USB-C and Mini DisplayPort

The question is about an Apple display with a Mini DisplayPort, not thunderbolt. I have the same issue with an Apple 27" cinema display. Apple seems to have an adapter for almost everything else, but not Mini DisplayPort to USB-c. How ridiculous.

There are third-party adapters from USB-C to (full size) DisplayPort, and [reversible] cables with a Mini DisplayPort at one end and (full size) DisplayPort at the other. Some are currently out-of-stock, but should be available in a few days.

http://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=13234

amazon had several different ones, but shop with caution -- some are shipped directly from the Far East with an expected delivery date several weeks out.

Sorry, Sonicray, but in my instance, it does not appear to work. I am connecting to a Thunderbolt 27" Cinema with my 15" MBP (touch bar) using the Tbolt 3 to Tbolt 2 adapter you reference in your answer. Nothing happens. I have been scouring posts all over the place and have found many others with the same problem. One techy posted that the adapter you are recommending does not have "mini display port" capability, explaining why it does not work. If you are certain that it does work, can you offer suggestions on what is going on with mine? Thanks!

Did you catch this footnote on the Apple thunderBolt-3USB_C-to-ThunderBolt2-adapter:

However, using this adapter with an Apple Thunderbolt Display requires a power source, because the display does not provide power through the adapter.

Is it applicable? what are they trying to say?

Yes, but I presume it refers to a power source for the MBP, not the monitor. To be clear (apologies if you already know this), the Monitor plugs into 110v and provides Tbolt mini display port (for video), USB for keyboard and other USB pass-thru and mag-safe power to the MBP. The Apple supplied Tbolt 3 to 2 adapter isn't expected to provide power to the MBP, but it is expected to supply video. Unfortunately, it does not. I think they just blew it. I'm fine providing power by another means, but it seems crazy to have to buy a chain of adapters to go from USB-C to Display Port to Display Port Mini to Tbolt 2.

You can't use an adapter to manufacture ThunderBolt from any other interface.

Any adapter that converts from Thunderbolt to something else (except another ThunderBolt) only works one-way, NEVER back to ThunderBolt from say Mini DisplayPort.

Good to know. I guess, bottom line, Apple made a mistake here that I hope they correct. They have produced and sold an adapter that any reasonably informed user would expect should be capable of translating from Tbolt2 (Cinema display) to USB-C and, yet, it doesn't. I happen to have 3 Cinema displays in 3 different locations that are all now essentially useless because of this error. I appreciate that Apple has abandoned the Cinema display product line, but it's pretty disappointing that they would not provide us with a bridge (in the form of a properly functioning adapter) to keep using our $1,000 displays for just a little longer. I am a huge Apple fan, but things like this make it very difficult to continue beating their drum.

I was having a similar problem, and after two trips to the Apple store (where I was sold two different solutions, neither of which worked), some time with very helpful Apple Support on-line and some research here, I finally have two working solutions.

2016 MacBook Pro using a 2010 27" iMac as a display. (USB-C to mini displayport)

Both of these solutions work:

#1 - USB-c to Displayport cable - to - Mini Displayport to Displayport adapter

This: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01EXKDRAC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UT F8&psc=1

and this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HNF0KF0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s01?ie=UT F8&psc=1

#2 - USB-C to Mini Displayport adapter - to - Mini Displayport cable

This: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N2ORP84/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UT F8&psc=1

and this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HNF0L2C/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UT F8&psc=1

Using USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports and adapters on your Mac notebook - Apple Support

Connect devices and displays with the Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter - Apple Support

If your Apple display is a "thunderbolt" display then this will work:

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