MacBook Pro M4 with thunderbolt 5 and portable monitor

I just bought the new M4 pro with thunderbolt 5, but looks like it doesn't work with any portable monitors. I tried 3 of them using only one cable for both power and signal #portable. It only works if you power up the monitor then the power pass through it and then it can charge the laptop too.

Anyone experienced the same issue or if you have a similar setup can you check to see if is not just me? I also went to the Apple Store to check with a range of M* macs and looks like the only one with this issue is the M4pro w/ tb 5 (tested using both thunderbolt 4&5 cables)

I called the support but they just pass me around for 1h until they hang up eventually without saying goodbye :).

Just want to know if this is software fixable or a hardware issue as I do use this nomad setup quite often.

Thanks.

MacBook Pro 14″

Posted on Nov 14, 2024 7:35 AM

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ToddGeorgeKelly

Level 1

48 points

Posted on Nov 19, 2024 10:51 AM

Same problem, though it DOES work if you use a usb c display hub in between the portable monitor and the thunderbolt 5 ports. No power passthrough needed.

I Have access to both a M4 pro Mac mini and an M4 Mac mini. It works perfectly without the hub on the M4 Mac mini. It doesn’t work on the M4 Pro at all unless I throw the hub in between.

The person that said don’t get distracted by thunderbolt five and that it wasn’t the issue, ngl rn it looks like 5 is the issue.

the hub I used is this one off amazon

https://a.co/d/gH16MI0

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170 replies

spongman

Level 1

14 points

Jul 23, 2025 12:56 PM in response to dragos-florin

The specs page for the M4 Pro/Max states:

Thunderbolt 4 digital video output

* Support for native DisplayPort 1.4 output over USB-C

this is clearly false.

Sep 17, 2025 3:23 AM in response to dragos-florin

It is still a relevant issue, and it should be addressed by Apple, to say the least. Any update would be appreciated.

[Edited by Moderator]

Sep 17, 2025 7:16 AM in response to dragos-florin

I can confirm that undating to macOS Tahoe solves the issue.

Dec 4, 2024 12:43 PM in response to dragos-florin

Hello, I had the same issue and the same answer from Apple Support by phone and technicall service directly on the store, nobody who works there knows anything.

I have a M4 pro Max and couldn´t make my portable monitor work (it is thuntherbolt 3 and 4) with only one cable from my macbook, (like i used to do it with my intel and M1 macbook). I tried buying different cables and hubs, but the only thing that worked was to connect the monitor direclty to the AC and then the powered monitor with only one cable to my Macbook. Thats the definitive solution.

I even make it work with 3 external monitors, 2 monitor connected directly to the AC and then each monitor with one cable to my macbok. the 3th monitor worked with a HDMI cable.

As far as I undestand, apple is trying to protect the battery of the macbook by not transmiting power though their port tunberbolt5 port, only receiving. My macbook is even charging from the monitor USB contection.

Hope this can be usefull for all who is having this problem.

David S.

Level 7

20,636 points

Jan 10, 2025 5:51 PM in response to drtsqrl

I asked Plugable Technologies to test its USB-C portable monitor for laptop (USBC-PDMON) which has 2x 10Gbps USB-C ports for data or connecting peripherals, 100W PD pass-through (85W charging), 15.6” IPS display, cover/stand with a M4 Pro 14" MacBook Pro using one of the T5 ports. Looks like it works:

We've tested the USBC-PDMON with a MacBook Pro (14-inch, 2024, M4 Pro) and they worked well together. The portable monitor was able to successfully show video from the Mac, and the other functions such as the 10Gbps USB hub ports and Power Delivery pass-through also worked well.

Just passing that information on to those who are interested. Obviously contact the company to make certain before you buy it.

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MacBook Pro M4 with thunderbolt 5 and portable monitor