DisplayLink problem

[wfriedwald]

M1 MacBook Air
DELL UD22 dock
two external monitors (HDMI & DisplayLink)
(+ lots of external drives but that's not really central to this issue)

The external monitor / DisplayLink is no longer working.

It was working fine until I turned it off (while the rest of the system was running). Then, when I turned it back on, it has not received the signal from the system, it keeps giving me the "no input" message, even though the power is on and everything is connected as before. So I haven't gotten it to work in a few wethe eks now.

The DisplayLink software appears to be working, I'm still getting the manager at the

(By the way, the DisplayLink community forum is useless - for some reason, it won't even let me post an inquiry.)

Grateful for any suggestions. I thought to un-install the DisplayLink software and then reinstall, but I haven't tried that yet.

thanks for any input.

W

 

[throAU]

My experience: displaylink is hot garbage. I've had the software do some real wierd stuff and gave up using the dock because of it.

The thing to remember about displaylink is that it is basically a software based GPU driver to drive the displays, and macOS upgrades, changes, etc. can mess with the driver.

I literally stopped using it until i can justify buying a real thunderbolt dock to myself.

And yes, try uninstall and reinstall (pretty sure that fixed my issues the first time), and while you're at it see if there's a new version of the software. I got tired of playing those sorts of games with it within a month or two.

 

[wfriedwald]

My experience: displaylink is hot garbage. I've had the software do some real wierd stuff and gave up using the dock because of it.

The thing to remember about displaylink is that it is basically a software based GPU driver to drive the displays, and macOS upgrades, changes, etc. can mess with the driver.

I literally stopped using it until i can justify buying a real thunderbolt dock to myself.

And yes, try uninstall and reinstall (pretty sure that fixed my issues the first time), and while you're at it see if there's a new version of the software. I got tired of playing those sorts of games with it within a month or two.

thank you very much for the input!

I'm only using displaylink because I don't have another free HDMI port ... I could try getting an adaptor cable (displaylink on one side & HDMI on the other) and connecting that way, but I'm guessing it wouldn't make any difference, it's still coming out of the displaylink port on the DELL Dock.

I didn't realize that there was such a thing as a "real thunderbolt dock" - can you give me some examples! I'm totally willing to buy a new dock if it will solve these problems! (there are some situations where I really could use three or even four displays.)

Thanks again!

w

 

[throAU]

I didn't realize that there was such a thing as a "real thunderbolt dock" - can you give me some examples! I'm totally willing to buy a new dock if it will solve these problems! (there are some situations where I really could use three or even four displays.)

Hmm... i think the macbook air only supports one external display using its own hardware, so a "real thunderbolt dock" might not help here.

To get two external displays, you may be stuck (as above displaylink uses a combination of software GPU and its own chip in the dock to do > 1 display from the macbook air).

You may be better off with a single ultrawide display - this way the mac hardware will be able to drive it directly without the displaylink virtual GPU and associated display driver issues.

 

[chrfr]

thank you very much for the input!

I'm only using displaylink because I don't have another free HDMI port ... I could try getting an adaptor cable (displaylink on one side & HDMI on the other) and connecting that way, but I'm guessing it wouldn't make any difference, it's still coming out of the displaylink port on the DELL Dock.

I didn't realize that there was such a thing as a "real thunderbolt dock" - can you give me some examples! I'm totally willing to buy a new dock if it will solve these problems! (there are some situations where I really could use three or even four displays.)

Thanks again!

w

If you're using 2 external displays on your M1 Air, you need a DisplayLink adapter or dock for one of the displays. There's no way around that limitation regardless of what other dock you use..

 

[wfriedwald]

Hmm... i think the macbook air only supports one external display using its own hardware, so a "real thunderbolt dock" might not help here.

To get two external displays, you may be stuck (as above displaylink uses a combination of software GPU and its own chip in the dock to do > 1 display from the macbook air).

You may be better off with a single ultrawide display - this way the mac hardware will be able to drive it directly without the displaylink virtual GPU and associated display driver issues.

hmm.... thanks again. should I ponder buying a "single ultrawide display" - I wonder? Can you recommend one?

(alternatively, I could save up for a MacBook Pro - one of the new M3s. I was pondering waiting for the M3 MacBook Air, but likely that won't make any difference in terms of the number of displays.)

thanks again for feedback, also to CHRFR for confirming this!

W

 

[chrfr]

hmm.... thanks again. should I ponder buying a "single ultrawide display" - I wonder? Can you recommend one?

(alternatively, I could save up for a MacBook Pro - one of the new M3s. I was pondering waiting for the M3 MacBook Air, but likely that won't make any difference in terms of the number of displays.)

thanks again for feedback, also to CHRFR for confirming this!

W

For further clarity you'd need an Mx Pro or Max laptop to get multiple display support- a refurbished M2 Pro would be a good consideration too. The base M3 MacBook Pro does not enable additional displays beyond what you get with the M1 Air.

 

[wfriedwald]

well, that tears it!

uninstalling the program and then reinstalling it just does NOT work!

the mystery is how I ever got DisplayLink to work in the first place!

Does anybody have any other ideas?


there's no way this would work, is there? :

Amazon Basics DisplayPort to HDMI Display Cable, Uni-Directional, 4K@60Hz, 1920x1200, 1080p, Gold-Plated Plugs, 6 Foot, Black
<https://tinyurl.com/ykokzxeh>

OR

A new dock with two HDMI monitor outputs? (if someone can recommend one?)

