Display issues with M1 Mini

[supermandrill]

Small update from myself.

I recieved and email from Apple on Saturday saying they had tried to contact me regarding this issue. I posted the issue over on their support forums.

I called support back and was told the issue has been escalated above the normal support channels, they (Apple Support) have been told not to troubleshoot this issue and I've been passed up the chain to a more senior team looking into problems with new hardware. The person I spoke to on the phone was surprised the issue had already been ecsalated to this team (it was the "higher up" hardware team who had initally tried to contact me, not just the usual support team).

Anyway I'm expecting a call back this afternoon and it's being described as information collecting for the moment.

I'm updated onto the latest BETA of Big Sur 11.1 and the issue is still present.

Machine has also now developed another weird problem when waking from sleep in that both of my displays are totally black. The mouse pointer is visable and I can move it but there is nothing else on the displays, just total black. Putting it back to sleep then waking doesn't solve it, nor does unplugging monitor cables. Only a full reboot with the power button does.

I'm worried.

I spoke to one of the senior tech support as well. He called me a few days after I had returned my Mac mini, and basically just asked what the problems were in detail but that was about it. Please let us know what they say when they get in touch with you.

 

[the.orange.tuba]

I get a small number of multicolor visual artifacts with my mini m1 on login screen and for a short time after logged in. The issue resovles itself, I'd guess in less than 30 seconds after logged in. I use HDMI to 6 year old 24" 1920x1200 Asus monitor. The artifacts are mostly small narrow rectangles(around 1/8" long x 1/16” tall on my 24" screen) and they seem to blink or move around. They go away after a short period of time, so it's not a problem so far, but thought I would chime in with this weirdness.

 

[supermandrill]

A person on Apple’s forum was apparently contacted by Apple’s senior tech support. Here’s the fix that was given by Apple. If anyone is able to test it and give us feed back that’d be great, as I don’t have my Mac mini anymore. Anyway here’s the fix: Deactivate in system preferences / mission control / "the screens have separate spaces" this has to be OFF.

 

[mrj412]

I was getting the pink squares on the login screen and a bit after logging in on my HDMI connected monitor.
I installed MacOS 11.1 Beta 2 over the weekend and, for me at least, this issue has been fixed.
Now I just need Apple to address the bluetooth issues but that is a different thread.

 

[Roy G Biv]

I cannot change the screen brightness via the Mac? It's greyed out in System Preferences and Control Center. Dell S2721QS connected via HDMI with M1 Mini on 11.0.1.

​

 

[supermandrill]

I was getting the pink squares on the login screen and a bit after logging in on my HDMI connected monitor.
I installed MacOS 11.1 Beta 2 over the weekend and, for me at least, this issue has been fixed.
Now I just need Apple to address the bluetooth issues but that is a different thread.

Good to know! I’m glad to heard that.

 

[mmulet]

Just received my M1 Mini, experiencing the same pink squares as was posted earlier. Do we know when 11.1 actually comes out to fix this? I've tried multiple HDMI cables, with no improvement. If the beta fixes it, maybe a software problem? My monitor is an LG Ultrawide.

 

[icanswiftabit]

I've got mine since yesterday. Here is my experience. Should I return it?

https://imgur.com/a/uNArVRb

 

[thkoch]

I've got mine just tomorrow. Here is my experience. Should I return it?

https://imgur.com/a/uNArVRb

I'd probably wait for a few days. Seems the M1 is busy indexing or so in the first few days which force these errors. I had the "pink squares" also on the second day after a restart. But now the M1 runs fine. I am waiting also myself. After all, there is warranty on the machine...

 

[Captain Trips]

Just received my M1 Mini, experiencing the same pink squares as was posted earlier. Do we know when 11.1 actually comes out to fix this? I've tried multiple HDMI cables, with no improvement. If the beta fixes it, maybe a software problem? My monitor is an LG Ultrawide.

mmulet,

Related to your setup - what vertical frequency / refresh rate is your M1 mini able to drive the LG Ultrawide at?

I know that the tech specs I have been able to find for the M1 Macs only say 60 Hz, but that is for 4k or higher. I don't have that high a resolution on my AOC ultra wide (3440 x 1440) so I am wondering if lower resolution allows for a higher refresh rate.

I have an AOC ultrawide that my Intel 2014 Mac mini can drive at 60 Hz, but the monitor can go as high as either 120 Hz or 144 Hz. For whichever Apple Silicon Mac I get to replace it with, I hope to be able to get a higher refresh rate.

I can afford to be patient since I recently bought an M1 MacBook Pro (8 GB memory, 256 GB SSD). And the Intel Mac mini is performing well (4 GB memory, 512 GB SSD) for what I use it for. But it will be nice to get a much faster Mac to replace it with.

 

[M33-1]

Do not buy the mini! You will have nothing but issues in several areas. Return and purchase the MBP or MBA.

 

[4sallypat]

Do not buy the mini! You will have nothing but issues in several areas. Return and purchase the MBP or MBA.

Wrong - my M1 Mini is perfect - had some early on issues (kernel panic restart, incompatible Adobe Acrobat Pro activation), but has been awesome running DUAL displays (27" Thunderbolt + 32" 4K) and I am blown away with the ice cold operation, no fan noise, and no more need to put it on top of my cooling fan.

I have not had any video artifacts, sleep/wake issues, nor Bluetooth problems.

So happy I sold the i7 quad core Mini Server for $475 and gave my wife my 16" MBP desktop - best move so far my 40+ years with Apple.

