Thunderbolt disconnects when MacBook sleeps

Went through the same thing. Running the hibernate script finally fixed it once and for all. I bet it does for you too. Thanks again g8k3pr!

RickerM,

If you don't feel comfortable with the AppleScript App, you can always use the Terminal app and call the same command line I do from this app:

sudo pmset -a hibernatemode 0

I included the source (for the curious) so you can easily open it up Apple's AppleScript editor (provided as a part of the OS). And, the reason why the app asks for your password is because it uses sudo to run the command as root. Otherwise, it does not work. Sorry it does not check to see if you enter your password incorrectly, so if you make a type when entering the password, it would appear to work, but didn't. Just FYI.

I guess this forum and it's multitude of replies is indication enough for me that there is a REAL problem despite Apple's efforts to displace it as fiction 😉 And, perhaps it will be fixed in the upcoming 10.9.2 OS update. But, for now, you all at least have this other option. I'm glad it worked for most of you. I've had mine set since the first time I posted the solution and have never had any issues with the TBD waking up. I no longer have to disconnect the TB cable to get the display to come back. And, since this is such a simple configuration switch, I can always revert back to the default (3) anytime I want to take the MBP on the road without the TBD.

Cheers all,

Stuart

thanks Stuart- I ran it this AM, I am such a noob with Apple I didn't know about allowing non-apple verified programs being granted a permisssion. I did that and installed. I'll see Tuesday after it sleeps connected Monday night. If I understand you correctly, I should go ahead and change it back to 3 as I use the MBP as a laptop at home over the weekend?

Thanks so much for the time you invest in discovering and solving the problem for us!

Thanks!!!

Rich

Rich,

YW. Oh, I forgot about the non-apple app permissions. I turned that off starting with Mountain Lion since I have so many apps that are not from the App Store on my computer. Might be something to note in the documentation for the applescript app. Thank you.

So, yes, when you bring the laptop home and are not using it attached to the TBD, it's best to run the app and set hibernate mode to 3. if you leave the hibernate value set to 0, then the computer will have to use precious battery to keep the RAM contents alive and hence will eventually drain the battery faster than if you set it to 3 (default).

g8k3pr, THE CREATURE IS ALIVE!!!!! Thanks so much, for the first time since my Mavericks update I poked the space bar and my MBP AND display came to life. Thanks again- I am passing this along the Apple Engineers that were trying to help me- sounds like they need to put you on retainer!

Cheer!

Thank you very much g8k3pr!!! Your solution fixed it for me!! I was really tired of unplugging... Thanks again!!

I had a very similar problem with my MBP (early 2011) and thunderbolt display when running Windows 7 under Parellels. The problem does not occur when only running Maverick

Unfortunately in my case the solution offered by g8k3pr didn't work at all. My setup is fairly simple:

• 2011 MBP (used with lid closed and running Maverick)
• Apple Wireless Keyboard
• Apple Magic Mouse
• 2013 Apple Thunderbolt Display

But apparently there is no way to send out video signals to the Thunderbolt Display after the MBP have been woken up from sleep.

Please note that my MBP is one of those models that has problems with video card+moherboard. Mine went through 3 different motherboards replacements - but now (fingers crossed) looks like it's working fine.

Any suggestion other than disconnect and reconnect the Thunderbolt cable each time (that's the only way to make the TB Display work after a MBP sleep)?

Even after the recent OSX 10.9.2 Mavericks update, the situation is always the same: my 2013 Thunderbolt screen does not work if my MBP goes to sleep. 😟

Sadly, you are correct and this tells us Apple is playing the "ignorance is bliss" card. Probably to make us all feel like our computers are inept and that we need to buy new Apple computers or something. Anyway, I just came back from a business trip so my MBP 15" (Late 2010) was set to hibernatemode=3 (the proper choice for use as a mobile laptop). After connecting said computer to my Thunderbold display and allowing it to falling asleep, I encountered the same old issue as everyone else here. I promptly ran the following at the command line:

sudo pmset -a hibernatemode 0

and verified the settings with this command

pmset -g

And hope this will once again solve the issue (as I discovered this solution, wrote a quick Applescript app for everyone here to run).

Will report back later after the MBP goes to sleep

**sidenote: After some further thought on the matter, I think we should experiment with the "Displays" system settings and see if we all have the Thunderbolt display set as the primary monitor (has the white menu bar on the screen in the "Arrangement" tab). I'd bet money that this is the case. And, perhaps why Apple can't replicate the issue. At some point I will this test myself, but I was curious if anyone else has their display settings set up like me?

g8k3pr,

I was thrilled to find this post and the solution. It worked for a whole week! I have not rebooted my Macbook Pro in the last week but today all of a sudden, the thunderbolt display disconnected again. I ran the pmset -g command and the hibernatemode had turned back to 3. Do you know what would have reset it to 3? I was hoping I could run the command sudo pmset -a hibernatemode 0 and have that work until I manually set it back to 3 for travel.

My Thunderbolt display is set to primary under the arrangements tab.

Thanks again for the solution. This has been driving me crazy!

g8k3pr / Thank you so much man, you should be -a very well payed- Apple genius.

Best regards from Mx.

That FINALLY fixed it thank you so much g8k3pr! Has woken from sleep at least four times now. HUGE pain in the a** solved!!!

I just bought a brand new MBP last week and Thunderbolt display. I am furious that this is happening to me. I got rid of my 2009 imac to get newer technology and the newer technology is doing this to me. I tried changing sudo pmset -a hibernatemode 0 in terminal and also verifying that the changes went through. Restarted computer and the display would still not wake up. Sometimes after about an hour of being connected the TBD will start flickering and light up and flicker on and off then if I restart while it is doing this it will usually work for a little while until the computer sleeps again. I want to take this MBP back and TBD and get the 27" imac instead. This is completely ruining my studying/work productivity trying to fight this thing everyday. Please help if you have any other fixes.

MBP 15" 2013

OS 10.9.2

16 GB

500 SSD

2.3 GHZ i7

I had the same issue as well I use MacBook Air, OS X 10.9.2 and a Thunderbolt Display. Connecting my Macbook to the power adapter solved the problem.

When the MacBook is connected to the power adapter, the TBD is not affected when I close the MacBook. But when the the MacBook is only useing the battery then the TBD is diconnected when closing the MacBook.

Hope this helps.