Raspberry Pi Forums

I am having a problem connecting the Raspberry Pi Zero to my son's Macbook Air (Mac OS-X). I have searched the forums but cannot find anything that answers this.

I formatted the mini SD and downloaded NOOBS onto it using the SD port on my Sony laptop since the Macbook has no SD port.

Then, I inserted the mini SD into the Zero and connected the Zero to the Macbook Air as follows:
1. Mini HDMI to Thunderbolt port (using the mini SD to micro SD adapter supplied with the Magpi magazine and a micro SD to Thunderbolt adapter)
2. Micro USB to mouse (using the micro USB to USB adapter supplied withe the Magpi magazine and a remote USB connection )
3. Power supply to Macbook (using a mini USB to USB cable).

When I connect the Zero to the Macbook Air, nothing happens (I was expecting the Zero to open automatically and when I search connections on the Macbook Air, there doe not appear to be one - although the power supply appears to be working as the light on the Zero lights up).

Is the problem the micro SD to Thunderbolt adapter described in 1. above or something else and what is the solution?

Thank you.

Andrew

1. Mini HDMI to Thunderbolt port (using the mini SD to micro SD adapter supplied with the Magpi magazine and a micro SD to Thunderbolt adapter)

Sorry, that is impossible. HDMI and SD have nothing in common. But even if you misspelled SD for HDMI here, not possible.

It sounds like you expect something else than the Raspberry offers. The Zero has a HDMI Output, attach the HDMI output (via a Mini HDMI to HDMI adapter e.g.) to a real HDMI monitor. Not to the Thunderbolt output of your Mac.

Your Mac will not 'see' the Zero other than a device in the network once you attach a network adapter to your Zero.

AFAIAA the Thunderbolt Connector can not accept HDMi Input..

AFAIAA the MiniDisply Port on the MAC is output only..

Therefore you have no suitable inputs on the MAC