Thunderbolt Display Flickering Epidemic - Extensive Testing

Thanks. I'll try it. It must be El Capitan that did it. My monitor has been fine for years.

I can't believe this solved the problem, but I too have turned the auto-brightness off and turned the brightness down, and it's running fine. My Thunderbolt Display is probably 3 years old or so, so hardly old, but this is better than lugging it into an Apple Store and paying a lot of $$ for a repair.

Congratulations. That worked for me too -- for about three weeks after which my TBD died again, apparently permanently this time. I fear you'll soon be back to report about your door-stopped display like the rest of us.

Hello All I thought I would let you have the latest relating to thread above

Two weeks ago I took the TBD into the apple shop. They said that they had never heard of the problem before, but took it in to test. I was sure to tell tham that it fails only on full brightness and that they would have to leave it running for some hours before it started to fail. A week later they called me, told me that they couldn't reproduce it but thought it sounded like a power supply problem. (Theory being that the power supply gets hot driving screen at full brightness, turn it off, let it cool down and then turn it back on again). I took it home and it failed again 2 hours later. Once it starts to fail, then it fails every few minutes.

So I took it back. The technician was both very embarrassed/apologetic and very helpful. Listened to the symptoms all over again and agreed to keep it again and this time keep testing it until he reproduced the problem himself in the workshop. Called me the next day and said it had failed for him and he was therefore able to diagnose it while it was in a failed state. He said:

"there are only three components in the TBD, Power supply, logic board and the main display panel and this problem is unequivocally the display panel. The display panel is $1,280 (aussie dollars - about $950 US I am guessing) and therefore not worth repairing/replacing vs a new TBD. BUT given that we have messed you about and you already paid us for a $120 Power supply you probably didn't need - we will cover the cost of the panel"

So.. now I have it at home - full brightness for some 4 or 5 hours now and not a blink.

At this stage, I'd say its fixed.

Well I'd say it's "replaced" not "fixed."

Since Apple has variously attributed this problem to the power supply, the logic board, and the screen itself -- after of course typically saying that they "can't reproduce the problem" at all -- it's hard not to think that they don't have a clue what is wrong with these displays. What is easy to think is that they don't really care to know, and instead they just replace the monitor, if you're unusually lucky, with the expectation that you'll just go away. Which appears to work.

If Apple quietly fixed in new production runs whatever was defective, then it might make sense to buy a new one. But unless Apple acknowledges that they found and fixed the problem, it would be nuts to do so. And if they did find and fix the problem in new units, why won't they do it for old units? But perhaps that's the new Apple: customers should expect to replace all hardware as soon as AppleCare expires.

Fair Enough

I merely put this information up here because I thought it would be useful for people who have the same issue and weren't sure what exactly the problem was. Certainly that is why I first came here when the problem first presented itself (rather than any critical assessment of Apple).

With the consideration that this fault was intermittent and therefore not 'always' reproducible, I thought the guys at the Apple Store did a good job.

In any event - that's what the problem was. Hope it helps someone.

Unbelievable. I am going to try this now.

I'm having all issues mentioned here - flickering, random dimming, going black.

I have tried:

1. Unplugging everything.

2. Using a separate power supply.

3. Using a separate Thunderbolt cable.

4. Using a different power cable.

5. Using a different computer.

6. Updating firmware.

7. Turning off Auto Brightness

None of this works. My display starts flickering about 2-3 minutes after it comes on. After a few flickers, it dims. Then it goes black.

This is a serious issue for a $1000 monitor to have.

I finally solved this issue. After reading this forum, I tried using a Thunderbolt cable instead of the built-in cable. It did not work, but it was not an Apple Thunderbolt cable. I went to the Apple Store and picked up the official Thunderbolt cable and IT WORKS!

You have to use an official Apple cable!!!

While I was at the Apple Store I spoke to a couple of the "Geniuses." They were convinced the cable would NOT work, and that the logic board in the monitor would have to be replaced for $600. They gave me all sorts of reasons why it could not be the cable, but they were wrong. Just get the official Apple cable and be done with this issue.

Okay, I may have spoken too soon. After a day of using the TB cable I no longer have flickering, but I still have the issue where the monitor will dim randomly. And yes, I have unchecked the Automatically Adjust Brightness option.

I have had this problem intermittently for two years now (27" TB display, Early-2013 MBP and Mid-2011 MBP). Many eprom clearings, separate TB cables, Was hoping that since this issue has been a burden for so many that Apple would have had a solution by now. :/

I had the same issues with random dimming of backlight on my 27" TB display. When re-inserting the TB cable it was sometimes possible to get it working again. I then tried to replace the internal TB cable by looking at the teardown on iFixit and also re-soldering some of the components on the power supply but did not help.

As a last try I bought a new power supply on AliExpress (cheaper than eBay) and this solved my problem. Now fully working again for around 10 days.

I took my monitor to the Genius Bar and they said I need a new logic board. It's about $189 +tax. I'll get it back in 10 days and see.

Hello Everybody,

This issue was driving me crazy too... I followed the advice in making a direct Thunderbolt connection in between my MBP Retina (Mid 2012) / Thunderbolt Display. Additionally I connected my MBP directly to his own power supply. Knock on wood, but it seems to work.

One small advantage I have through this issue. The Apple guys were only focusing on a MBP issue. They replaced at the end (3x in repair service for this issue!!!) my full motherboard under guarantee. Unsuccessful!!! Crazy that they didn't come with the simple solution of a direct connection.

Even though for me this solution seems to be working I don't understand the real problem and keep monitoring this forum ;-)

Thanks,

Alain@Belgium

Apple just called me. They changed the logic board, some cables, power supply and it still flickered after using for several minutes. The problem is the LCD display which is $700 and not worth fixing. I bought a refurbished from Apple for $800.

Apple is convinced these are good monitors. I told of the many people who are having problems and they said it's a small fraction of the number sold. If 1 million of these displays were sold, and 10,000 people had an issue, that's still only 1%. They believe these monitors are good. I believe Apple has an unusually high failure rate and quality control is poor. Every one of my Macs has had a failure as has my iPhones and iPads. I love Apple and spend thousands per year on hardware for myself and my friends and family. I continue to buy Apple, but their failure rate is way too high. I believe their thin designs trap heat and cause parts to wear quickly.