A little update of my experience with StillColor. Out of sheer boredom, I dug out my old problematic, flicker-monster (Asus VP28U) out of storage and installed the latest version of StillColor (V1.1), just to see if it would help. And it did – but only up to a certain point. I tested it for a few hours and while it did seem to eliminate the migraine inducing Eurotechno-like strobing for about 2 to 3 hours (plenty of time for the flickering to start), it did eventually creep back, ironically while on this very page (with MacOS Dark Mode turned on). However, the flashing was not as intense as it was previously. Toggling the 'Disable Dithering' option in the app's settings seems to stop & start the flickering, proof that the app does help but unfortunately did not get rid of it completely. This was on a 2020 Mac mini running Sequoia 15.1. No problems with the app so far.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
MacBook Pro M1 external screen flickering
- Thread starter EvilHomer80
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Made an account to confirm that I'm experiencing the same thing as Spectre8079 above. I tried both StillColor (V1.1) and BetterDisplay (V3.1.2) and can confirm that after enough time, the flickering returns. That being said, when I notice it creeping up, disabling and then re-enabling the Disable Dithering option on StillColor does seem to reset the cycle and reduces the flickering for a decent amount of time.
While this isn't perfect, it does provide some kind of relief. This makes me want/wish for there to be a way to automate having StillColor disable then re-enable Disable Dithering, maybe even every day, 12hrs, 30min... and so on. Does anyone have any ideas as to how to make that happen? If this solution seems to work going forward, I will write to the developer myself, begging for this to be added.
Context: I have had this flickering issue with the weird vertical lines happen to an M2 Macbook Air, M1 Pro/M2 Pro Macbook Pros on several different monitors and practically every configuration in the Display section under System Settings. And it happens on every version of macOS up to the latest Sequoia 15.1.1, even on a clean install.
While this isn't perfect, it does provide some kind of relief. This makes me want/wish for there to be a way to automate having StillColor disable then re-enable Disable Dithering, maybe even every day, 12hrs, 30min... and so on. Does anyone have any ideas as to how to make that happen? If this solution seems to work going forward, I will write to the developer myself, begging for this to be added.
Context: I have had this flickering issue with the weird vertical lines happen to an M2 Macbook Air, M1 Pro/M2 Pro Macbook Pros on several different monitors and practically every configuration in the Display section under System Settings. And it happens on every version of macOS up to the latest Sequoia 15.1.1, even on a clean install.
Last edited:
Same here on my BenQ PD3205U.
Once the flickering begins you can sort of resolve the issue by playing around with the GPU-Dithering and also the various Framebuffer options in Better Display...
For BetterDisplay it should be possible to create an automated script https://github.com/waydabber/BetterDisplay/wiki/Integration-features,-CLI
Changing the color mode from 10bit to 8bit in better display fixed the flickering on my dell s2721qs.
Changing the gpu dithering to off in color mode didnt work.
I have a m2 mac mini.
Changing the gpu dithering to off in color mode didnt work.
I have a m2 mac mini.
This was 100% the solution for me! I've been able to protect this using BetterDisplay. You've saved my sanity and my monitor 🙏
made an account to share a fix
firstly, would like to thank everyone here for contributing to solutions and being so helpful.
running a mac mini m4 in 2 cheap chinese screens, had the grid looking thing with occassional flickering on cheaper chinese screens, especially with darker images and backgrounds, downloaded betterdisplay and disabled gpu dithering (known issue with nvidia so tried it with mac) - improved a bit, changed color mode to 8-bit, RGB, fixed the problem for now (fingers crossed).
notes: did not have same issue with default settings with better screens (dell, acer etc), cables isolated from issue - tried diff cables with diff ports of diff quality.
chinese screens with windows did not replicate the issue that was with mac mini.
possible solution via software above, or use a different monitor.
firstly, would like to thank everyone here for contributing to solutions and being so helpful.
running a mac mini m4 in 2 cheap chinese screens, had the grid looking thing with occassional flickering on cheaper chinese screens, especially with darker images and backgrounds, downloaded betterdisplay and disabled gpu dithering (known issue with nvidia so tried it with mac) - improved a bit, changed color mode to 8-bit, RGB, fixed the problem for now (fingers crossed).
notes: did not have same issue with default settings with better screens (dell, acer etc), cables isolated from issue - tried diff cables with diff ports of diff quality.
chinese screens with windows did not replicate the issue that was with mac mini.
possible solution via software above, or use a different monitor.