M1 + External Display Glitch

[aso238]

I am using an external 4k monitor with my m1 MacBook Air

I use the monitor at 2560 x 1440 scaled resolution (as that is the most comfortable viewing) but whenever it wakes from sleep, it glitches out where it only shows a % of my monitor as shown in the pic below. Then I have to go into system preferences and adjust display resolution to 3008 x 1692 and then back to 2560 x 1440 to fix this issue. Is anyone else having this problem or is my Mac faulty? This never happened before with my other Mac so it is definitely not my monitor or usb c cable.

 

[thatsthequy]

I am having the same issue, I reconnect the monitor sometimes several times and it will resolve itself. Not consistent to waking from sleep from a previous session or plugging in after getting back home. Lets hope a fix comes in the 11.1 release.

 

[BRY83]

I am having a problem when I connect my M1 MacBook Pro to an Anker PowerExpand 12-in-1 media dock. I have to power cycle the dock each time I want to use it. I dont have this problem with a little USB-C to HDMI adapter though so I am not sure if it's the MacBook or the dock (I've had this issue with two different docks of the same model now)

The dock works on an Intel MBP so I’m assuming there’s something going on with the M1.

 

[thatsthequy]

Still having this issue with macOS 11.1

Have you found a solution yet?

 

[aso238]

Still having this issue with macOS 11.1

Have you found a solution yet?

Just updated too, I hoped it would solve this issue but it hasn't! Surely it can't be that hard for all of the brilliant engineers at Apple to sort this out...

Nothing I've tried works yet, let me know if you figure it out!

 

[itrends]

Same here.

I have 2 red eagle wide screen monitors.

The one on DisplayLink wakes just fine.

The one on HDMI always wakes at an utterly broken resolution and I have to find my way to display properties, change res twice and then I get back to the correct one.

 

[jgrove]

Hi All,

As this seems to be a consistent problem or bug, can I ask that you all submit a report via Apples Feedback Assistant? The additional data from the various setups will likely help Apple address the problem.

I am using a Caldigit TB3 Plus dock, I haven't noticed these issues, but will do some further testing today,

Regards

 

[itrends]

Already did, but it's a good reminder.

 

[Filmx]

I'm having external display issues as well with my M1 Macbook Pro connected to my LG 48" OLED via HDMI. I've tried two different HDMI adapters, an Uni dock that supports 4k 30hz with an Amazon Basics HDMI cable and a 4k 60hz USB-C to HDMI cable. Both have the same issues with flickers, disconnects, and sleep/wake issues. If there is any sort of power loss (power cable disconnected momentarily, brown out, etc.) then the Macbook will no longer recognize the external display. The only way to get it to connect again is to restart the laptop.

The biggest issue seems to occur under heavy CPU use. For example when using the very taxing spot removal tool in Lightroom Classic it lags a bit and you can tell it is struggling. During use the display will disconnect and reconnect constantly. Other less intensive editing within Lightroom is mostly ok but as soon as the spot removal used it struggles and the external display flickers/disconnects. I had to edit on the 13" screen tonight due to the spot removal tool being completely unusable on the external display.

 

[thatsthequy]

So today I booted into recovery (long press Touch ID button) and reinstalled macOS (11.1 over 11.1), and although that was only a couple of hours ago I haven't had any display issues since. External monitor wakes with no issues and to proper scaling, and no more purple fringing when using apps fullscreen on built in display.

Still getting Magic Mouse disconnects though. Will report back if the display bug reoccurs.

 

[itrends]

So today I booted into recovery (long press Touch ID button) and reinstalled macOS (11.1 over 11.1), and although that was only a couple of hours ago I haven't had any display issues since. External monitor wakes with no issues and to proper scaling, and no more purple fringing when using apps fullscreen on built in display.

Still getting Magic Mouse disconnects though. Will report back if the display bug reoccurs.

If you can run internet via a cable and disable WiFi you’ll likely find your Bluetooth issues go away. As a quick check, just turn WiFi off (off not just disconnect) and see how that goes. Not ideal but a potential temp workaround. Or get a wired mouse for the time being.

 

[thatsthequy]

If you can run internet via a cable and disable WiFi you’ll likely find your Bluetooth issues go away. As a quick check, just turn WiFi off (off not just disconnect) and see how that goes. Not ideal but a potential temp workaround. Or get a wired mouse for the time being.

