MBA 2020 can't connect to external monitors

[Anonymous Freak]

Has anyone found an answer to this yet? I got my 2020 MBA this week and unfortunately didnt do proper research on using my 2011 iMac as a display for the MBA. Nothing works with TB3 to TB2 adapter and TB2 Cable. I have read that a TB3 port will probably work, but I am unwilling to fork out $200 not knowing if it will work. Apple support has been no help. The TB3 to TB2 clearly states that it will work and is compatible with MBA, disappointed.

As saulinpa said a week ago - you can't use a TB3-to-TB2 adapter unless you're using an actual Thunderbolt monitor. Use any random USB-C-to-whatever-interface adapter you need. If your monitor has DVI, get a USB-C-to-DVI adapter, if your monitor has HDMI, get a USB-C-to-HDMI adapter. If your monitor has Mini DisplayPort, get a USB-C-to-Mini-DisplayPort.

For the people complaining about an iMac in Target Display Mode not working - for *THAT*, you have to use at Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 plugged directly in to the Thunderbolt 2 Mac, then a Thunderbolt 2 cable directly from that to the iMac.

Also note that if you are connecting a Thunderbolt Display (iMac in Target Display Mode or native Thunderbolt,) you are still limited to two displays per Thunderbolt bus. If you're on a MacBook Air, that's two external displays - period. No matter how they're connected.

 

[AppleZombie]

As saulinpa said a week ago - you can't use a TB3-to-TB2 adapter unless you're using an actual Thunderbolt monitor. Use any random USB-C-to-whatever-interface adapter you need. If your monitor has DVI, get a USB-C-to-DVI adapter, if your monitor has HDMI, get a USB-C-to-HDMI adapter. If your monitor has Mini DisplayPort, get a USB-C-to-Mini-DisplayPort.

For the people complaining about an iMac in Target Display Mode not working - for *THAT*, you have to use at Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 plugged directly in to the Thunderbolt 2 Mac, then a Thunderbolt 2 cable directly from that to the iMac.

Also note that if you are connecting a Thunderbolt Display (iMac in Target Display Mode or native Thunderbolt,) you are still limited to two displays per Thunderbolt bus. If you're on a MacBook Air, that's two external displays - period. No matter how they're connected.

Well good thing 2011's came with Thunderbolt.......

 

[Daveed]

Has anyone found an answer to this yet? I got my 2020 MBA this week and unfortunately didnt do proper research on using my 2011 iMac as a display for the MBA. Nothing works with TB3 to TB2 adapter and TB2 Cable. I have read that a TB3 port will probably work, but I am unwilling to fork out $200 not knowing if it will work. Apple support has been no help. The TB3 to TB2 clearly states that it will work and is compatible with MBA, disappointed.

I found no solution. When I was on the phone with Apple support, they suggested that a fix may come for this in an upcoming Catalina update, but they were not definitive about it.

 

[Marc Secoy]

I just purchased brand new 13” MBP and have same issue. Target Display works flawlessly with my 2016 MPB but then I try the 2020 MBP and nothing.

 

[Rijk2]

Same here, 2020 MBP not working. Exact same setup working flawlessly with both a 2014 MBP, MBA and even a 2017 MBP over USB-C. Posted here as well: https://apple.stackexchange.com/que...splay-mode-not-working-on-macbook-pro-13-2020

 

[Marc Secoy]

Let us know if apple figures out solution. I needed up getting a $160 27” HP display for a Quick solution. The apple connectors and cables are $100.

 

[iMax Pro]

This sucks!! My new 2020 MBP is also not connecting. I finally upgraded from 2012 MBP to 2020 MBP because my 2012 could not run sidecar. My 2012 MBP (using thunderbolt 2 cable) and my wife's 2018 MBA (using thunderbolt 2 cable and thunderbolt 2 to 3 adapter) still connect to our Mid 2011 iMac using TDM. I hesitated updating to the newer MBP's because of the butterfly keyboard but now that I did I can't TDM, what a bummer.

 

[Daveed]

Has anyone found an answer to this yet? I got my 2020 MBA this week and unfortunately didnt do proper research on using my 2011 iMac as a display for the MBA. Nothing works with TB3 to TB2 adapter and TB2 Cable. I have read that a TB3 port will probably work, but I am unwilling to fork out $200 not knowing if it will work. Apple support has been no help. The TB3 to TB2 clearly states that it will work and is compatible with MBA, disappointed.

AppleZombie, did you find a solution? Not sure what you meant by "I have read that a TB3 port will probably work" or if this was a solution for you in the end. Thanks!

 

[bilko66]

Just been onto Apple support with the same issue using a MacBook Air 2020. It is confirmed that 2020 models are no longer compatible with Target Display Mode to older iMacs. Do not waste your time trying to resolve this, it won't work. Post a request to Apple to reinstate this feature instead. See https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT204592. It states 2019 Macs or earlier as the sender.

 

[deeddawg]

Still a very misleading thread title.

 

[kirbyrun]

Still a very misleading thread title.

Well, it became about TDM for the most part, but in my original post, I did mention that I couldn't get video out to my old Dell monitor, either. I suppose I could have said "to the external monitors I currently have in my house."

 

[deeddawg]

Well, it became about TDM for the most part, but in my original post, I did mention that I couldn't get video out to my old Dell monitor, either. I suppose I could have said "to the external monitors I currently have in my house."

