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M1/M2 flickering, ghosting with external display [Merged]
- Thread starter aednichols
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I have the same problem with my macbook pro 2021 to a dell 4K monitor with usb-c connected. None of the settings mentioned works for me 
Hopefully Apple fixes this soon.
Does anyone know if this is usb-c related only?
What about the integrated HDMI Port? Is this a possible workaround until apple offers a fix?
Hopefully Apple fixes this soon.
Does anyone know if this is usb-c related only?
What about the integrated HDMI Port? Is this a possible workaround until apple offers a fix?
Its not just usb-c related. Its an issue regardless of what type of connection you use. Apple will most likely not fix this. This issue has been present from day 1 of the m1 launch. If a fix was possible, it would have been fixed by now. I believe this is a hardware level issue with the m1 chips. Remains to be seen if the new m2 chips also will have this problem or not.I have the same problem with my macbook pro 2021 to a dell 4K monitor with usb-c connected. None of the settings mentioned works for me
Hopefully Apple fixes this soon.
Does anyone know if this is usb-c related only?
What about the integrated HDMI Port? Is this a possible workaround until apple offers a fix?
My LG32UN880 works fine so far (it's been about 2 months). It's connected via USB-C, and it charges my MacBook too.I have the same problem with my macbook pro 2021 to a dell 4K monitor with usb-c connected. None of the settings mentioned works for me
Hopefully Apple fixes this soon.
Does anyone know if this is usb-c related only?
What about the integrated HDMI Port? Is this a possible workaround until apple offers a fix?
So I'm not sure if its USB-C related only. Probably something with M1. I returned 2 previous monitors for which I couldn't find a fix. The LG one works, but it was x2 the cost...
Well, my dell P3222QE Monitor is in the same price range as the LG32UN880. I would switch to the LG and test, if I would be able to send the dell back. But the return period is over.
I'm testing HDMI now, will see over the next days if this is a workaround for me.
Hopefully apple can fix the issue with a software update soon or give a comment on this, so we know if this is hardware related.
I'm testing HDMI now, will see over the next days if this is a workaround for me.
Hopefully apple can fix the issue with a software update soon or give a comment on this, so we know if this is hardware related.
Its 99.99% hardware related. Its been what? nearly 1.5 years. Would've been fixed by now if software related.
I have the same problem with my macbook pro 2021 to a dell 4K monitor with usb-c connected. None of the settings mentioned works for me
Hopefully Apple fixes this soon.
Does anyone know if this is usb-c related only?
What about the integrated HDMI Port? Is this a possible workaround until apple offers a fix?
It's not USB-C related.
Every type of connection is affected, integrated hdmi, adapters and docks.
The only thing guaranteed to work is DisplayLink adapters, with the usual DisplayLink drawbacks.
DisplayLink adapters also currently have issues with HiDPI on M1, largest HiDPI supported is 1920x1080 HiDPI.
Workaround for HiDPI is to run BetterDummy and mirror the screen. Works but adds latency and image slighly fuzzy.
Waiting for new drivers from DisplayLink.
I havent seen anyone reporting issues with displays connected with thunderbolt, however those displays are not that common. So reports may be less common too.
the Dell U4021QW ultra-wide looks good as well:
looks like it got a firmware update last Feb that "Fixed Macbook M1 issue" https://www.dell.com/support/home/e...&oscode=mac1&productcode=dell-u4021qw-monitor
looks like it got a firmware update last Feb that "Fixed Macbook M1 issue" https://www.dell.com/support/home/e...&oscode=mac1&productcode=dell-u4021qw-monitor
The reason for the long fixing time could simply be, that this problem is not affecting enough people to be worth investigating, especially as it is quite difficult to reproduce and only happens with external (non-Apple) displays, thus they can simply point fingers to other manufacturers.
I can only encourage anyone here in this thread to contact the Apple support about it to at least generate attention.
Unlikely, but possible I guess.
Has anyone with 12.3 seen any difference with this issue?
I updated to 12.3 and the problem continues on my DELL P2721Q with the Belkin Dock and DisplayPort connection on my Macbook M1 Pro 16".
I'm on 12.3 and still have the flickering issue with my Dell S2722QC. I'm on an M1 Air connected directly using USB-C.
I previously used a USB-C hub with a DisplayPort output to a Dell P2415Q on 12.2 with the same M1 Air and never had a problem with that setup.
Had the same issue on my ViewSonic VP2785 from time to time (connected USB-C to USB-C). I just updated MacOS to 12.3: no flickering yet (been updated for a couple of minutes only). But I have a brand new problem: my display's luminosity slowly decreases until it is hard to read on. Changing my cooler profile on the display resets the luminosity to an adequate level but slowly dims down again over a minute or so! Anyone with that new problem?
