M1 Mini blank display issue band-aid solution (works for me)

[Biscottino Croccantino]

Setup: M1 Mini + 5K UltraFine display via TB3 + Big Sur 11.0.1

Issues: 1) Display stays blank after sleep, 2) display randomly goes blank (as if "no power" blank, like someone pulled the plug from the wall), 3) unresponsive Brightness controls (either from Preferences or Keyboard), 4) Display preferences won't stick (for example, when I chose Resolution: Scaled and I close the prefs panel, it resets to Default when I go back)

Frequency: Can happen every 2 minutes, or 2 hours, or 2 days, pretty random stuff

Band-aid solution: 1) I prevent it from sleeping via Energy Saver 2) I leave the System Preferences open, specifically on the Display prefs (the tab with Resolution options, Brightness, Rotation, etc). When not using the mini I just activate the screen saver with a hot corner and reduce Brightness to its lowest

Result: Issue hasn't occured for the past 24 hours and I've worked yesterday evening and most of the day today.

Hope this helps, I can only speak from personal experience but it works for me.

Imho, a Big Sur update should fix the problem because it doesn't "behave" like some usual hardware issue.

Otherwise, I'm really happy with the mini. Fantastic machine.

 

[jazz1]

Setup: M1 Mini + 5K UltraFine display via TB3 + Big Sur 11.0.1

Issues: 1) Display stays blank after sleep, 2) display randomly goes blank (as if "no power" blank, like someone pulled the plug from the wall), 3) unresponsive Brightness controls (either from Preferences or Keyboard), 4) Display preferences won't stick (for example, when I chose Resolution: Scaled and I close the prefs panel, it resets to Default when I go back)

Frequency: Can happen every 2 minutes, or 2 hours, or 2 days, pretty random stuff

Band-aid solution: 1) I prevent it from sleeping via Energy Saver 2) I leave the System Preferences open, specifically on the Display prefs (the tab with Resolution options, Brightness, Rotation, etc). When not using the mini I just activate the screen saver with a hot corner and reduce Brightness to its lowest

Result: Issue hasn't occured for the past 24 hours and I've worked yesterday evening and most of the day today.

Hope this helps, I can only speak from personal experience and it works for me.

Imho, a Big Sur update should fix the problem because it doesn't "behave" like some usual hardware issue.

Otherwise, I'm really happy with the mini. Fantastic machine.

Have you reported the issue to Apple, or did a crash report offer to do it?

 

[Biscottino Croccantino]

Have you reported the issue to Apple, or did a crash report offer to do it?

Not yet, I was on a deadline at work and on duct tape solution mode to finish my day, so reporting it took the back seat for the moment. Issue seems well know in the forums. But I'll definitely contribute.

 

[jazz1]

Not yet, I was on a deadline at work and on duct tape solution mode to finish my day, so reporting it took the back seat for the moment. Issue seems well know in the forums. But I'll definitely contribute.

Many thanks from the “clan”

 

[4sallypat]

Sounds similar to the Dell PCs we have issues with when the system goes to sleep - we have to pull the video cable out and re-insert to wake them up.

OTOH my M1 Mini has dual monitors (27" Thunderbolt & 32" Samsung 4K) and has yet have an issue with sleep with either display.

​

 

[strangeengine]

I have reported this issue to Apple.

 

[itsphilgeorge]

I have reported this issue to Apple.

Let me know if you get anywhere with them!

 

[Markleshark]

I mainly get this issue when waking from sleep after an extended time. If it's maybe 10 minutes of sleep usually it's okay, but if sleeping all night then my displays are both black with a mouse pointer. Nothing I've tried gets a display back (putting back into sleep with the power button, unplugging HDMI + USB-C display cables) only powering off with button and back on seems to solve it.

I'm waiting on a call from a hardware support team of some kind today regarding the purple squares on the screen at boot up and I'll be sure to mention this issue too.

A lot of display issues it would seem.

 

[superamit]

Seeing this issue on my M1 MacBook Air as well. Please report back on what Apple Support says, @Markleshark!

M1 MacBook Air: External display not recognized after waking from sleep

The DP settings on the monitor. Theoretically the ports support Display Port 1.4 but the suggestion is to test DP 1.2 by setting it on the monitor.

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