Ventura 13.2.1 update fails to recognize external display

I am using an Apple Thunderbolt Display 27" with a 2021 MacBook Pro 16" M1 Pro chip and had the same issue not recognizing the display with the attached MagSafe/ Thunderbolt cable that is permanently attached to the monitor, with the Apple Thunderbolt to Thunderbolt 3 / USB-C adapter . However I found that using a separate Apple Thunderbolt cable I had and connecting it to the Thunderbolt port on the back of the display and then the other end into the Thunderbolt 3 adapter, when I connect it to the MacBook Pro it works perfectly. I am running MacOS Ventura 13.4.1. The display works fine this way and allows me to adjust brightness and volume. Speakers and the built in webcam also work fine with no issues.

Fixed the issue by using another hub (same non apple device model).

But the previous one, that don't work for me - worked well on previous OS version for my MacBook Pro,

and works well just now on my wife's MacBook Air with prev. Ventura OS version that I had when hub worked for me.

@francisquilicotbajao: Bypass the attached thunderbolt cable with an adapter and plug the screen in manually (USB-C to thunderbolt port on the back of screen) - I am working for a month now and it didn't go dark/black once!

Only one small downside: When Mac goes to sleep and wakes up again, screen has to be unplugged and plugged back in again - so be careful, if you have hard drives attached to back of screen.

I just found an older discussion - apparently the problem occurred years ago already. One remedy offered is to not use the display's power/thunderbolt cord at all and instead run a thunderbolt cable from your computer to the display's thunderbolt input port! And it seems to work! Fingers crossed.

An update to the issue I experienced connecting the M1 MacBook Pro to the Thunderbolt Display.

I was about to use a different usb-c to thunderbolt adaptor as well as connecting that adaptor to the thunderbolt port on the display (the latter as a last resort).

Anyhow, I connected the existing usb-c to thunderbolt as adaptor (still attached to the umbilical chord from the display), to a usb-c on the other side of the M1 16in MacBook Pro and it worked perfectly and has continued to work perfectly using the port on the other side of the MacBook since last Saturday.

If I reconnect the display to the original usb-c port on the M1 Pro , only the display works, none of the ports (speakers, microphone, camera, usb-a ports, Ethernet) work. Reconnecting to the usb-c on the other side, they all work again.

so it looks like an issue with the board perhaps.

more testing needed on my side.

hope that helps others.

I have spoken to Apple who had identified this as an issue with the Thunderbolt adapter.

Today I picked up a new adapter under warranty but the same issue persists.

I have a 27" Apple Thunderbolt Display with an M1 MacBook Pro 14" which does not work with the adapter, but it does work with an older 2015 MacBook Pro which is not updated.

Wow - and I thought my 2018 Macbook Pro's graphics card was damaged... I started having the same issues earlier this year. With two different 27" thunderbolt displays! It kept turning black after a while. I could always unplug it, plug back in and it would work. But only for a while. And with each Ventura update it got worse. Annoying!

• I tried a Viewsonic screen with my Macbook Pro and used HDMI through a hub - works just fine on any USB-C port.
• I tried a different macbook running an older MacOs with the thunderbolt display, and that combo seems to work fine.
• I tried a new Apple thunderbolt adapter - same problems occur.

I conclude: it can't be the adapter (problem persists with new adapter), it can't be the graphics card (works fine with different screen), it can't be the thunderbolt display (works fine with one machine).

Which leaves the OS! I sure hope, they won't forget about this problem in their next update...

From: https://apple.stackexchange.com/a/450679

Step 1: turn off external monitor or unplug

Step 2: restart MacOS 13 ventura

Step 3: turn on external monitor or plug back in.

Same issue here and I have tested the monitor.

I have a macbook M1 Pro 16 inch running monterey and it works perfectly well with my Apple 27 Thunderbolt 2 display but My Macbook M1 Pro 14 inch running Ventura 13.2.1 doesnt even recognise it at all.

I can run 2 displays on the 16 Inch M1 Pro but can only run the the newer dell monitor on the 14 inch M1 Pro.

They are almost identical machines aside from the Mac OS and size.

I have been having the same issue since November 2022. I am unable to change my 2022 Mac Studio display settings, color temperature period (without an external connected). I am also unable to access my other external functions and properties when it is connected - will only mirror the screen I have no control over display controls. I had downgrade OS to run my Wacom Cintiq pro touch 24 off a Mac mini using macOS Monterey and I cannot update any applications or OS else I will lose all functionality. It is a Ventura issue but going back to Monterey fixes the issue until apple finds a way to fix this external bug.

Wacom has been helpful in trying to get the device to work with apples new OS but as of right now all my externals are run using Monterey.

Hi josephandpearson,

Thanks for contacting Apple Support Communities!

We understand that since you've updated the macOS, your external monitor is no longer detected.

Check out this resource which will show you how to troubleshoot your external monitor not being recognized by your Mac: If your external display is dark or low resolution - Apple Support

"Find out what your Mac supports

Your external display will be dark if it exceeds the maximum number of external displays that your Mac can use at the same time. This limit varies by Mac model.

Your external display will be dark or use a lower resolution or refresh rate if you configure it to exceed the maximum supported resolution or refresh rate. This limit varies by Mac model, display, the video cable and adapter used with the display, and the resolution and refresh rate of other connected displays. Learn what to do if your screen became dark after you changed its resolution or refresh rate.

To find out how many external displays your Mac supports, and at which resolutions and refresh rates, check the specifications for your Mac model:

• Mac mini
• Mac Studio
• Mac Pro
• iMac
• MacBook Pro
• MacBook Air
• MacBook  

Detect your display

If your Mac can't detect your external display, your external display will be dark. Use one or more of these steps to try again to detect your display.

• Disconnect the display from your Mac, then reconnect it. It might help to turn off the display first.
• Put your Mac to sleep, then wake it. On Mac laptop computers, you can close the lid for a few seconds, then open the lid again.
• Choose Apple menu  > System Settings (or System Preferences), then click Displays. Press and hold the Option key to show the Detect Displays button, then click the button.
• Restart your Mac. If you can't restart your Mac, press and hold its power button for about 10 seconds to turn it off. Then press and release the power button to turn it back on."

We hope this helps you.

Cheers!

Hi josephandpearson,

With the issue persisting after following the steps previously provided, it would be best to contact Apple directly to investigate what's happening with your display not being detected.

Contact - Official Apple Support

Regards.

For now, it works.

I am using an Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter plugged into my 2018 Macbook Pro (running 13.4) and then a thunderbolt cable into the back port of the Thunderbolt display. The internal camera of the display works with Facetime/Skype. I have my mouse plugged into the display's USB port. I did not try to mount hard drives to the display yet, but assume that it will work as well. I used this setup every day for a week now and have not had a black screen or flickering once.

There is a catch: When the Mac goes into sleep mode, it loses connection to the screen. Only remedy is to pull the adapter and plug it back in. But I can live with that for now!

I have the same issue as the original poster.

With the Ventura 13.2 update my work 2021 Mac Pro stays connected to my 27" Apple Thunderbolt Display for about 5 minutes and then goes black. This worked completely fine before the update. "Detect Displays" in the "Displays" tab under System Preferences does not identify my display, despite its having the same configuration as before the update. I have tried changing ports, restarting, plugging/unplugging etc....Any idea how to remedy?

My display stays connected to my 2012 MacBook Pro on Catalina. So this is an issue with Ventura 13.2 I suspect.