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How to Use a Thunderbolt Cable When the All-in-One Cable Fails on an A1407 Apple Thunderbolt Display (v2 preview) - Macfixit Australia

How to Use a Thunderbolt Cable When the All-in-One Cable Fails on an A1407 Apple Thunderbolt Display (v2 preview)

The Apple Thunderbolt Display (model A1407) is a sleek, high-quality monitor, but it has one common weakness: the built-in all-in-one cable. Over time — especially with frequent bending or movement — the Thunderbolt connector in this cable can become faulty, causing the display to stop working even though the screen, USB and camera are still fine.

The good news? You can still use your Thunderbolt Display by bypassing the faulty built-in cable entirely.

What You'll Need

Apple Thunderbolt Cable (2.0m)
Apple Thunderbolt Cable (2.0m) – Used A-Grade
View Product Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter
Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter (for newer Macs)
View Product

Steps

  1. Plug the standalone Thunderbolt cable into the Thunderbolt port on the back of the A1407 display.
  2. Connect the other end to your Mac — or use the Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter for newer Macs.
  3. If needed, power the display or Mac off and on to refresh the connection.
Thunderbolt port on the back of the Apple Thunderbolt Display A1407

Why this works

Even though the all-in-one cable is the default connection, the rear Thunderbolt port works independently. By connecting directly, you bypass the faulty internal cable and restore full display functionality — including USB, the FaceTime camera and speakers.

Prefer a Cleaner, Permanent Fix?

If you'd like to remove the faulty Apple cable entirely, the Thunderbolt cable can be installed internally. You can open your Apple Thunderbolt Display and remove the combined Apple Thunderbolt and MagSafe cable assembly, then connect the standalone Thunderbolt cable directly to the logic board. This gives a much cleaner setup — though please note you'll no longer have the MagSafe charging cable.

Caution: if you decide to proceed, make sure the display is completely disconnected from power and left unplugged for some time before opening it.

Want us to do it for you?

Macfixit can perform the internal cable modification, or help you choose the right cable and adapter for your Mac. Email helpdesk@macfixit.com.au and our team will help.

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