(Yes, a new dock would be expensive, but less than a new M3 MacBook Pro.)


thanks again for suggestions!

w

 

[chrfr]

well, that tears it!

uninstalling the program and then reinstalling it just does NOT work!

the mystery is how I ever got DisplayLink to work in the first place!

Does anybody have any other ideas?


there's no way this would work, is there? :

Amazon Basics DisplayPort to HDMI Display Cable, Uni-Directional, 4K@60Hz, 1920x1200, 1080p, Gold-Plated Plugs, 6 Foot, Black
<https://tinyurl.com/ykokzxeh>

OR

A new dock with two HDMI monitor outputs? (if someone can recommend one?)

(Yes, a new dock would be expensive, but less than a new M3 MacBook Pro.)


thanks again for suggestions!

w

DisplayPort is not the same as DisplayLink so no, that cable won't work. Did you install the DisplayLink driver from here: DisplayLink macOS Software for Downloads Section | Synaptics

 

[wfriedwald]

DisplayPort is not the same as DisplayLink so no, that cable won't work. Did you install the DisplayLink driver from here: DisplayLink macOS Software for Downloads Section | Synaptics

thank you! I didn't realize those were two separate entities - DisplayPort & DisplayLink - I'm still not sure what the difference is, but yeah, that does NOT sound like it will work.

Yes, I installed the DisplayLink driver from that page, the Mac OS version, of course! Yes!

so i'm stuck ....

(this probably wouldn't help - a Dock that advertises "triple display" capability:
https://tinyurl.com/ytzd8snq )

thanks again!

w

 

[chrfr]

thank you! I didn't realize those were two separate entities - DisplayPort & DisplayLink - I'm still not sure what the difference is, but yeah, that does NOT sound like it will work.

Yes, I installed the DisplayLink driver from that page, the Mac OS version, of course! Yes!

so i'm stuck ....

(this probably wouldn't help - a Dock that advertises "triple display" capability:
https://tinyurl.com/ytzd8snq )

thanks again!

w

Generally, if the dock doesn't specificallly mention DisplayLink, assume it doesn't support it. Plugable's line of USB docks do work in my experience: Plugable USB 3.0 and USB-C 4K DisplayPort and HDMI Dual Monitor Adapte – Plugable Technologies
The USB docks they offer definitely do support DisplayLink, which you can see under the specifications section of their pages.

 

[wfriedwald]

Generally, if the dock doesn't specificallly mention DisplayLink, assume it doesn't support it. Plugable's line of USB docks do work in my experience: Plugable USB 3.0 and USB-C 4K DisplayPort and HDMI Dual Monitor Adapte – Plugable Technologies
The USB docks they offer definitely do support DisplayLink, which you can see under the specifications section of their pages.

thanks very much! I just purchased one (USBC-6950UE) - to arrive tom'w! I'm confident that this will work, yes!

thanks again!

 

[iStorm]

well, that tears it!

uninstalling the program and then reinstalling it just does NOT work!

the mystery is how I ever got DisplayLink to work in the first place!

Does anybody have any other ideas?

Is your monitor set to the correct input? If you're using an HDMI cable, is it on the HDMI input; or if you're using a DisplayPort cable (not to be confused with DisplayLink), is it on the DisplayPort input?

Does the "broken" monitor work if you swap them around? (To make sure it's not dead.)

Does the DisplayLink software still have the "Screen Recording & System Audio" permissions found under System Settings -> Privacy & Security? It needs this permission in order to work.

 

[wfriedwald]

Is your monitor set to the correct input? If you're using an HDMI cable, is it on the HDMI input; or if you're using a DisplayPort cable (not to be confused with DisplayLink), is it on the DisplayPort input?

WF: Yes, I turn it off and on, and the brand name flashes on the screen, indicating that the unit is still functioning. Also, I try switching around the inputs, and it still doesn't do anything.

Does the "broken" monitor work if you swap them around? (To make sure it's not dead.)

WF: that I haven't tried! thanks!

Does the DisplayLink software still have the "Screen Recording & System Audio" permissions found under System Settings -> Privacy & Security? It needs this permission in order to work.

WF: yes, I just looked in the settings, it's still turned on. Thanks for suggesting that!

All good suggestions! I'll keep working on it and I'm hopefully getting the PLUGABLE unit tomorrow. thanks again!

 

[wfriedwald]

update: yes, the PLUGABLE unit just arrived. yes!

question: my plan is to use both "docks" :

The DELL for the external drives, external keyboard, mouse etc

the PLUGABLE unit just for the two external monitors.

Is there any possible reason why I shouldn't be able to do this?

Thanks again for feedback!

w

PS: I just noticed that the driver I installed yesterday is :

DisplayLink Manager Graphics Connectivity1.10-EXE

whereas the one I just downloaded and haven't installed yet is

DisplayLink+Manager+Graphics+Connectivity1.9-EXE

so maybe that will make some kind of a difference?


PSS: I guess I should uninstall the old 1.10 driver BEFORE I install the new 1.9 driver, right?


thanks again!

w

 

[wfriedwald]

update: so yes, the PLUGABLE unit arrived and, essentially it works.

Although: every day I have to unplug and replug either one of the monitors from the unit AND / OR the unit from the MacBook. But so far everytime I do the unplug / replug thing, it actually does work. So I am satisfied!

 

[Corefile]

Display Link has been bulletproof for me since High Sierra days. The support for DL is baked into the kernel by Apple nowadays.