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I have a 27” Thunderbolt Display A1407. I used on my mid 2012 MacBook Pro. I just bought a new 2017 iMac 5K display. Will this adapter (thunder bolt 3 to thunderbolt 2) convert the signals correctly? I’d really like to use my A1407 with my new iMac. Thanks in advance for any help.
Macintosh IIcx-OTHER, Mac OS 8.6 or Earlier
Unfortunately this adapter does not work.
I had also called Apple support and spoke to a tech on the phone for a good 20min. He had also told me it would work, and even guided me to the Apple website and told me which adapter to choose, same one. https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MMEL2AM/A/thunderbolt-3-usb-c-to-thunderbolt- 2-adapter.
I was very specific in my conversation to him and this post "27" Thunderbolt Display A1407". In my haste and excitement to get started I opened the box and installed the cable. The 2nd Thunderbolt Display lit up and I was very excited. However...my iMac locked up and in a few moments rebooted and refused to come back until I disconnected the 2nd monitor. Then upon grabbing the box ands looking at what it does NOT work on, I was greatly disappointed that even Apple tech support told me it would work. I have attached a photo of the cable that does not work and a photo of the Apple Display box I had purchased for my MacBook Pro.
Surely, there is a cable to connect my older Thunderbolt Display to my new iMac 2017, without buying. a new monitor??
It the disk drive has two Thunderbolt ports, try connecting the drive to the iMac and plug the display into the second port on the drive.
Another possibility is a bad cable on the display. If you have a Thunderbolt cable (not Thunderbolt 3), plug it into the Thunderbolt port on the back of the display and use it to connect to the adapter. If that works, then the display's cable is bad.
Here's a report of the adapter working with the Thunderbolt display.
https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MMEL2AM/A/thunderbolt-3-usb-c-to-thunderbolt- 2-adapter
"it can be used to connect Thunderbolt-enabled displays"
That is the correct adapter. The box shows "Thunderbolt Display" in green, with a check mark to show it is compatible.
Do the plugs on your display match those in your first picture? (Just two plugs: power and Thunderbolt) The power plug won't be used with the iMac. The similar non-Thunderbolt display would also have USB and FireWire plugs.
It could be a defective adapter. Are the plugs pushed in all the way? (No metal showing)
Try turning over the USB-C plug on the adapter that goes into the computer. It should work either way, but there was one report of it working only one way. That would mean a defective port or adapter. Did you try both Thunderbolt-3 ports on the computer.
It could also be a problem with the iMac. Do you have any other Thunderbolt-3 devices to try.
If the Display works with your old computer (and it is really the Thunderbolt model), then either the iMac or the adapter is bad.
Well you could be correct. I checked the symbols on the adapter and they match on the iMac USB-C and the 2nd Thunderbolt Display...the little lightning bolts. Yes, I just bought a Apple Superdrive CD-DVD from Apple and a USB-C to USB adapter for it and plugged it into the iMac USB-C port, it works just fine. Guessing it could be the Thunderbolt Display. I'll take it to the shop and have them check it. The Thunderbolt shows a picture for a few secs then locks upon my iMac. I appreciate your help and replies. I'll post back here after I see what the shop says about it. Oh yes, I did try both iMac USB-C ports...no help.
Thanks again...jack
Just a dumb question. Could the issue be that my new 2017 27" iMac is 5K Retina and the 2nd Thunderbolt Display is not...or does that adapter compensate for the frequency differences? just wondering...
Retina/non-retina does not matter. Did you try turning over the adapter's Thunderbolt-3 plug?
Do you still have your old laptop to test the Display?
Try running the iMac with the adapter plugged in but without the Thunderbolt display connected. If there are still problems, then the adapter is defective. If the iMac is still working, look in the Thunderbolt section of System Information (Option-click the at top-left of screen). Then connect the Thunderbolt display to the adapter (don't shut down the computer). If the computer is still working, look again in System Information (press ⌘R to refresh the info).
Yes, I turned it over...plugged and unplugged multiple times.I sold the 2012 MacBook Pro. I got an offer I could not refuse. The iMac works fine as long as that display is not plugged in. As soon as I plug it in, the iMac locks up and tries to reboot but never succeeds. I am reluctant to test it anymore for fear of damaging my new iMac. I have a WesternDigital 4TB ThunderBolt hard drive. I used the new adapter on it and connected it and it works just fine...great actually. SO I have ruled out the new adapter. I dropped it off at an Apple Authorized Service Center today. I explained to them how it was acting. Hopefully they can shed some light on this.
Unfortunately when I plug in the TB Display I can't do anything including your latter suggestion. I'll post again after the shop calls me. Thank you very much for your ideas and suggestions.
The Apple Authorized Service Center verified my Thunderbolt display when connected to their MacBook works perfectly. They did not test it on an iMac because they did not have one in the store...DOH. What a waste of time and $49.00.
Hmm I had not considered that idea. I actually suspected a bad cable because there is a tear on it. I think it is an Apple defect. Jeez those are good idea to try, ones I had not considered!
How do you use 27” Thunderbolt Display A1407 with a 2017 iMac 5K
