Related Article: About the Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter

Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter not working with MacMini

According to this product page this should allow my Thunderbolt 27" studio display to work with my MacMini 2020 but it doesn't work. Is there something I am missing? Mac mini works with a non apple display via HDMI. adapter works with MacBookPro 2019.

Mac mini (M1, 2020)

Posted on Sep 21, 2023 11:42 PM

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1 reply

Sep 23, 2023 11:41 AM in response to ultrasnoopy

I suspect that you are missing something. Apple has made three 27" standalone displays:


  • LED Cinema Display (27-inch). Model A1316. A 2560x1440 pixel display that takes Mini DisplayPort input.
  • Thunderbolt Display (27-inch). Model A1407. A 2560x1440 pixel display that takes Thunderbolt input.
  • Studio Display (2022). Model A2525. A 5120x2880 pixel display that takes Thunderbolt 3 input.


You wouldn't use this adapter with the Studio Display (2022) (which would plug into the Mini directly) or with any of the much, much older 15" – 21" Studio Displays (since none of them speak Thunderbolt).


You also wouldn't use it with the LED Cinema Display. The adapter only translates Thunderbolt. It will not make the Thunderbolt 2 side look like a Mini DisplayPort if you plug a Mini DisplayPort into it (the way that a Thunderbolt 1 / 2 host port on a Mac would). To hook up the LED Cinema Display you need a USB-C to Mini DisplayPort adapter; you can find lots of these on Amazon, and they are much cheaper than the Apple TB3-to-2 adapter.


If you are using the adapter to hook up a Thunderbolt Display (model A1407) to a M1 mini, it should work.

Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter not working with MacMini

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