The source of the problem is that you're trying to use the TB3 to TB2 an adapter for something it doesn't support.

DisplayPort doesn't work through the Apple TB3 to TB2 adapter -- says so on the product page. Therefore connecting it to a miniDisplayPort to DVI cable isn't going to work - mDP and TB2 use the same connector, so while it looks like a TB2 to DVI cable, it's not really TB2.

Skip the TB3 to TB2 adapter. Use a USBC to DVI cable like this one and you'll be fine - https://www.amazon.com/Cable-Matters-USB-C-Black-Feet/dp/B076TTN1FL

FYI - I regularly use an old Viewsonic 1080p with my MBA - HDMI cable to an old Triplite USBC hub I've had a while.

 

[kirbyrun]

The source of the problem is that you're trying to use the TB3 to TB2 an adapter for something it doesn't support.

DisplayPort doesn't work through the Apple TB3 to TB2 adapter -- says so on the product page. Therefore connecting it to a miniDisplayPort to DVI cable isn't going to work - mDP and TB2 use the same connector, so while it looks like a TB2 to DVI cable, it's not really TB2.

Skip the TB3 to TB2 adapter. Use a USBC to DVI cable like this one and you'll be fine - https://www.amazon.com/Cable-Matters-USB-C-Black-Feet/dp/B076TTN1FL

FYI - I regularly use an old Viewsonic 1080p with my MBA - HDMI cable to an old Triplite USBC hub I've had a while.

Many thanks! I've already worked around it, but I really appreciate this information. It's weird because multiple Apple support folks told me what I was doing SHOULD work, and yet...

Further proof that even the Apple people don't always know!

 

[technotarek]

After reading this thread and looking for solutions elsewhere, I gave up on a hardwired connection. It's not nearly as good as native TDM, but I've now opted for a wifi solution called Luna Display. Same price as the stupid USB-C to TB2 adapter that I bought. Wish I would have known what I've learned from this thread sooner.

Luna Display: https://shop.astropad.com/
It's a small touchy laggy. As I understand it, it's literally sending a screen capture of my MBA over WIFI to my iMac. It's doing the job so far. I believe there are other, similar solutions (Duet?). I'm using it in mirror mode, but I believe the primary use is for a dual-screen/extended set up.

For the record, I used to be on a MBA 2013 with TDM to a 2011 iMac. That no longer worked when upgrading to an MBA 2020.

 

[technotarek]

After reading this thread and looking for solutions elsewhere, I gave up on a hardwired connection. It's not nearly as good as native TDM, but I've now opted for a wifi solution called Luna Display. Same price as the stupid USB-C to TB2 adapter that I bought. Wish I would have known what I've learned from this thread sooner.

Luna Display: https://shop.astropad.com/
It's a small touchy laggy. As I understand it, it's literally sending a screen capture of my MBA over WIFI to my iMac. It's doing the job so far. I believe there are other, similar solutions (Duet?). I'm using it in mirror mode, but I believe the primary use is for a dual-screen/extended set up.

For the record, I used to be on a MBA 2013 with TDM to a 2011 iMac. That no longer worked when upgrading to an MBA 2020.

Update after one week of Luna usage. The Luna isn't cutting it. Too laggy, too inconsistent. Gonna get myself a new monitor to replace the iMac and connect the MBA 2020 to it by HDMI.

 

[PrinceRoswell]

new iMac 2020 trying to connect to 2012 iMac (late) running High Sierra in Target Display Mode as a second monitor. Even shutting down T2 security on new iMac did not alter outcome. Apple support just advised that new 2020 iMacs do not support Target Display Mode in any way. They suggested I trade in the 2012 iMac for savage value.

 

[Ltham]

new iMac 2020 trying to connect to 2012 iMac (late) running High Sierra in Target Display Mode as a second monitor. Even shutting down T2 security on new iMac did not alter outcome. Apple support just advised that new 2020 iMacs do not support Target Display Mode in any way. They suggested I trade in the 2012 iMac for savage value.

I am trying to do the exact same thing and purchased a new 2020 iMac for this purpose and now find out it doesn’t work!

The only thing I was able to do was use AirPlay but the 2012 screen was very unresponsive and slow that makes it almost not worth it!

Frustrating.

 

[markturnip]

Also experiencing this with 2020 MacBook Pro + 2011 iMac.

Has anyone successfully tried installing older OS to a 2020 MacBook Pro to confirm TDM works?

 

[throAU]

never mind.

 

[chrfr]

Also experiencing this with 2020 MacBook Pro + 2011 iMac.

Has anyone successfully tried installing older OS to a 2020 MacBook Pro to confirm TDM works?

2020 Macs do not support connecting to iMacs via target display mode.

Use your iMac as a display with target display mode - Apple Support (BN)

Target display mode is a feature available with certain older Mac models.

support.apple.com

 

[markturnip]

2020 Macs do not support connecting to iMacs via target display mode.

Use your iMac as a display with target display mode - Apple Support (BN)

Target display mode is a feature available with certain older Mac models.

support.apple.com

Fully aware of that. But some are claiming it’s a OS regression. So I’m curious as to whether a 2020 MacBook with Mojave or earlier brings back support for TDM.

 

[CheesePuff]

Fully aware of that. But some are claiming it’s a OS regression. So I’m curious as to whether a 2020 MacBook with Mojave or earlier brings back support for TDM.

You can't run an earlier macOS on those machines