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Hello, I have a Thunderbolt Display connected to a Mac mini. Every couple of minutes, 10-20 min, the display blinks. this has been going on for a long long time but I never found a solution. Does anyone know how to fix this? Seems related to the display rather than the Mac mini since it happens with my other Mac mini also.
thanks for any help.
Mac mini, 10.13
I think you did narrow down to the core issue -- your Thunderbolt display seems to have some problem.
I have 2 Thunderbolt displays -- my first one had the intermittent blank issue (sounded similar to yours). I bought the second one from my friend, while trying to fix the first one (was out of warranty). From some research, I then replaced the whole thunderbolt cable (not an easy job) and that fixed the problem. Again, I am no expert but lucky enough to fix it on my first attempt. If you have an extra Thunderbolt 2 (male-to-male) cable -- you can try to plug between Thunderbolt Display and Mac Mini -- if the screen works without hiccup, then likely, it was the cable issue. If not, I have no other answer for you at the moment. I fixed mine because I was in need for that display's TB 2 port.
Thunderbolt displays are not yet on the obsolete product list - you might want to check with Apple to see if they would service it, or try the local Apple Authorized Service Provider for a check up.
I saw something quite similar with my TB display. It turned out to
be the built in TB cable. So, I purchased a Thunderbolt cable, plugged
it into the open port on the TB display and plugged into the TB port
on my Mac and has been working fine ever since (5 years or so).
While the cost of a TB cable is not necessarily cheap, its a quick way
to find out if a new display is in your future or not and is cheaper than
taking the old TB in to get it repaired if it resolves the issue.
Thank you for replying Woodmeister. I tried what you recommended and bought a Thunderbolt cable which I plugged into both the Mac mini and the open TB port on the display, but that fails to bring any image to the display. even the keyboard does not seem to connect to the Mac mini via that route. How did you solve that, because to me it seems the TB port on the display is just an "out", not an "in".
thanks.
p
Thanks for insisting. You were absolutely RIGHT. I had not known that these plugs had a right and wrong way in, because they more or less enter both ways. however, when I plug it in the right way around, it works fine.
you save me an expensive repair! many thanks
p
The Thunderbolt port on the back of the display can be used for both in and out. Did you push the plug in all the way (no metal showing)?
Thunderbolt Display blinking
