Thunderbolt Display Flickering Epidemic - Extensive Testing

SURGE PROTECTOR or UPS should help

I had this issue too (Monitor flickers randomly, sometimes it goes totally black, usb works etc).

For some time I though it was my old MacbookPro (actually there were some problems with video card and I had replaced motherboard, but Thunderbolt display flickering remained).

Recently I have updated to the new MacbookPro - but flickering problem was still there.

Realised that problem is in Monitor not computer.

In one post I've read that 'surge protector' or UPS (uninterruptible power supply) might help.

I bought an surge protector - and it helped. It seems that electric current is jumping causing Thunderbot dispaly to flicker.

I'm so happy now with functional dispaly.

It's worth trying. I bought surge protector for 7GBP...

I hope that this will help!

Hello Tim, thanks for the advice. I have followed it and bought and apple thunderbolt cable but strangely the screen does not even turn on or light up when I plug it to the back book pro (2017 model) via this thunderbolt cable plugged into the back thunderbolt plug of the display. the screen only seems to link to the mac if it is plugged into the mac via its own "built-in" thunder bolt cable. did you have that problem at first also? how did you get around it? many thanks for any help you can provide.

paul

Francisco, how do you do that? i also have the problem but if i connect the display to the mac book pro with the apple thunderbolt cable the display does not turn on? it seems it needs to be connected with the built in cable to a mac to turn on, not a standard cable into the thunderbolt plug. as far as I can tell... have you found a way around that?

I'm having the same issue, but less flickering and more just going dark randomly. The funny thing is that to get it back, I have to unplug the screen from the wall as well as the laptop and leave it that way for some time ... havne't timed it but severl min to an hour does the trick ... and then it's fine for another hour and goes dark.

I was thinking this might be a video card issue? but I will try the external cable trick.

Have you made any other progress with it since April?

how did you convince them to send a tech? usually only seen that if you have a true 'desktop' machine like a mini or mac pro

i suspect you just told him how many times you've already driven back 'n forth, and they made an exception?

Thanks for the information. I've had the same flickering issue and have decided to try what you did. I've connected my new MacBook Pro Retina directly to the display.

I'll let all of you know what happens.

Malfromage

Me too. Bypass the Thunderbolt display and connecting my rMBP with the 0,5mt Apple Thunderbolt Cable from the Apple Store is the solution. The problem is the integrated Thundelbolt cable or soft. I have this problem since Mavericks 10.9.2.

REGARDING: "I'll let all of you know what happens."

The direct connection ended the problem - 3 days without any flickering or other issues whatsoever.

Thanks again

Mal

So it does look like a faulty video cable. You'd think that after paying £900 for a screen, that it would work just fine.

Many Thanks Tim and macfromage for confirming, at lkeast we know where the problem lies now.

I am having the same issue. 15" macbook pro and 27" Thunderbolt display. Been to the Apple Service Center 2x and replaced everything but the display. still flickering. I tried using a alt TB 0.5 cable but still flickering. Apple should announce something as it's cost me $250 so far to replace parts that appear to have been perfectly fine. I don't know what options i have left as replacing the display is foolish, might aw well just buy a new monitor. If it's software, and suspect it is, i'm only going to remain frustrated when the flickering returns on a new unit.

suggestions? Parts are still under warranty so i'm definitely taking it back in.

EXCELLENT - Thank you for posting this question and the comment(s) here. The screen flickering issue has been driving me nuts. It happened with my 2012 MBP, then again with my 2013 MBP - and I was at a loss. I have a screen at home and one at work, and they both flicker. One is less frequent than the other. In either case, connecting with a separate Thunberbolt cable did the trick!

Both my monitors are out of warrantee, so its too late to bring my screen back for a cable replacement (unless I pay for the repairs). I guess this separate cable will have to do the trick.

Thanks again!

I have exactly the same problem with my Apple Thunderbolt Display (27 inches), the problem started appearing right after I did apply the firmware update V1.2 to the monitor which was made available by Apple last November (my monitor was working flawlessly before applying this firmware update so I am pretty sure there is something wrong with this firmware version and this is the cause of the problem). Does anyone here did apply this firmware as well?

So it's 2015 and this is still happening to people. I have a late 2013 macbook pro 15" retina with a Thunderbolt and this flickering and going blank happens to me randomly and it is MADDENING. It seems like it started right after upgrading to Yosemite from Mavericks. I'm on Yosemite 10.10.2 and applied all the firmware updates, etc. I can find.

I've resorted to turning off every screen saver, power saving feature, auto brightness, etc. and it still happens. Sometimes every 10 minutes or so the display flickers. If I move the mouse, it stops, but if I don't the display goes completely dark and I have to unconnect the displayport cable and plug it back. Of course all my windows resize on me when I do this.

I have resorted to leaving the macbook screen open and mirroring to the thunderbolt, but this is ridiculous. I paid over $5,000K for all this stuff and it all of a sudden just stops working?? Way to go Apple. This seems like so clearly a software or OS issue. It's like the computer is trying to go to sleep and does it anyway, but won't wake back up.

I hate this so much I'm actually thinking what to do. I used to love Apple products but stuff like this makes me think I should invest my time and money in windows. I will try the replacement cable thing, and take the display to the apple store, but sounds like others haven't had any luck with that. I'm really ****** this interrupts my work DAILY and I just can't justify supporting a company that stays silent on things like this. Buying replacement equipment just makes me even madder. Apple stuff used to just work. Period.