Thunderbolt Display USB-C Retrofit for Modern Macs!

Thank you for the video - as I have few Thunderbolt displays in hands. I have tried to use the MagSafe for older MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. I have grown to DISLIKE the power cable portion - it created the tension on the most precious Thunderbolt 2 connector, which I saw on many Thunderbolt Display. I have disconnected the Octopus cable's internal power connector, then cut off the external power cable. However, aesthetically, it looked ugly with the TB2-> TB3 adapter, plus the thickness of the the remaining cable. I really like your method of hiding the adapter internally and only has TB3 cable coming out. During my modification, I cut the 0.5m TB2 cable's plastic cover and it shows the "connector" exactly the length and style like the OEM's Octopus internal TB2 connector! So, I can use the connector's cover, without needing the glue! I also save Octopus cable's the white center "button" for the TB3 cable to pass through (again, with cutting and gluing) - now it feels like the TB3 cable was part of the TB Display... It suits perfectly for my M1/M2 Mac Minis. Thanks again for inspiring me to make this modification!

Amazing video, it’s giving me some thoughts of picking up a Thunderbolt Display for my Mac Studio.

Curious, is the MacBook able to control brightness and pass audio to the monitor speakers?

I think this mod is awesome! Is there any chance you'd sell a converted buck converter? I'd really appreciate it!

All I want to do is figure out a way to use the firewire and thunderbolt ports to add a few more USB ports. Anyone have a simple solution like a chord that plugs into the firewire or thunderbolt ports and creates a dock?

This is a great setup. I have a thunderbolt display and the new macbook with magsafe 3 and I wanted to use the magsafe 1 from the display. However, after watching this video I have decided it's too much hassle for me. But your tutorial is awesome anyway!

Awesome work. It’s funny that I only came here for adapter info, yet watched the entire video because geek stuff. Looked like a fun project!

Why didn't you just use another T2 cable out of the daisy chain port?

Can I ask what size grommet u used?

Another incompatibility from Apple with the rest of the world.
When I realized all the problems I got after purchasing a G4 tower in 2004 I sold everything after only one year of use.
For sure it was a beautiful desktop tower but sooooooo much problems : uncessant OS updates to run some softwares, hardware limitations/speed, expensive hardware upgrades, expensive accessories, ..... Apple is only a question of design and money, not productivity.
I switched to Windows and all my problems were solved. No more headaches : inexpensive accessories, total compatibility, tons of softwares and hardwares, easy upgrades, more fun/speed/productivity, ease of use since Windows 98 SE and later.
I will never touch an Apple product again.

there's another solution, you can use the thunderbolt 2 connection on the back with a thunderbolt 2 to thunderbolt 3 cable. Easy Peezy. there are also adapters for the magsafe to usb c

Thunderbolt 2 is literally mini DP! As u had a dp to hdmi adapter and it worked on my old MacBook air(no longer uses it) and a pc that had a mini dp on the gpu!

I don't understand why the Thunderbolt Display only supplies ~6V. From what I read on Apple's website, this display is supposed to deliver up to 85W. Assuming it outputs 5A that would be 17V. Does that mean the voltage is variable depending on what the Magsafe 2 connector is negociating with the internal power adaptor? So theoretically could we go DC to Magsafe 3 and the internal power supply would adapt the voltage?

I just completed this same change minus the power because my thunderbolt cable finally died from the bends. This video was very helpful, thank you! Although I has issues when connecting this to a new Mac mini. I ended up having to skip the thunderbolt extension cable you called out here. Apple thunderbolt cable to apple convertor was the only way it would work for me.

Is there any way to connect three thunderbolt displays to an M1 macbook pro? My current understanding and testing is that apple purposefully limits it to two external displays. And the only way I know how to make it work is the M1 MAX/ULTRA chips which allow 3.

Use For Apple Cinema 27 A1407 ?

Any reason why you replaced the thunderbolt 2 cable inside the monitor, and not just use the one it had by by plugging the adapter directly to it? Any advantages to that? Amazing video btw, it is very inspiring!

ok so what monitor arm is that and where can i get it?

if the type c supplied power then you dont need magsafe 3 connector if using one cable only

would there be any way to combine the TB and power into one cable? iirc USB-PD negotiation happens over the power lines themselves so i wonder if the power pins going out could simply be injected into the outgoing cable?

Cool project from technical standpoint.

BUT the result is not so impressive. Nothing I would like to have on my desktop. Even the Apple Cinema Displays might be good enough for many use cases.

