Questions & Answers for Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter

Apple does not have a mini DP to HDMI adapter out yet. (I do believe there are 3rd party options....search on Amazon)

Unfortunately, miniDP ports do not carry sound. So even if there was a miniDP-to-HDMI cable, you would still need an additional cable to get sound into your TV/audio receiver.

Most people seem to be using the miniDP-to-DVI adapter to connect their Macbooks to their HDTVs, but there are HDCP issues when trying to play copyrighted HD rentals over DVI.

mini-DP to VGA could be a better route as you won't have the HDCP issues. In all cases, you need an additional audio cable.

In theory, someone could create a cable that had miniDP AND a 3.5mm jack as one end, and an HDMI jack on the other end. (assuming the miniDP and audio-out port on the laptop are close enough to each other)

Maybe the next Macbooks will have HDMI out ports and solve all our problems. I doubt it.

• Answered by Jacob M from Chicago
• 5 Dec, 2009
• Flag as inappropriate Answer (Does apple make an adapter that goes from Mini DP to HDMI and does the Mini DP carry sound or only video?)

Yes... assuming your LCD TV has a VGA input. Most do, so that shouldn't be a concern. Be aware that you will have some resolution restrictions with your TV. If you get a message similar to "signal is out of range" you might have to adjust the screen resolution and refresh rate for the secondary display. You should be able to find the acceptable display information in the documentation that came with your TV.
Good Luck!

• Answered by Alan J from Hermitage
• 3 Feb, 2011
• Flag as inappropriate Answer (Will this connect my new imac 27'' to my samsung 42'' LCD TV to use as a second screen?)

I have to recant my previous answer. Although Apple does state that you can connect an external source to the 27" iMac, you CANNOT connect a converted video signal to the mini port and expect it to drive the appropriate signals. I tried this with the MiniDisplay-VGA converter and a laptop and it DID NOT WORK. Reading further, I discovered there are converters that can do this, but none for VGA that I could find.

• Answered by Anonymous A from Xxxxxxx
• 16 Aug, 2010
• Flag as inappropriate Answer (Will an XBOX360 with a VGA cable work with this Mini DisplayPort to VGA adapter on a 27" iMac?)

Yes, all devices with a thunderbolt port will accept this adapter.

• Answered by Jack S
• 23 Aug, 2015
• Flag as inappropriate Answer (will this work with a 2015 macbook air?)

You need the Mini DisplayPort one

• Answered by Andrew J from Round Hill
• 7 Mar, 2010
• Flag as inappropriate Answer (Do I need this cable, or the MiniDVI cable to connect my iMac (21.5 inch) to a different screen?)