connect 2016 macbook pro to LED Cinema Display

geoywc: Just to confirm, is this the adapter you tried?

https://www.amazon.com/USB-C-DisplayPort-Adapter-Aluminium-Macbook/dp/B00ZU1TXHA

If so, that's a bummer, because I was about to order one of these. But wait: your display is newer than mine. This needs to be clarified for everyone, because some folks have gotten confused.

There are TWO DIFFERENT Apple displays being discussed in this thread:

The Apple LED Cinema Display is the older one—the one with the wide, aluminum frame around the screen that looks like this:

This display originally connected via a DVI cable; then later Apple made an adapter for it that provided a mini display port connector (for newer MacBooks).

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The newer Apple Thunderbolt Display does NOT have the metal frame around the screen and looks like this:

From what I can tell (but I may be wrong), there are no issues connecting this display to the newer, late-2016 MacBook Pro's with Touchbar—all that's needed is one of these:

http://www.apple.com/shop/product/MMEL2AM/A/thunderbolt-3-usb-c-to-thunderbolt-2 -adapter

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The issue that is definitely NOT solved in this thread is trying to connect the older Apple LED Cinema Display (the first one above) to the late-2016 MacBook Pro's with Touchbar and Thunderbolt 3/USB-C ports.

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To Whoever Moderates This Thread: this issue is NOT "Solved" as it is marked. There is no bombproof-reliable, proven solution to connect an older Apple LED Cinema Display (the first one above) to a late 2016 Touchbar MacBook Pro. Some adapters have worked for some people—but not all!

I have the older Apple LED Cinema Display (the first one above), and I *think* the Chinese adapter worked for a few people:

https://www.amazon.com/USB-C-DisplayPort-Adapter-Aluminium-Macbook/dp/B00ZU1TXHA

So I'm going to order one of these to try it—and will just return it if it doesn't work.

I may also look into buying one of these docks when they are available in mid-February:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1297798-REG/owc_other_world_computing_owc tb3dk13psg_13_port_thunderbolt_3.html

This dock has a mini display port so *might* work with the older Apple LED Cinema Display...

Scott

Let me attach three photos showing the CY adapter connecting to my Cinema Display MDP cable and after its plugging into my new MBP (and yet the Cinema Display is blank, i.e. not toggled!). Anyone knows what ELSE can be done? Thanks so much.

I have my LED Cinema display working with my 2016 MBP using this:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/USB-3-1-Type-C-to-Mini-DP-Display-Port-Adapter-C onverter-1080P-USB-C-Male/32675179573.html?spm=2114.01010208.3.2.V5V861&ws_ab_te st=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_1_10065_10068_10000009_10084_10000025_10083_1008 0_10000029_10082_10081_10000028_10110_10111_10060_10112_10113_10062_10114_10056_ 10055_10037_10054_10033_10059_10032_10099_10078_10079_10000022_10077_10000012_10 103_10073_10102_10000015_10096_10000018_10000019_10052_10053_10107_10050_10106_1 0051-10037,searchweb201603_1,afswitch_5,single_sort_2_default&btsid=e651e7e7-c3e e-4e81-91af-ca20c53d70b0

It's important you connect the USB lead as well - you need that to control the brightness. At this stage the brightness needs to be controlled via the Display System Preferences. And You need to have connected the USB lead before running the Display System Preferences.

I'm really happy to have my LED Cinema Display back up and running.

Finally, I am happy to report that the CY adapter from China works in my office - my very old 32" Cinema Display (aluminum frame) can be toggled/seen on my new MBP 15". So one problem solved. It remains to be seen if my home's "newer" display (with mini display port) will work. I will try again to plug in when I get home. Cheers.

The USB-C to Mini-DVI adapter suggested was out of stock. So instead, I used the following two adapters and daisy chained them to my 27" Apple Cinema Display.