 

[serverleader]

I've got mine since yesterday. Here is my experience. Should I return it?

https://imgur.com/a/uNArVRb

I have the Samsung G9 monitor 49' plugged in with the Apple M1 Mini via USB-C and experienced the pink boxes randomly too.... (and also blurry fonts)

I was able to fix it with this paid software: SwitchResX from https://www.madrau.com/

the Default resolution on my monitor is 512x1440 at 120hz ... but the M1 mini only allowed me to pick 3840x1080 60hz (I tried both HDMI and USB-C)

With the the SwitchResX I was able to input the new resolution and make the software run automatically on each boot and the pink squares are gone and no more blurry Fonts.

 

[mmulet]

My monitor is capable of up to 75 Hz, but it is running at 60 Hz. It is NOT a 4K monitor, resolution is running at 2560 x 1080. Interestingly, no pink pixelation yet today. Was turned off all night, and has been up and running for about 2 hours so far.

I don't know what the M1 Mac Mini can do refresh rate wise, but on this non 4K monitor, it isn't any higher than 60 Hz though the monitor can go higher.

Hope that helps.

 

[Captain Trips]

My monitor is capable of up to 75 Hz, but it is running at 60 Hz. It is NOT a 4K monitor, resolution is running at 2560 x 1080. Interestingly, no pink pixelation yet today. Was turned off all night, and has been up and running for about 2 hours so far.

I don't know what the M1 Mac Mini can do refresh rate wise, but on this non 4K monitor, it isn't any higher than 60 Hz though the monitor can go higher.

Hope that helps.

Thank mmulet, that does help. I suspected that 60 Hz was the maximum refresh rate with the initial M1 Mac mini regardless of the screen resolution, but I wanted to see what other people are experiencing.

 

[Saberon2014]

Thank mmulet, that does help. I suspected that 60 Hz was the maximum refresh rate with the initial M1 Mac mini regardless of the screen resolution, but I wanted to see what other people are experiencing.

Hmm? I had a S2721DGF 1440P 165hz and it worked just fine on my Mini (other than the pink square issue)

 

[Saberon2014]

A person on Apple’s forum was apparently contacted by Apple’s senior tech support. Here’s the fix that was given by Apple. If anyone is able to test it and give us feed back that’d be great, as I don’t have my Mac mini anymore. Anyway here’s the fix: Deactivate in system preferences / mission control / "the screens have separate spaces" this has to be OFF.

Can you send me the link please? I’m quite curious

 

[Mistercharlie]

Can you send me the link please? I’m quite curious

+1

 

[SHates]

I have been suffering from flickering issues along with vertical lines. I move my Mini between two different setups, both with dual monitors. One one setup has issues on one 4K monitor which uses USB-C -> DP and on my other setup one 4K monitor which uses HDMI. There is a really strange flickering especially on dark areas. So if I open a new blank tab in Firefox the screen will flicker and show faint lines, and in other examples if I just happen to mouse over an area of the screen.

https://imgur.com/S2cFCpq

 

[Saberon2014]

+1

Found the thread here but sadly it seems the suggestion doesn’t work.

M1 Mac mini display issue - Apple Community

discussions.apple.com

 

[beaudjangles]

Anyone else having display issues with their M1 Mini? I'm hooked up via HDMI (tried 3 cables and 3 monitors) and having the same issues on each. Static screen when waking from sleep is common, and static/green screen on boot randomly. Re-plugging the HDMI cable fixes it, as does waiting anywhere from 30 sec-5 minutes.

I also get random pink dots and squares on all the monitors I've tried. I don't have a USB-C to DP adapter to test, but this is pretty discouraging results already for a brand new Mini.

I’m also having the pink/ magenta rectangles. Interestingly, when I first got the Mac, the first gray splash screen had them and it looked like it was a loading glyph. They started with one on the left and it filled the whole space. I’ve got a picture of it happening again recently.

I was initially using a Philips 2K monitor with Display port. Pictures is a hitsende tv with hdmi. Issues with both display port via thunderbolt and HDMI.

 

[Coheebuzz]

Same pink artefacts problem with 3 different screens over both USB-C and HDMI.

 

[MALanoue]

I gout my Mini on Wednesday and it's been great for the most part, but was having a few issues with dual monitors, so I thought I'd see if anybody else had problems. Mine aren't really as serious, but still kind of annoying, and I hope they don't get worse. The main trouble seems to come when it wakes up after being asleep for a few hours. I'm using two HP 22cwa 1080p monitors, the left is connected directly to the HDMI, the right is HDMI to USB-C cable. All was fine until I adjusted the time on the sleep mode, setting it down to 25 minutes. Now, when I hit the space bar to wake it up, the left monitor (HDMI direct) displays "snow" like an old TV that's getting no reception. I have to unplug the HDMI and plug it back in. This seems to fix it. I can keep doing this, but it still seems like that's not a viable permanent solution.

Other times the USB-C connected monitor won't wake up.

And every time it wakes up, I have to move my windows back over to the right side monitor.

I had fewer issues using two monitors on my 2012 MacBook Pro. I'm surprised. Still, it's a really great machine overall.

 

[alpine.link]

my display sleep is ten minutes, mac mini M1 with two identical displays (Philips 276E8VJSB). One on HDMI and the other USB-HDMI. The HDMI wakes about 2 seconds sooner and the USB-HDMI is primary in that it's the default location of my menu bar. Not useful to you other than it's working fine for me.

 

[MALanoue]

my display sleep is ten minutes, mac mini M1 with two identical displays (Philips 276E8VJSB). One on HDMI and the other USB-HDMI. The HDMI wakes about 2 seconds sooner and the USB-HDMI is primary in that it's the default location of my menu bar. Not useful to you other than it's working fine for me.

Interesting. I have my HDMI as the "primary," but I wonder if it would work better to reverse that. My display sleep was 10 minutes by default, I think, but got tired of walking away for something or another and coming back to wake it up. That really sounds trivial now that I type it out.