I just changed my 2009 17" macbook pro which I used to hook up to my 32" 1080p external monitor via a Thunderbolt 2 to HDMI 2 adapter with no problems at all. I bought the new 2016 15" retina MBP with the Apple original USB-C (thunderbolt 3) to thunderbolt 2 adapter but the new MBP doesnt connect to the 3 different brand monitors. HELP!!
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
The thunderbolt 3 to thunderbolt 2 adapter doesnt work with external monitors
- Thread starter Caribbean Mac
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Yeah because the TB3 -> TB2 adapter does not carry video signals. Get a USB-C -> HDMI adapter or USB-C -> DisplayPort if your monitor has DP in.
I bought also the USB-C to HDMI and it doesnt work with the external 1080p monitors... it doesnt even recognize any of the 3 in the display preferences
There's a lot of people confused about the Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 (Mini DisplayPort connector) adapter. It should work if you have Thunderbolt monitors. Check the specs of the your monitors - if it doesn't mention Thunderbolt, it's not a Thunderbolt monitor. Thunderbolt 2 uses the Mini DisplayPort connector but the Apple adapter does not carry a DisplayPort signal. So while the cable will connect properly, it won't work. You would need a USB-C to DisplayPort adapter/cable.
If you do have Thunderbolt monitors, there was a post here about somebody having one USB-C port (out of 4) that wouldn't output a video signal (defective computer). The adapter may also be faulty. These two possibilities may also explain why a USB-C to HDMI adapter/cable won't work.
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/hdmi-not-working-on-rear-left-usb-c.2023744/
If you do have Thunderbolt monitors, there was a post here about somebody having one USB-C port (out of 4) that wouldn't output a video signal (defective computer). The adapter may also be faulty. These two possibilities may also explain why a USB-C to HDMI adapter/cable won't work.
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/hdmi-not-working-on-rear-left-usb-c.2023744/
Last edited:
Apple should really make sure its adapters USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 are downward compatible with its own technologies (ei thunderbolt 2 and 1, firewire, etc) as well with HDMI 1.3, 1.4, 2.0 and displayport if it wants the MAC to be a real office laptop
[doublepost=1482784408][/doublepost]Also the Sierra OS on the new 2016 15" MBP doesnt provide any messages related to connected monitor nor the adapters ... it is a mute dumb system with no support messages
[doublepost=1482784408][/doublepost]Also the Sierra OS on the new 2016 15" MBP doesnt provide any messages related to connected monitor nor the adapters ... it is a mute dumb system with no support messages
Since the TB3-TB2 adapter doesn't carry video signals, how would the computer know there's a monitor plugged in to it?
Either way, that adapter's documentation states it doesn't support mini-DisplayPort video/monitors. As others have said, it supports data peripherals only.
TB2 and mDP use the same connector, but they aren't the same data/protocol (though TB2 can embed DP video).
[to confuse the issue, it will support the Apple Thunderbolt Display, including video and its attached peripherals - however this is a Thunderbolt Display, not a conventional mDP display]
If it is helpful, I have this USB-C to HDMI adapter on my 15" touchbar and it works fine (at least up to 1080p/60 which is all I've tested):
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00X4S5C7G/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00X4S5C7G/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
The problem is that the ports on the old Macs were both "thunderbolt 2" and "mindisplayport", and you're not given any obvious indicator that these are completely different things. So if you have a "thunderbolt 2 to HDMI" cable, what you really have is a "minidisplayport to HDMI" cable. Which may have been mislabeled, because vendors didn't want to try to explain that.
And Apple's communication on this isn't great; the packaging for the TB3->TB2 adapter actually shows (without words) connecting the cable to a monitor. I assume it's a Thunderbolt display, but they don't say that on the packaging, so if you just look at the packaging, you have a thing that gives you the small connector you remember from TB2, it says TB2, and it shows that being connected to a monitor, just like your TB2 port connected to monitors... That's pretty much a great way to create customer confusion.
And Apple's communication on this isn't great; the packaging for the TB3->TB2 adapter actually shows (without words) connecting the cable to a monitor. I assume it's a Thunderbolt display, but they don't say that on the packaging, so if you just look at the packaging, you have a thing that gives you the small connector you remember from TB2, it says TB2, and it shows that being connected to a monitor, just like your TB2 port connected to monitors... That's pretty much a great way to create customer confusion.
Thanks for helping this USB-C to HDMI adapter should come by default with each new 2016 MBP Shame on Apple for not removing ports without providing viable "new" untested Thunderbolt 3 aka USB-C that almost no monitor supports.
[doublepost=1482810865][/doublepost]On the spot your comment.... so Apple wants us to dump our monitors and purchase a 1K new monitor just to use the USB-C or thunderbolt 3 new limited port?
[doublepost=1482810865][/doublepost]On the spot your comment.... so Apple wants us to dump our monitors and purchase a 1K new monitor just to use the USB-C or thunderbolt 3 new limited port?
I know it's a very old thread. I'm still using a 27" Apple Thunderbolt (TB2) Display and a 27" Apple Cinema Display. Normally, with the old Macs that had a mini-DisplayPort (mDP) connector with Thunderbolt 2 (TB2), I could daisy-chain the Cinema Display to the back of the Thunderbolt Display and connect the Thunderbolt Display to the Mac with a built-in cable, which would light up both displays.
With the newer Macs (I have a 2021 M1 Pro MacBook Pro), I can connect the 27" Apple Thunderbolt (TB2) Display to the Mac using the Apple TB3-to-TB2 adapter, and the TB2 Display works, but when I plug the Cinema Display to the back of the TB2 display, the Cinema Display doesn't light up. I have to use a separate USB3-to-mDP adapter to connect the Cinema display to the M1 Pro MacBook Pro. Alternatively, I can use a Thunderbolt 3 or Thunderbolt 4 hub to which I connect both 27" displays (TB2 and Cinema) via their respective adapters, and then I connect the M1 Pro Mac to the Thunderbolt 3/4 hub with one TB3 or TB4/USB4 cable.
With the newer Macs (I have a 2021 M1 Pro MacBook Pro), I can connect the 27" Apple Thunderbolt (TB2) Display to the Mac using the Apple TB3-to-TB2 adapter, and the TB2 Display works, but when I plug the Cinema Display to the back of the TB2 display, the Cinema Display doesn't light up. I have to use a separate USB3-to-mDP adapter to connect the Cinema display to the M1 Pro MacBook Pro. Alternatively, I can use a Thunderbolt 3 or Thunderbolt 4 hub to which I connect both 27" displays (TB2 and Cinema) via their respective adapters, and then I connect the M1 Pro Mac to the Thunderbolt 3/4 hub with one TB3 or TB4/USB4 cable.