This setup gave me one additional benefit! When I was connecting the Mini-DVI cable from the monitor to the 2013 MacBook’s Thunderbolt 2 port, all I got was the video output. To get sound to the monitor's internal speakers, I had to connect the USB cable from the monitor and the sound sounded distorted, so I stopped using it. With the two adapters I used to get the monitor working, I now also get the sound through this set up and it’s no longer distorted, so the speakers built-into the monitor are now usable. I guess the DisplayPort and the Mini-DVI cables carry sound just like HDMI cables and the USB-C ports on the 2016 MacBook now support sound as well. It’s a win win.

I’m surprised that all the support people I talked to at Apple had no readily available solutions for this issue…

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Best Regards, Phil

PS. In case someone else asks the same question, here’s the ordering information on the two adapters I got.

1. Cable Matters DisplayPort to Mini DisplayPort Male to Female Adapter - 6 Inches: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...mUvbUpU2885841

2, CableCreation CD0176 USB Type C to DisplayPort Ultra HD 4K Adapter, Black: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...mUvbUpU2885841

Sorry philliprodo—I guess I'm confused then. I've attached a photo of my Apple Cinema Display. I think mine is either a 2010 model or (possibly) a 2009. The one I have didn't come natively with a mini-display adapter...rather a Dual-Link DVI cable. Then Apple sold a mini-display adapter for it, which is what I have. So maybe it'll work with your combination of adapters. Here's what mine looks like...

Scott

Hi, does anybody tried this StarTech adaptor (CDPVGDVHDMDP)? It seems to be a great deal with 4 diferent connectors!

https://www.startech.com/AV/usb-c-video-adapters/usb-c-vga-dvi-hdmi-mDP~CDPVGDVH DMDP

UPDATE!!!

I couldn't wait, and I've gotten one StarTech all-in-one adapter... and yes... it works!

I was able to connect my mini Display Port Cinema Display and also tested with a HDMI monitor, with VGA and DVI should also work.

Hi I'm using a MacBook pro 13, 2016 and using a Apple Mini DisplayPort to Dual Link DVI Adapter A1306 to connect to the oder aluminium framed 30 inch cinema display, have a look at my pics. I have a 23inch Cinema Display at work, I'll try this cable on that MacBook Pro 13 tomorrow. cheers Ray

Hi,

the Goliton adapter works for me, but only if I first connect a Mini-DisplayPort-to-VGA adapter to establish the connection, before replacing it by the display cable.

I have tried many other sequences of connecting my hardware, and this is the only way it works for me. It means I always carry this additional adapter around as my 'ignition key'. Needless to say, I have no idea why this workaround works, but so far it has never failed me.

My setup:

- MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016, Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports)

- Apple LED Cinema Display 24-inch

- Goliton adapter, purchased on amazon (https://www.amazon.fr/gp/product/B014LW9QQQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF 8&psc=1)

My Connection sequence:

1. Connect a Mini-DisplayPort-to-VGA adapter to establish the connection

2. Connect the display cable

Note, I've taped the Goliton, since the sockets started to detach from the enclosure. That's probably just because I do twice as much connecting and disconnecting as a regular user :-)

Best greetings

Heiko

ATTENTION: This post is directed to owners of the older Apple Cinema HD displays that look like this:

After unsuccessfully trying a few different adapters, I finally found one that works with a late-2016 15" MacBook Pro with Touchbar (and I think someone else mentioned it somewhere in all the replies above). Here is a photo of the working adapter and a link to it on Amazon:

Amazon.com: USB Type C Adapter,Benfei USB-C/USB Type C to Mini DisplayPort/Mini DP Adapter Cable With Aluminium Case Sup…

Again, this is for the older Apple Cinema HD display—I have no idea if the same adapter will work with the newer Apple Cinema (Thunderbolt) displays.

Hopefully this will be helpful to anyone else who, like me, searched for weeks and months trying to find a solution!

