MBP broken screen - can't put into Target Disk Mode

[Mildredop]

My partner has broken the screen of his 2018 15" Touchbar MBP, so we can't see what it's doing.

It'll start up and the Touchbar will show "Esc", keyboard lights up etc. But plugging it into an HDMI monitor doesn't work. We've also tried plugging it into my MacBook Air and starting the MBP in Target Disk Mode, but it just doesn't show up on the Air (and because there's no screen have no idea if the MBP is actually going into TDM anyway).

I've even tried starting it and, copying the key presses on my MacBook Air, putting in the password in the hope of logging in, but that doesn't work.

Is there anything else we can try to either display an output onto a screen or get files off the MacBook Pro?

 

[firelighter487]

try plugging it into hdmi again, pressing the power button then closing it immediately. that'll enable clamshell mode and force the machine to boot to the hdmi display as only output.

 

[Mildredop]

No luck, but thanks for the tip.

When long pressing the power button to force shut down the Mac, it gives a momentary high-powered blow of its fans. Does that mean anything?

 

[adrianlondon]

I broke the screen on my 2013 MBP.

Open lid, press power button, close lid. Machine boots to my TV connected via HDMI. Once booted I can open the lid and use the computer.

However, I then opened the MBP up and pulled out the little cable connecting the screen to the system board. Now it thinks it has no internal screen and always boots to the TV regardless of lid position.

ifixit website will show which cable to pull. Someone on Reddit just removed the entire lid unit, but then realised that the screen bezels contained aerials for WiFi and bluetooth which messed them up. Whoops.

 

[firelighter487]

No luck, but thanks for the tip.

When long pressing the power button to force shut down the Mac, it gives a momentary high-powered blow of its fans. Does that mean anything?

not sure... maybe just take it to apple to get it fixed...