a CHARGE-ONLY cable. it has no data leads except for a keyboard, and can not possibly run a display at all.
If I were King, I would paint all these Charge-ONLY USB-C cables bright orange.
<< used a USBC to USB C cable from my 2021 MacBook pro >>
the only USB-C cable "shipped in the box" with a MacBook Pro is a CHARGE-ONLY cable. it has no data leads except for a keyboard, and can not possibly run a display at all.
If I were King, I would paint all these Charge-ONLY USB-C cables bright orange.
Thanks everyone for your help it was the cable, I didn't know that all USB C cables were not the same, or that you cant really power and send data to a monitor using usb3 to hdmi. I really appreciate all of you for wanting to help and taking the time out of your day! You are all the best!
Ok perfect it’s a MagSafe and thunderbolt 2 cable for the older apple monitor 2013 mbp. The new mbp computer that I can’t seem to link has only usb 4 thunderbolt and hdmi ins so that is why I tried using what I believed to be a thunderbolt 4 to connect, but that is likely just a charge cable. We seem to be making progress. All cables are not created equally.
Thanks everyone for helping me I thought I was a little smarter than I apparently am.
If that's an Apple A1407 Thunderbolt Display, with Thunderbolt-2 input, then the only simple way to run it off a USB-C MacBook Pro is with the Apple ThunderBolt-3 <-> ThunderBolt-2 adapter, about US$50.
For displays, this Apple ThunderBolt-3 <-> ThunderBolt-2 adapter supports ONLY Thunderbolt displays, no others, not even with additional adapters.
Grant you are correct it is the A1407 a co-worker of mine who is quite computer savy just grabbed an adaptor he had that converted the Thunderbolt cable that currently connects the old laptop to the monitor adapted it to USB c or 4 and it worked. Thanks for spending the time researching or sharing your knowledge! All of you guys really helped me out and I am so appreciative! Needless to say I was frustrated because the USB C cables are not all the same (news to me) but through this I have learned quite a bit! Case closed thanks again!
Read this link, and make sure the connector you are using is the right thunderbolt connector for a MacBook Pro M1 Silicone --> Connect a display to your Mac - Apple Support
Have you tried using an HDMI cable with the native HDMI port? I’ve tried using a USB-C to HDMI cable. However, that has a very large connector at the HDMI end, and I suspect that it’s conversion hardware inside all that.
HerB1052D23 wrote:
I tried using a USBA to HDMI cable to connect to the new laptop as it does have an HDMI port but the computer didn't sense the display. Thanks for your help!
a USB-A can not be the source of a display data stream. it is far too slow.
so that is a dead end.
Grant Bennet-Alder wrote:
y_p_w--
Thanks for your additional information. I stand corrected.
There are indeed a very small minority of specialty devices available.
But that is not to suggest that USB-to-HDMI is in any way good general solution. If attempted, one must examine very closely whether such a device is being used in a way likely to achieve success.
Everything is a compromise. I'm not quite sure what that USB 3.0 to HDMI adapter does, whether it's a lot of software involved or not. It could very well pixelate a lot, especially if on a hub or if the drivers aren't very good. I've used a J5Create USB-C hub with ethernet port and HDMI, and the ethernet stopped working if anything else was connected. With USB 3.0 there is a very small margin to get high def video transmitted through an ideal 5 Gbit/sec of raw bandwidth.
USB-C itself has turned out to be a mess because there are just so many variations. USB-C Super-Speed cables are really expensive, and Apple doesn't even package them as charging cables.
But for the OP, I'm not sure if I missed what kind of external display is being used. Most these days have HDMI ports, which are ubiquitous and cheap. I've connected my 2021 14" MBP via a cheap HDMI cable to my TV and it looks great. I've also tried using a USB-C to HDMI cable (got it originally for my wife to connect her 2019 16" MBP [no native HDMI port] to a monitor) and that works well. However, a lot of these cables and converters aren't capable of the highest resolution and then users get frustrated.
what display is this exactly?
there are two Apple displays, about 27-in diagonal that could use a Mini DisplayPort SHAPED input connector. One is a thunderBolt-2 display, the other is a Mini DisplayPort display, and you MUST identify the display correctly to know what cables/adapyers to use.
ALSO, one of these has a display input and a MagSafe,
the other has a display input, MagSafe AND USB-A shaped input cord.
If this is your Apple display, which cord does it have? two Connector leads or three?
HerB1052D23 wrote:
Great questions the display is the 27 inch apple display and it has 3 usb A connectors, a thunderbolt (or thunderbolt 2) and a firewire 800 port.
I need to know about the INPUT cable, to identify whether this is a Mini DisplayPort display or a Thunderbolt-2 display. what ports are on the body is not definative.
The Mini DisplayPort version has display input, and a USB-A input in its cable, along with a MagSafe.
The ThunderBolt-2 version has ONLY ThunderBolt-2 and a MagSafe.
¿what connectors are on the Input cable?
Depends on what it is. There are some USB-A to HDMI adapters that only transmit power. USB 3.0 can be used for video with the right converter, but it will be limited. This one claims to be capable of up to 1080p with Mac compatibility.
This is from the OP in a subsequent post:
Hi yes I did go through the articles I could find but the monitor (I used the apple monitor I have been using with my Late 2013 MacBook pro) using firewire to HDMI and it didn't recognize that monitor and then bought an LG with USBC connectors and used a USBC to USB C cable from my 2021 MacBook pro and again when I went to add monitor it didn't appear on the drop down.
When you used the instructions in the referring article did it not work for you? If not, what error messages did you get?
You're welcome. I suspect you're not using an appropriate cable, which is why your MBP doesn't see the monitor.
Connecting external displays to 2021 MacBook Pro with M1 chip