And just to clarify: I *do* have an Apple keyboard plugged into my big display. I'm using a separate USB-2 to USB-C adapter with my MacBook Pro, and just plugged the large display's USB cable into that. Everything works fine. Here's another photo of my setup:

In the photo above, the video adapter (linked above) is the smaller one on top. The larger one beneath it is a j5 4-in-1 USB-C adapter with standard USB ports, an HDMI port, and an Ethernet port. Here's a link to it in case anyone is interested:https://www.bestbuy.com/site/j5create-2-port-usb-3-0-hub-with-hdmi-and-gigabit- ethernet-usb-type-c-adapter-silver/560250…

Scott

@geoywc:

In my previous posts I was explaining in detail the difference between Apple LED Cinema Display and Apple Thunderbolt Display. In addition I was explaining solutions to connect both displays to your 2016 MacBook Pro (for the latter, just use the Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter http://www.apple.com/shop/product/MMEL2AM/A/thunderbolt-3-usb-c-to-thunderbolt-2 -adapter).

This becomes more difficult for the former: the Apple LED Cinema Display (with mini-DP) can be easily distinguished by the number of connectors (its has 3 connectors (power, mini-DP and USB), whereas the Apple Thunderbolt Display only has 2). You can either go by the complicate 3 cable connection (for long it has been the only thing that was working also with the MacBook Pro 12) or you can go with the newer adapters or hubs as described by many users in these posts.

Some of the adapters are cheaply produced (even with metal body), so you have to try out several. But at least each 2nd is working properly (by my statistic - I've ordered around 20 for the office). In addition the MacBook seems to "learn", so when you've found a connection after a while it seems to become more stable over time.

Finally, try out the right ports of your MacBook. There is a difference between the ports (see http://www.macrumors.com/2016/10/28/macbook-pro-tb3-reduced-pci-express-bandwidt h/ and Connect with Thunderbolt 3 on your new MacBook Pro - Apple Support) and I've realised, that some of the adapters are only working on the right hand side.

So keep the faith and good luck.

You are genius. I ordered all the cables you suggested and unplugged the monitor and the MacBook pro and then plugged all the cables in just turned them both on and ----- yes! what a relief. Thank you so much!

Here is what I ordered:

Total cost just over $100

http://www.apple.com/us/search/USB-C-Digital-AV-Multiport-Adapter?src=serphttps://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003N3DTKY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UT F8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0144NS4Z6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UT F8&psc=1

I don't understand why you all think that you need three adapters and must spend over $100 dollars to get your LED Cinema displays connected to the 2016 MacBooks that only come with USB-C ports. It cost me about $25 for two adapters from Amazon, namely a USB-C to Display port adapter (female) and a mini-Display port (Female) to Display port (Male).

See my earlier post on this thread that provides the links to order these adapters from Amazon.

Re: connect 2016 macbook pro to LED Cinema Display

Good luck.

I've been scouring this thread and checking out possibilities. I found this Plugable-brand adapter on Amazon—the product title is:

Plugable USB 3.1 Type-C (USB-C) to DVI Adapter for Late 2016 MacBook Pro, MacBook Retina 12" 2015 / 2016, Chromebook Pixel 2015, Thunderbolt 3 & More

I ordered one and will report on whether it works or not.

One review says, "I was really hopeful after reading the reviews on here, but this, like other adapters, did not work with my 2016 MBP 13" w/ Touch Bar. The screen does not flicker blue like it does with other adapters, but it does "blink" and make the mouse hop around. Returned."

Another review says: "Works great with my 15" 2016 MacBook Pro with touch bar. Apparently this is an odd MacBook configuration and a lot of adapters don't work. One thing to note, though, is it passes (or doesn't?) HDCP . So if you have a monitor that doesn't support HDCP, like i do, you won't be able to watch Netflix and other services that require HDCP. You get a nice warning in the browser that your device doesn't support HDCP."

So who knows? LOL

Scott