Ventura 13.2.1 update fails to recognize external display

When my Mac Studio updated to Ventura 13.2.1, it no longer recognized my 27" Apple Thunderbolt Display, although it worked beautifully before the update. "Detect Displays" in the "Displays" tab under System Preferences does not identify my old display, despite its having the same configuration as before the update. Under the "System Report", the old display is not recognized in any of the Thunderbolt/USB4 buses, although my "Studio Display" and an external hard driving using Thunderbolt 2 connections do display and do work. I have tried unplugging-replugging and unconnecting-reconnecting my old monitor and have tried logging-out-logging in and restarting my Mac Studio. All to no avail. It is like the newest system upgrade refuses to recognize the old monitor.

HELP! Any suggestions?

Mac Studio

Posted on Mar 6, 2023 12:20 PM

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42 replies

Jun 19, 2023 7:44 AM in response to layoutdeluxe

Hi @layoutdeluxe,


did this solution work?


Do you have access to the other functions in the display like the camera, speakers and usb ports?


Do you have the link to the older thread?


It was working perfectly until I upgraded the Mac to Venura (13.4).


Is this planned obsolescence on Apples part? If it was working fine with an older OS until last week when the machine was updated from Monetary (or as others have pointed out an older version of Ventura), what is the reason to hobble the thunderbolt display now?

Jun 19, 2023 7:55 AM in response to tmhayes

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!


Jul 5, 2023 1:18 PM in response to francisquilicotbajao

@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.


Jul 6, 2023 4:04 AM in response to layoutdeluxe

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.

Jul 10, 2023 7:43 PM in response to tmhayes

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.

Jul 23, 2023 7:22 PM in response to josephandpearson

I have some tips to fixed os ventura 13.2.xx issues which difficult to detect an external monitor (macbookpro 2017 case)


1. Your macbook must be on shutdown position.


2. Unplug your hdmi dongle before you start to turn on your macbook


3. When apple logo displayed plug-in your hdmi dongle to your macbook


4. After login landingpage displayed. Turn on your external monitor. And then you must login rapidly before your monitor on standbye mode (inmycase). Btw i'm using samsung sr35 monitor with hdmi cable.


5. If you have been passed with all the steps above


6. Enjoy.


note : i think we can try on restart position. Because maybe my external monitor triggered by login landing page.

Thankyou :)

Sep 20, 2023 7:48 AM in response to josephandpearson

I have this issue intermittently. Mac would not recognize the external displays some times If I unplug the mac from docking station and plug back in. I had to restart to get it recognized. Finally I found a solution. The display link manager is responsible. It needs to be launched. Even though it does get launched on restart, for some one reason it stops if unplug from docking station. So I had to open display link manager again, some times more than once to get the other monitors recognized.


Launch Pad -> Display Link Manager - ensure launch on start up.

Try opening the the display link manager multiple times if monitors not recognized.

Ventura 13.2.1 update fails to recognize external display

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