Could you replace the thunderbolt 2 port on the logic board with USB-C rather than relying on the adapter?

i want to use it on imac as second monitor? can you guide me how? my TB display power cable is not working it flickers the display so i am thinking to do this modification and power up TB display again? any thoughts on this?

can we simply connect 16.5V adaptor to power on the display - I just want another display ( not wanna use USB -C to charge my laptop as well? @colin grant can you help?

como hago esa adptacion en uno de 24 si no tiene ese cable

Broooooo

It cool video
Im using a Macbook pro 2017 and Thunderbolt display 27”
When using Mac os Ventura every thing is ok, no issue
But when i running windows 11 install by bootcamp, Thunderbolt display not working
Please help me, thanks you

which mounts are those? my vesa mount can't handle the weight of just one Thunderbolt Display atm.

Thank you for this video.

I did almost the same mod based on the information here.

The major difference is that I started with the older led cinema 27" because it is cheaper and can be modded to give charge through a single connector. The only major difference between the two is the webcam.

What I did was to replace the webcam with the one from the thunderbolt display. It is a straight swap and cost about €15.

I then split the cable into the three separate cables (DP, USB and Magsafe) using a sharp knife.

Magsafe I cut and modded the same way as here using a 39k and a 390 ohm resistor in series.

The USB cable I replaced entirely with a much shorter one and the DP cable was terminated with a DP to mini DP adapter.

All of these parts I then connected to a simple USB-C dock I found for about €15 on aliexpress and extended the cable with a USB-C extension cable.

All of this of course with liberal amounts of shrink tube, a couple of zipties and even a ziploch bag to insulate the display cable. And a quick and dirty strain relief.

Total cost was about €50 on top of the €200 display and it took me and my friend maybe two hours.

It works an absolute treat. The biggest letdown is seriously that I wasn't sble to source a white braided USB-C extension cable.

Nice Video, nice profile picture, nice H.M Aeron.

Colin I saw your video and I am really inspired to do this mod as well. A couple of questions. 1. How aviod being shocked? I am a bit afaid to mod this. 2. Will this moitor work if i just remove the all in one cable and use the out side thunderbolt port? 3. Will this work with a half mod without doing the power delivery usbc?

great idea! I'm upgrading my thunderbolt display!

Can i just plug an thunderbolt to hdmi cable to the logicboard and use it like an regular pc monitor?

Thank you, so awesome

Very nice. The only video out there retrofitting these beautiful displays. I wish you spent more time in showing us a step by step in putting together the finished charge module. Everything else had an in-depth instruction except putting the 39.4 resistor , shottky barrier diode and voltage conversion module together. How was that resistor connected? Did you use only 2 pins in the shottky diode connections? which one did you cutoff?

Very nice modification. I am surprised Apple just installed a thunderbolt port on the logic board. But hey it’s great for modifications! Thanks for sharing

It’s a shame you can’t get an adapter like Utab’s minidisplay model that supports a power feed, too.

Would it be possible to link both MagSafe and Thunderbolt adaptors to a USB C splitter inside the unit for a single cable option or would you loose TB capabilities?

Awesome work

This video is better than watching Tom Cruise in TopGun II

Love this stuff, wholly sh**

Incredible. I have two of these monitors collecting dust. I have plans to build a workbench in my basement storage area near my lab rack. Your work just saved me from selling or chucking the ACD's. Please share updates if there are any!

willing to sell an PD module already put together? i want to do the same upgrade but using a usbc to magsafe cable for my m2 macbook pro

brilliant work Colin! I want to try this out!

Wwwooooooowww

God mode displays! need to get this figured out

Hey Colin

My Thunderbolt display sometimes flickers which is annoying so today I received a Thunderbolt 2 to USB C cable from amazon, I opened the display and removed the old thunderbolt cable that has a magsafe cable attached to it and fitted the amazon cable, but that didn't work, do you know why?

I believe the flickering is caused by the cable therefore was planning on just swapping to a new cable, i use a Macbook pro 2018 so i do not need the magsafe or the thunderbolt 2 connection, i thought I can just switch it over with a conversion cable, maybe if I swap it with a thunderbolt 2 to thunderbolt 2 cable and use the adapt it would work that way? Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated

Will this work on the Cinema Display?

I have never seen anyone put a meter clips in to an unplugged Laptop adapter or over the pc Board to see if voltage residue is still there

Why would you do this ? Apple makes a USB-C to Thunder-bolt adapter MSRP $69.00

Great tutorial Colin! you could use this LINDY L43246 mini display port to usb-c with power delivery (it's also very cheap) and have only 1 usb-c cable my only problem now it's how to implement in this setup a usb for my mouse because i'm using logitech g pro mouse.

Can you share where to grab the power parts?

Wow