Connecting Macbook Pro, Mac Pro to Apple Thunderbolt Display

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Connecting Macbook Pro, Mac Pro to Apple Thunderbolt Display

I have an Apple Thunderbolt Display (2016) connected as my main monitor to my Mac Pro (Late 2013). I'm looking to connect my MacBook Pro 13inch (2020), which is my mobile laptop for working remotely, as an extended display just so everything is connected and I can go between displays. I've tried using the Apple Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter, connecting a Thunderbolt 2 to Thunderbolt 2 cable between the Macbook pro and the monitor but it doesn't detect. Is it not possible to connect these set up together?

Mac Pro

Posted on Mar 10, 2022 11:05 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Grant Bennet-Alder

Level 10

133,429 points

Mar 11, 2022 6:57 AM in response to Maasaiwakawaka

The Apple 13-in MacBook Pro M1 supports ONE External display.

The Apple Thunderbolt Display has one input cord and a MagSafe output cord, with only a ThunderBolt-2 input. if it does not work with the Apple ThunderBolt-3 <-> ThunderBolt-2 adapter, Apple will fix it.

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The very similar looking LED Cinema Display has this cord:

"a convenient single cable with three connectors (Mini DisplayPort, MagSafe, and USB 2.0)"

according to

https://everymac.com/monitors/apple/studio_cinema/specs/apple-led-cinema-display-27-inch-specs.html

If you connect the Cinema display using the Apple ThunderBolt-3 <-> Thunderbolt-2 adapter, NOTHING will happen, and this is by design. But there are other solutions.

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Answer 2

Mar 13, 2022 7:59 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

If the Apple Thunderbolt Display is connected to my Mac Pro, and I'm trying to connect my 13-inch Macbook Pro to the same screen (using the ThunderBolt-3 <-> ThunderBolt-2 adapter + ThunderBolt-2 cable) I'm assuming that doesn't work? Is there a work around for this, or it's not possible? i.e. Monitor only allows for one input, and that's from the Mac Pro.

Thanks for your help on this Grant, really appreciate the time taken to assist!

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Answer 3

Mar 13, 2022 8:14 PM in response to Maasaiwakawaka

Older monitors do not allow you to have the cables in place and witch between them.

On a Mac this is problematic anyway, because the Display needs to answer a query from the Mac at startup (and a few other important times) or it will stay dark.

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Connecting Macbook Pro, Mac Pro to Apple Thunderbolt Display

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