The Thunderbolt ports on your MacBook Pro support video output.Ĭonnect a VGA display or projector: Use a USB-C VGA Multiport Adapter to connect the display or projector to a Thunderbolt port on your MacBook Pro.Ĭonnect an HDMI display or HDTV: Plug a cable from your HDMI display or HDTV directly into the HDMI port on your 14-inch or 16-inch MacBook Pro. You can use an external display, a projector, or an HDTV with your 13-inch MacBook Pro. Would the Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter (29) serve to achieve this goal Is there a Thunderbolt (1,2) to USB 3. You can connect up to two external displays with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz (Apple M1 Pro) or up to three external displays with up to 6K resolution and one external display with up to 4K resolution at 60Hz (Apple M1 Max). I would like to connect a usb-c external drive using the Thunderbolt port (mini-display port connector) to achieve higher data transfer. The HDMI and Thunderbolt ports on your MacBook Pro support video output. You can use an external display, a projector, or an HDTV with your 14-inch or 16-inch MacBook Pro. Use an external display with your MacBook Pro
Take a tour: New 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro.Introducing the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro.Apple’s Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter is still useful, of course, but only for connecting legacy Thunderbolt devices or Thunderbolt-capable displays such as the 27-inch Thunderbolt Display. Just plug it into your 2016 MacBook Pro, connect your monitor to the adapter’s mini DisplayPort connection, and you should be good to go.
You’ll also find a range of similar adapters over at Amazon. One such option recommended by a listener to the NosillaCast is the All Smart Life USB-C to mini DisplayPort Adapter, currently priced at $21.99. As discussed on the NosillaCast podcast, you’ll need to turn to a third party adapter for mini DisplayPort compatibility. How you do that will depend on which device you have, and youre likely to need either a USB-C monitor or an adapter or dock. So if Apple’s adapter isn’t the answer, what is? One solution would be to pick up a Thunderbolt 3 docking station that has either a mini DisplayPort or full-sized DisplayPort output, such as the OWC Thunderbolt 3 Dock.īut Thunderbolt 3 docking stations are relatively expensive, and if all you’re looking for is a way to connect your 2016 MacBook Pro to your mini DisplayPort monitor, there’s a cheaper solution. Any MacBook Pro can be connected to at least one external monitor as all models have a port that can support video output.
As discussed on Mac Geek Gab Episode 638, Apple’s Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter, while seemingly the simplest option, isn’t going to do the job.