abenlifer
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Q: My thunderbolt port works with one external display but not another - why??

I have a MacBook Air running OSX 10.9.5. At work I use an external monitor to extend my desktop and connect it through the Thunderbolt port (with a Thunderbolt to DVI adapter). At home, I have a Thunderbolt to HDMI cable that I use to connect a different Mac (MacBook Pro) to my TV. However, whenever I connect the MacBook Air to the TV, my laptop blinks for a moment and that's it. Nothing ever shows up on the TV and it's not listed as a connected display.

 

I know the cable and TV are fine because I can immediately connect the other computer and everything works. When I go back to work, the Thunderbolt port on the MacBook Air works just fine to that monitor. But I can't find a way to get the TV at home working with my Air.

 

Any suggestions welcome!

MacBook Air, OS X Mavericks (10.9.5)

Posted on Apr 18, 2015 5:22 PM

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abenlifer

Q: My thunderbolt port works with one external display but not another - why??

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  • by brenden dv,

    brenden dv brenden dv Apr 21, 2015 2:08 PM in response to abenlifer
    Community Specialists
    Apr 21, 2015 2:08 PM in response to abenlifer

    Hi abenlifer,

     

    I'm sorry to hear you are having this issue with your MacBook Air. If you are having persistent issues connecting a specific external display/TV to your MBA (but your other display works fine), you may find the troubleshooting steps outlined in the following article helpful:

     

    Apple computers: Troubleshooting issues with video on internal or external displays - Apple Support

     

    Regards,

    - Brenden

  • by abenlifer,

    abenlifer abenlifer Apr 25, 2015 6:34 PM in response to brenden dv
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 25, 2015 6:34 PM in response to brenden dv

    Brenden-

     

    Thanks for the suggestion, unfortunately nothing from the page you referenced did anything to help. Do you have any other suggestions? As I said, I know the port on my MBA works because I use the Thunderbolt at the office. I know the TV and cable connecting it are fine because they works with my MBP. It seems strange that the TV doesn't even show up as a connected display when I attach the Thunderbolt cable. And I've tried holding Option in the Display system preference to access the Detect Displays button - no luck there either.

     

    When I connect/disconnect the TV cable to the MBP (which works fine), there is a brief blink/flash on the MBP screen and then the image is mirrored on the TV. With the MBA, I get a similar flash as if it recognizes that something has been plugged in, but that's all. I never get the mirrored desktop.

     

    Would love some other suggestions! Thanks all

  • by brenden dv,

    brenden dv brenden dv Apr 30, 2015 2:41 PM in response to abenlifer
    Community Specialists
    Apr 30, 2015 2:41 PM in response to abenlifer

    Hi abenlifer,

     

    Thank you for using the Apple Support Communities. If you have gone through the above linked articles completely without reaching a resolution or a direction for further troubleshooting, you may be better served by reaching out to one of Apple's other available resources for more direct assistance - https://getsupport.apple.com/GetproductgroupList.action

     

    Regards,

    - Brenden