Apple Studio Display disconnects from MacBook Pro every few seconds.

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Level 1

19 points

Apple Studio Display disconnects from MacBook Pro every few seconds.

It works fine with MacBook Air (connected 2 different MacBook Airs to it). So I think that eliminate the cable from being the issue. I also tried and older intel MacBook pro and it does the same thing as the m1.

I plug the thunderbolt cable into the usb-c slot, and the Mac beeps, the display comes on (and I see it start to charge, then the screen goes blank.). A couple of seconds later, the Mac beeps, the display comes on (and I see it start to charge, then the screen goes blank.). Rinse repeat.

It was working fine over a year then it cropped up a few weeks ago. Then it started working. Now it's not. This happens on all USB-C slots on the Mac.

Any suggestions?

Posted on Mar 12, 2024 2:47 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Redbob Author

Level 1

19 points

May 3, 2024 9:47 AM in response to Oxnard_Montalvo

My issue came back and it turns out the display needed the main board replaced. Cost about $400.

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Answer 2

hcsitas

Level 6

12,692 points

May 3, 2024 1:45 AM in response to Oxnard_Montalvo

USB-C cables are not alike except for the connector. In fact, many C cables come only with USB 2 specified. Unless it says USB 3+, it will never work. Found out the hard way...

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Answer 3

Redbob Author

Level 1

19 points

Apr 4, 2024 4:45 PM in response to jmellz

I tried everything. I finally made an appointment with the Genius Bar.

the tech plugged in their MacBook Pro and the issue didn’t occur. She ran diagnostics and no issues found. She did a “revive” anyway to be on the safe side.

the only thing I could think of was the power socket. I didn’t try a different one at my house (just unplugged from the power strip and into the wall).

When I got home I did plug it into a different socket and it worked fine. I then plugged it back into the original socket and it worked fine. Really odd.

before 3 different MacBook pros didn’t work with it. MacBook airs did. No all is good (at least for now).

Really odd. No charge for the Genius Bar visit.

good luck.

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Answer 4

May 3, 2024 1:39 AM in response to Redbob

I can reproduce that by using a non-Apple USB-C charge cable from another device. In this case from a DeWalt hammer drill. Turns out that not all USB-C cables are alike. They are finicky beasts and charge cables are nothing like data cables in terms of performance. The price between the two is a clue it turns out, even though the both have a USB-C connector.

So i get my MBPRO cycling as you describe with the DeWalt cable, but all back to normal when i use a genuine Apple cable. Bit of googling will uncover some YouTube stuff on the topic. Im no MythBuster - just reporting what my experience was. Dont forget these cables cop a hammering by being disconnected, bent, strained and fumbled with many times a day. If a single aspect of the cable was to go out of spec - such as dust / corrosion / bent / and your MBPRO decided it was a non-genuine cable .... This was my experience and I hope the info helps.

Best of luck.

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