Thanks for the tip! I actually can wire in but lately Wi-Fi 6 has been so damn fast I just prefer having less cables going around. Working in IT I know the benefits but it also involves another power plug and a switch, adding more clutter to my desk.

Might just wait this one out, it seems pretty intermittent so far.

 

[danimal99]

I have the same issue with a Samsung UR55. Waking from sleep resets the external monitor to Default for Display, instead of the Scaled display setting I want. It takes a quick hop to Display System Preferences and a couple of taps to fix. Not terrible or unusable, but still annoying. The cable is an Insignia USB-C to DisplayPort from Best Buy.

On a rare occasion I've seen it completely lose the monitor altogether, but the fix then has been to unplug and re-plug the cable to bring it back. I've never had to reboot to fix a display issue.

Edit: While filing a report in Feedback Assistant, I checked the monitor information and saw that Freesync was enabled. Disabling it triggered the resolution error again, but after fixing it and letting the computer go to sleep, it woke up to the correct resolution. After a few 1 min sleep/wake cycles, it is continuing to get the resolution scaling correct for the external monitor (but sometimes the monitor doesn't come back at all, requiring a pull/connect of the USB-C cable, which reconnects at the correct scaling as well).

Maybe Freesync interferes with the monitor detection?

 

[thatsthequy]

Purple fringing is back

 

[snakes-]

Have you turned true tone off? from the internal display settings. and resseting the monitors setting?

 

[thatsthequy]

Have you turned true tone off? from the internal display settings. and resseting the monitors setting?

I tried with True Tone off yes. I have reset the monitor settings also.

The purple fringing appears when using the built-in display and making apps fullscreen.

 

[thatsthequy]

Well, now that 11.2 Public Beta is out, I am going to install and report back whether or not my issues are fixed.

 

[Filmx]

Well, now that 11.2 Public Beta is out, I am going to install and report back whether or not my issues are fixed.

Curious to hear your results as my M1 MBP is currently unusable with my external display until I find a fix

 

[thatsthequy]

Curious to hear your results as my M1 MBP is currently unusable with my external display until I find a fix

Update to 11.2 Public Beta finished and the display bug from OP's original post is still here.

 

[aso238]

Update to 11.2 Public Beta finished and the display bug from OP's original post is still here.

It's getting ridiculous now, what is taking Apple so long to fix this!?
This must be the biggest bug with M1's

 

[thatsthequy]

Well, they don't push updates in a rush unless its truly a widespread issue. So I wouldn't expect anything big now until March.

 

[thatsthequy]

It's getting ridiculous now, what is taking Apple so long to fix this!?
This must be the biggest bug with M1's

My monitor has the option to change the DP type from 1.4 to 1.2. After setting to 1.2, I haven't had the original display bug for over a day now. Maybe its an issue with the monitor?

Edit: Well, it happened again today. Lets ride out this beta cycle in hopes it get resolved.

 

[aso238]

My monitor has the option to change the DP type from 1.4 to 1.2. After setting to 1.2, I haven't had the original display bug for over a day now. Maybe its an issue with the monitor?

There's an open source monitor control app available online to control monitor settings (brightness etc)

GitHub - MonitorControl/MonitorControl: 🖥 Control your display's brightness & volume on your Mac as if it was a native Apple Display. Use Apple Keyboard keys or custom shortcuts. Shows the native macOS OSDs.

🖥 Control your display's brightness & volume on your Mac as if it was a native Apple Display. Use Apple Keyboard keys or custom shortcuts. Shows the native macOS OSDs. - MonitorControl/Moni...

github.com

However, it still doesn't work with Apple M1

MonitorControl not working on Apple Silicon (M1) Macs · Issue #323 · MonitorControl/MonitorControl

Checklist I have searched for existing issues I have looked through the wiki I have updated MonitorControl to the latest version Describe the bug Installing MonitorControl on a MacBook Air with App...

github.com

I think it's an issue of the Apple M1 chips not recognising the monitor and therefore not saving the settings for the monitor.

 

[danimal99]

Did anyone try turning off Freesync on their external displays? That fixed the resolution reset for me. See my earlier response.

 

[thatsthequy]

Did anyone try turning off Freesync on their external displays? That fixed the resolution reset for me. See my earlier response.

My monitor doesn't have Freesync so the option doesn't show up in Display preferences.