Macbook Pro M1 Pro 14" with Apple Thunderbolt Display

[dunderdc]

Hello!

I have recently bought a MacBook pro 14" M1 Pro, and was hoping to use my Thunderbolt Display using the Thunderbolt 2 to 3 adaptor. I have seen a few videos similar set ups that seem to work, but for whatever reason, I cannot get the MacBook and screen to talk to each other. I have the thunderbolt out of the back of the screen plugged into the adaptor and then to the laptop. What am I doing wrong? Has anyone been able to make this set up work? Any advice greatly appreciated!

 

[elmarjazz]

I've been using an MBP 14" and APPLE Thunderbolt Display with the TB 2 to 3 adapter for the past few weeks now, before that MBP 2015 15" was the part of the set-up. I also have used the adapter with an iPad Pro 11" TB. All of this without a problem. If this is your first go with the TBD, which hasn't been tested before, all I can think of is the cable is bad, which I read is fairly common. If that is the case, you could try running a TB2 cable from the display backport.

 

[HDFan]

I have the thunderbolt out of the back of the screen plugged into the adaptor

If this is your first go with the TBD, which hasn't been tested before, all I can think of is the cable is bad,

What adapter are you using?

 

[dunderdc]

thanks for your reply, that is really useful. I have been previously using the TBD with a MacBook 2013 without problems, so maybe it is a bad Apple adaptor then. That is annoying, as I think it is beyond the return period. I'll go to the Apple store and see if they will swap it and give that a try.

 

[elmarjazz]

As for the question above about which adapter. It is the APPLE TB 2 to 3, the only one that doe this job as far as I know.

The ATBD is from that era of APPLE cable problems, and YouTube has videos of how to replace this. It involves a bit of work but is not too complex.

Dunderdc - Yes, if you have been using the TBD before and it was working, and the connections/ports on the new MBP and adapter are firm, I'd be thinking it has something to do with the adapter itself as you mention. Another expense but the TBD is worth it. I got mine as a cheap alternative to the Studio display a few months ago and it does not disappoint. Beautiful color, sharp enough if you don't put your face to the screen, perfect integration with APPLE system (wake-up, functions, great speakers, video cam, and style), physically looks great, and well-built Premium materials, no plastic and superbly sturdy. Because of the cable, and sometimes other problems - they have been around a while and some of them heavily used - I didn't want any headaches and found the best condition one I could, the last year made 2015 and in the box basically like-new condition. It cost a bit more but still was only $230. For old tech, I feel it's one of the best-used bargains out there for APPLE.