Can't adjust thunderbolt display on Retina MBP

If I'm understanding correctly, one of the displays does not allow brightness to be adjusted, regardless of its sequence in daisy-chaining or it being the only displaly.

If that is the case, you should seek to have the display repaired or replaced (you can stop by the local Apple Store with an appointment at the Genius Bar). Your display comes with a 1 year hardware warranty, and is also covered by an AppleCare Protection Plan for any Mac you purchased at the same time as the display.

I sorted out how to adjust brightness from your MBP Retina to your TB display. Hold the keys Shift+ALT+ F2 or F1 depending on whether you want the display brighter/darker. This will ONLY adjust your laptop monitor which was frustrating so I figured out the following.

In order for the above key command to work ( Shift+ALT+ F2) on the external monitors, you need to plug in the USB chord hardwired to the TB display into the USB hub of your keyboard or USB hub of your laptop. This allows you to control the brightness through the USB. In addition you need to plug in the keyboard's USB to the laptop. So one USB into laptop from the TB display and one USB from keyboard into computer. Please let me know if this worked for you if you haven't already sorted the problem. Worked for me!

Thanks!

Daniel.

The Thunderbolt display does not use a USB plug to connect to the computer. You must have the Mini DisplayPort version.

Yes, you need to have the MiniDisplayPort connected IN ADDITION to the steps I listed above. Second display doesn't adjust brightness until I plug in the USB and MiniDisplayPort for the TB display. Malcolm thanks for jumping in and clarifiying that you actually need to plug in your monitor. Ha Ha. I probably confused some folks.

John, does your MBP have 2 thunderbolt ports?

If it does, then plug both monitors' thunderbolt cables directly into the MBP. Then in system preferences >> display you'll find a "brightness" slider available for each display that wasn't there before.

I couldn't get it to work with the monitors chained, they had to both plug their thunderbolt connectors into the machine. It's an unfortunate constraint, since chaining allows more flexibility of location, but as far as I can tell it's the reality of the hardware today.

Actually best solution is to buy an actual Apple keyboard, plug it into the thunderbolt display (with the usb cable) and then that keyboard will be able to control the brightness on the thunderbolt display. I just was at Best Buy, the guy there told me it would work and he was correct.

This does NOT work for me. I have a retina 15" MBP connected to a Thunderbolt display and a second Thunderbolt display is connected to that. I have a wired Apple USB keyboard plugged into the first display.

Using the keyboard, only the SECOND display (at the end of the chain) responds with a brightness icon. And opening the "displays" panel there is only a Brightness slide on the second display. The first display is set to be the main display (with the menu bar) in the Displays control panel.

FWIW, I switched the positions of the displays. I have connected the MBP to what use to be the secondary one and the one that i used to connect to is now the end of the chain.

Keyboard, MS wireless mouse, and Ethernet connected to the display that the MBP is.

Everything now works as advertised. Display control panel shows brightness sliders on both. Ctrl-F1/F2 sets brightness on secondary monitor.

I have no idea why.

Switching the order of the displays in the chain worked for me too. What is now the 2nd monitor (and the one that didn't have a brightness slider when individually connected) looks to be the older of the two.

Hi all! Here is the solution. https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/brightness-slider/id456624497?mt=12

It worked for me. Best of luck!

Hi All,

I had trouble with this, too. I have a Retina MacBook Pro and my Cinema Display doesn't have a USB -- only thunderbolt. Clicking preferences and then Displays brought up a window that had a Brightness slider but it only worked for the laptop display. Trying out a bunch of stuff I just clicked the 'option' button and F2 and it gave me the slider option for the cinema display as well.

Hope this helps!

Jason

http://www.jasonbedunah.com

I have MPB 2014 and Apple Thunderbolt display. Brightness control worked like a charm but one day I had too google to find how to fix the problem.

This solution does work. You can start the app once and it can can be removed after.

Voodoo style but it works. Apple, please fix the issue.

I have a 2014 27 iMac with secondary Thunderbolt Display (Windows Gathered), you need to have the USB Cable from the Thunderbolt connected to the iMac as well.

Main Display F1 (Dims Display) - F2 (Brightens Display)

Thunderbolt Control+F1 (Dims Display) - Control+F2 (Brightens Display)

You don't have to have the USB cable plugged in on the Thunderbolt display's (as they don't have one) and the Shift - ALT - F2 worked perfectly for me! Thanks!

This work. For some reason I can't mark as helpful though...