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M1 + External Display Glitch
- Thread starter aso238
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The support article specifically mentions ultrawide monitors, but lets hope the fixes help us widescreen monitor users as well.
this is also happening on my intel 16 inch.. I had to download an external display app and its disappointing . it was working perfectly before 11.1
FWIW - I too had issues with an external 4K monitor driven by HDMI out from an Apple multiport adapter
It would work fine if I freshly plugged in the dock while system was up and running.
However resume from sleep would sometimes cause either the external display to corrupted output or mess up the scalng/resolution on the internal.
The first thing I tried was to close lid first (if docked) then use the single external monitor to put system to sleep. This reduced the occurrences considerably but did not eliminate it altogether.
Yesterday I swapped out the HDMI-HDMI cable with a Usb C to HDMI cable- haven’t seen a recurrence since although it’s too early to say for sure.
I would have preferred the earlier method since it means a single cable for docking vs 2 now - It does appear to be a software issue though so hopefully will get fixed
It would work fine if I freshly plugged in the dock while system was up and running.
However resume from sleep would sometimes cause either the external display to corrupted output or mess up the scalng/resolution on the internal.
The first thing I tried was to close lid first (if docked) then use the single external monitor to put system to sleep. This reduced the occurrences considerably but did not eliminate it altogether.
Yesterday I swapped out the HDMI-HDMI cable with a Usb C to HDMI cable- haven’t seen a recurrence since although it’s too early to say for sure.
I would have preferred the earlier method since it means a single cable for docking vs 2 now - It does appear to be a software issue though so hopefully will get fixed
I have an issue where my external monitor screen turns into yellow hue/tint if I leave my MacBook plugged in. Is this an issue with some night color or something within the settings on the MacBook? First time owner.
Just an update on my post above .
All my sleep/resume glitches were resolved after swapping out the HDMi-HDMI cable with a new one from amazonbasics
Even though the cable I had used for the HDMI-HDMI connection was a high grade one, it was old.
The amazonbasics cable is a new one and says "supports ethernet" - while I am not sure how relevant that is - but it seems to have fixed all issues
All my sleep/resume glitches were resolved after swapping out the HDMi-HDMI cable with a new one from amazonbasics
Even though the cable I had used for the HDMI-HDMI connection was a high grade one, it was old.
The amazonbasics cable is a new one and says "supports ethernet" - while I am not sure how relevant that is - but it seems to have fixed all issues
Few days ago I did a full wipe of the internal drive, and reinstalled macOS via a USB installer. Since then, I haven't had the display issue when docking.
Might be worth a shot for you guys if 11.2 doesn't resolve it.
Might be worth a shot for you guys if 11.2 doesn't resolve it.
Newbie here. I stumbled across this post when trying to find a solution for the same issue on my M1 Air connected to my LG 32" Ergo 4k monitor. Even after 11.2 update. Scaling is not saved and desktop frame shrinks to about 2/3rd size after waking from sleep over USB-C. Spoke to Apple and one of their suggestions has worked for me;
Go to: /Library/Preferences/
Delete files: com.apple.windowserver.plist and com.apple.windowserver.displays.plist
Go to: ~/Library/Preferences/ByHost/
Delete files: com.apple.windowserver.XXXXXXXX.plist and com.apple.windowserver.displays.XXXXXXXXXX.plist
Empty trash. Restart.
So far, I can't replicate the issue again. Fingers crossed this holds, otherwise, back on the phone with Apple engineering team.
Go to: /Library/Preferences/
Delete files: com.apple.windowserver.plist and com.apple.windowserver.displays.plist
Go to: ~/Library/Preferences/ByHost/
Delete files: com.apple.windowserver.XXXXXXXX.plist and com.apple.windowserver.displays.XXXXXXXXXX.plist
Empty trash. Restart.
So far, I can't replicate the issue again. Fingers crossed this holds, otherwise, back on the phone with Apple engineering team.
Yes. Tried every scenario that caused it before and still working fine. Resolution and scaling holds at full screen. Deleting those files resets the window UI in macOS. I'm on 11.2 and I have only tested while connected M1 MBA TB port to USBC port on monitor. To note, although they told me to delete the "windowserver.plist" files, I did not have them, I only had the "windowserver.displays.plist" which relate to external display. Deleting those and restarting seems to have corrected the issue. I'm guessing a fresh install does the same but I did not want to do all that yet. This is much easier.
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I applied the fix and it hasn't glitched on me yet. I've only tested it for a few minutes waking/sleeping a couple times, and going from clamshell to extended mode. Keeping my fingers crossed.
Did you disconnect everything and undock during this process or just delete and rebooted while docked and monitor connected?
Yes, I have tested unplugging the monitor and replugging the monitor. Such as if I was taking my laptop to use in the kitchen and then returning it back to the office monitor. So far so good.
Sorry what I meant was did you disconnect everything then delete the files, restart, then plug back in the first time and set the resolution correctly?
Oh. Those are plist files. They contain properties. It shouldn't matter if you are using your external monitor or not. Just delete them and restart immediately. A new plist file will be created once the machine boots up. All you existing historical display arrangements and resolution settings will be gone, and it will be back to factory defaults. I'm assuming those plist files contained some bad settings causing the resolution glitch.
I should have saved it off so I can compare the contents to see what changed. Still keeping my fingers crossed this resolves it.
Thanks, I just did that and like you only found the .displays. plist files...deleted both from the main library and user library. I also noticed my LCD and external LG monitor had multiple color profiles for some reason. I deleted all of those too.
Upon rebooting the internal LCD defaulted back to default scaled resolution and re-created the default color profile. So that seemed to work to "reset" everything.
Will report back on my external LG monitor.
You have got my hopes up, ZiBart!
I’ll try this after 11.2.1 has installed...
*edit* Thank you! It appears to be sorted. Fingers crossed for the long term...
I’ll try this after 11.2.1 has installed...
*edit* Thank you! It appears to be sorted. Fingers crossed for the long term...
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For those using an external display. Do you let your machine "sleep" under the power adapter settings? If so, how do you wake it from keyboard/mouse...just moving the mouse?
Screensaver at 10min, Monitor sleep at 20min, computer not sleeping when display is off.
Mouse click to wake, normally. I’ll try a few other moves and see what happens.
*edit* Mouse shake doesn't wake it. Space bar does. Whatever, either of those were guaranteed to trigger the resolution glitch before deleting the prefs.
*edit 2* Tapping the fingerprint sensor also works as intended.
Mouse click to wake, normally. I’ll try a few other moves and see what happens.
*edit* Mouse shake doesn't wake it. Space bar does. Whatever, either of those were guaranteed to trigger the resolution glitch before deleting the prefs.
*edit 2* Tapping the fingerprint sensor also works as intended.
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It fixed mine as well!You have got my hopes up, ZiBart!
I’ll try this after 11.2.1 has installed...
*edit* Thank you! It appears to be sorted. Fingers crossed for the long term...
Glad I could help. Hopefully it lasts for all of us. I have not updated to 11.2.1 yet.
I have mine in a vertical laptop stand in clamshell mode. It's set to sleep after 30 minutes. I normally press the spacebar and click the mouse to wake it. I was using the apple keyboard, but switched to a wired one due to the bluetooth issues (now fixed with 11.2).