Let's hope I won't have both problems at once from now on (flickering AND luminosity dimming). Based on @UBNO and @gabxav 's answer, my expectations are not very high!
Maybe Apple is doing this on purpose so we need to buy their brand new external monitor!
Let's hope I won't have both problems at once from now on (flickering AND luminosity dimming). Based on @UBNO and @gabxav 's answer, my expectations are not very high!
Maybe Apple is doing this on purpose so we need to buy their brand new external monitor!
So I've landed on a config that minimizes the flicker enough that it's been basically gone.
I'm using a LG 32UN500-W and the flicker has been relatively minor, only happening in games where the screen has a lot of dark elements (StarCraft, Into the Breach for example.). However, not only does the screen flicker, it gets the moire pattern shown in this thread as well, which is really annoying. So far, the only consistent fix is to leave OS X in "HDR Mode" all the time, but that really looks terrible on this monitor because the peak brightness is quite low due to it being the entry-level panel. I've tried all the colour profile changes, turning off tru-tone and night shift, etc. Nothing seemed to work consistently.
What has seemed to work much better than anything else is putting the monitor into 'HDR Effect' which just seems to be maxing out the colour saturation. This takes a bit of getting used to, but it looks much better than the muddy muted mess that is turning on HDR mode in OSX and the flicker occurrence has been reduced by quite a bit. I used to get it consistently when playing games with lots of dark elements (like StarCraft 2 or Into The Breach) but with the monitor in HDR Effect mode, the flicker only happens briefly in a couple of very specific points of the game and immediately returns to normal, rather than the prolonged occurrence of the moire pattern and flickering darks. I never see the flicker when watching movies anymore, whereas before it would happen quite regularly.
So, until Apple figures out a fix, I think I've got it band-aided but I'll definitely be watching for 4k monitor deals on Black Friday this year.
I'm using a LG 32UN500-W and the flicker has been relatively minor, only happening in games where the screen has a lot of dark elements (StarCraft, Into the Breach for example.). However, not only does the screen flicker, it gets the moire pattern shown in this thread as well, which is really annoying. So far, the only consistent fix is to leave OS X in "HDR Mode" all the time, but that really looks terrible on this monitor because the peak brightness is quite low due to it being the entry-level panel. I've tried all the colour profile changes, turning off tru-tone and night shift, etc. Nothing seemed to work consistently.
What has seemed to work much better than anything else is putting the monitor into 'HDR Effect' which just seems to be maxing out the colour saturation. This takes a bit of getting used to, but it looks much better than the muddy muted mess that is turning on HDR mode in OSX and the flicker occurrence has been reduced by quite a bit. I used to get it consistently when playing games with lots of dark elements (like StarCraft 2 or Into The Breach) but with the monitor in HDR Effect mode, the flicker only happens briefly in a couple of very specific points of the game and immediately returns to normal, rather than the prolonged occurrence of the moire pattern and flickering darks. I never see the flicker when watching movies anymore, whereas before it would happen quite regularly.
So, until Apple figures out a fix, I think I've got it band-aided but I'll definitely be watching for 4k monitor deals on Black Friday this year.
Hello everyone, I have had this issue for a while. First time reporting, however. It's been 3 months for me. I have the pixelated columns issue, but mostly the burn-in and flickering issues. I have a Dell 1440p 60hz monitor model Dell UltraSharp 27 inch Monitor - U2722DE. I have had no luck with the tricks shown here like the RGB colour or limiting the refresh rate of the display. I have an M1 MacBook Air btw.
Completely forgot to mention, in my case in order to recover from the burn-in issue it takes 1-2 DAYS with the display turned off and power cable removed. It occurs roughly once a week, mostly on GitHub and Microsoft Word which I use a lot.
Completely forgot to mention, in my case in order to recover from the burn-in issue it takes 1-2 DAYS with the display turned off and power cable removed. It occurs roughly once a week, mostly on GitHub and Microsoft Word which I use a lot.
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Oh, and as usual, my supposed fix was an illusion. Flickering has returned, as it always does.
Time to start looking for a different monitor, I suppose.
Time to start looking for a different monitor, I suppose.
My Studio doesn't seem to show the flickering at all like my M1 MBA did. I can even use dark mode again! My monitor is an LG 27UL850-W. (use HDMI with an 8K HDMI cable)
Originally, yes, but it's been awhile since that happened. Unfortunately I can't tell you exactly what fixed it as I didn't use the MBA very much. My last monitor, a Dell, was MUCH worse and it eventually died.