Level 1

59 points

2018 MacBook Pro Target Display Mode Not Working

Has anyone successfully used Target Display Mode with the new 2018 15" MacBook Pro? We just purchased one last week, and I am trying to use a late 2013 27" iMac as a second monitor via Target Display Mode.

When I hit command-F2 it does try to switch over, however the screen either a) remains black b) shows my screen but blinks every other second c) shows the screen but it's static-like and has crazy zig-zag colors across the background and flashes and such.

I have done all the recommended trouble shooting steps per the knowledge base article and am wondering if this is a problem with the new MacBook Pros. It is very frustrating to not be able to work on my brand new computer; I need the larger monitor for graphic design.

Both have latest versions of High Sierra. I have tried two different Thunderbolt 2 - USB-C adaptors. I have tried two different Thunderbolt 2 cables. One I have used for four years so I know it works. I have reversed the cables and tried all the different Thunderbolt ports on both machines. I connected them using Target Disk Mode to transfer my data and that worked.

I reset the SMC and zapped the PRAM. I booted in safe mode on both machines and then restarted. I have spent a good bit of time on this, but since this is a work machine I can't keep wasting time on it as I need to actually get work done, which unfortunately means still using the older iMac.

Any other thoughts?

MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2018)

Posted on Aug 2, 2018 7:53 AM

Top-ranking reply

PENG ZHAO

Level 1

18 points

Posted on Sep 12, 2018 1:15 PM

hey guys, just want to confirm that I used Belkin Thunderbolt 2 Express F4U085TT to connect my MacBook Pro 2018 with an iMac 2013. The iMac can be used as a target display. No flickering, no dark display. It just worked flawlessly.

Basically, you need a Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter and the Thunderbolt 2 cable that comes with the dock to connect your MacBook Pro to the dock. then need another thunderbolt 2 cables to connect the dock to the iMac. I know it sounds stupid but it works.

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224 replies

TayDC

Level 1

28 points

Oct 2, 2018 11:37 AM in response to WorldTravelingPhotoPro

I feel the same way, this has been an issue for too long now, and we haven't had any indication that is is an issue that they are working on. I just don't think it is a priority for them. I wish I had the will power to return this machine when I had the chance.

I hate that I have to consider buying a Thunderbolt hub to make this work...and would hate to do so prematurely if they do fix this down the road.

Sidenote - Those who do have the Thunderbolt hub/Target Display Mode combo working, which hubs are you using?

ibpatol

Level 1

4 points

Oct 4, 2018 2:03 PM in response to bigron82

Hi, how did you daisy chained them? I have a La Cie Thunderbolt-USB3 drive and I plugged it to the 2018 MBP using the USB 3 and to the iMac using the Thunderbolt port, but nothing happened, am I doing this wrong? Thanks

Pennock Author

Level 1

59 points

Oct 9, 2018 5:39 AM in response to Pennock

Hooray!!! I was starting to give up hope this would ever get fixed. Any idea when the beta will become a public release so we can all happily Target Display Mode? I better get my MacBook updated to Mojave in the meantime!

Thanks to everyone and the group effort to keep reporting this issue to Apple! It worked!!!

nefundeg

Level 1

4 points

Oct 9, 2018 6:13 AM in response to Pennock

I spend days now with this issue having Apple Phone and Mail Support. They know about it but they don't have an idea to solve it. In the the end I got the impression they don't really care to fix it. In my opinion this issue is not important to Apple. 😠😠😠 !

jred16

Level 1

4 points

Oct 12, 2018 8:53 PM in response to Pennock

I have this same problem with my MBP15 2018. but I am using a mid 2011 iMac 27". I've connected the two via thunderbolt 2 to thunderbolt 3 adapter. Both screens will go dark or flicker after pressing Command-F2. I hope this is resolved soon too

Oct 17, 2018 8:47 AM in response to Pennock

It's all very nice that for some of you it works after installling Mojave on the Macbook Pro. But for me it was not the solution. I haven't yet updated the iMac to Mojave, but after reading your replys I don't think it will really matter. I wonder why it works for some and doesn't for me....

Oct 19, 2018 3:58 AM in response to Pennock

It would be useful to know when the fix included in the beta version will be rolled out to a stable release. If I choose to update my machine to the beta version, will I easily be able to update to a stable version that contains the fix when it eventually releases?

Oct 19, 2018 8:25 PM in response to Smrick1

Selecting the iMacs speakers is still not working in target display mode, I sent in a fix request through the beta program. I did this when I saw another problem with TDM screen sharing not working and this last beta update fixed it. So I have hope for the speeker issue they will fix it as well. Sound through the iMac speakers is very handy for video editing in TDM.

Oct 21, 2018 3:24 PM in response to Pennock

Have you got this working yet? We have the exact same set up, iMac late 2013 with USBC adapter from Apple to Thunderbolt 2 connecter and cable, both machines on latest version of OS Macbook Pro 15in 2018. The connection works perfect on Macbook Pro 15in 2015 with no adapter, however the 2018 just flickers and doesn't work.

mtraynor

Level 1

8 points

Oct 23, 2018 11:15 AM in response to Pennock

Latest Mojave does not work! I have downloaded these Download: DisplayLink USB Graphics Software for macOS (4.3 Beta 6) to both my old imac and new mac book pro both on new mojave still very glitchy Apple please sort this out

Oct 24, 2018 10:02 AM in response to Pennock

Any chance Apple will provide a fix for High Sierra? I'm on a work machine and due to potential conflicts with our lifeblood applications, such as Adobe Creative Cloud, we don't upgrade the OS to Beta versions or to new versions as soon as they are released. So I'm hoping for a fix in High Sierra.

Oct 30, 2018 10:14 PM in response to b3ntup

Are you getting any sound playing through to your iMac. I am running my 2018 MBP on my iMac through TDM but I can not get the sound to come through the iMac speakers even when selected in preferences. Is anyone else having this problem?

TayDC

Level 1

28 points

Nov 1, 2018 9:10 AM in response to Pennock

Soooo..since updating both my iMac and MacBook Pro to 10.14.1..I no longer have audio coming through the iMac speakers, even when selected in the audio output menu. TDM also lags a bit to initiate when pressing CMD F2, it works just not as fast as before. Not having audio now is a major pain.

Just can't win these days....anyone else having the same issue?

Nov 1, 2018 9:37 AM in response to TayDC

Yes I am having the same trouble with audio and yes it is a pain. I do video editing on my 2018 MBP in the field, then when I get home I like to hook it up to my iMac through TDM to take advantage of the bigger display. Sound plays on the MBP but not on the iMac. In reality it is a simple work around but it would be really nice if it worked. The speakers on the iMac sounds much better then the speakers on the MBP so buying and hooking up external speakers to put next to my iMac seems ridiculous when the iMac has two really nice speakers built right in.

Anyone in the bata program if you could report this bug, that would be appreciated.

Nov 1, 2018 12:49 PM in response to r.geromin

This is my set up: 2018 13-inch MBP using a iMac 27-inch late 2012 as TDM, both running 10.14.1 Mojave. Output sound in preferences on the MBP when connected is set to "iMac". NO SOUND. When output sound in preferences is set to "MacBook Pro Speakers" I hear sound coming out of the MBP as expected. If some people are getting sound and some are not, very interesting.

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2018 MacBook Pro Target Display Mode Not Working