birkenkrahe
Level 1 (1 points)

Q: Cannot connect HDMI with USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter

I have a new MacBook 12' Retina (2015) and a USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter with an HDMI socket. I am trying to connect both a HDMI-TV (nothing special) and an ACER display (VGA exit, I use an VGA to HDMI adapter) using this adapter, but the "displays" menu in the settings application does not show any available screens for mirroring. The other ports on that multiport adapter do work however. Any help would be greatly appreciated as this was a VERY expensive adapter... ;-) Cheers from Berlin!

MacBook, OS X Yosemite (10.10.3), Retina, 12-inch, early 2015

Posted on Jul 23, 2015 11:00 AM

by Lanny,Apple recommended
Lanny Lanny
Level 5 (7,888 points)
Desktops
A:

What they had you do is a SMC reset. Those are the key commands for it.

 

More properly phrased, "On the built-in keyboard, press the (left side) Shift-Control-Option keys and the power button at the same time."

 

Reference: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201295

Posted on Jul 24, 2015 9:27 AM

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birkenkrahe

Q: Cannot connect HDMI with USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Lanny,

    Lanny Lanny Jul 23, 2015 12:59 PM in response to birkenkrahe
    Level 5 (7,888 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 23, 2015 12:59 PM in response to birkenkrahe
    (VGA exit, I use an VGA to HDMI adapter)

    What is a VGA exit? The signal path direction from the MacBook is to the monitors.

     

    Do you really mean a HDMI to VGA adapter?

  • by birkenkrahe,

    birkenkrahe birkenkrahe Jul 23, 2015 1:26 PM in response to Lanny
    Level 1 (1 points)
    Jul 23, 2015 1:26 PM in response to Lanny

    Hi Lanny - I'll try to be more clear: I have tried to use the USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter with two screens, and neither screen will work which puzzles me. It puzzles me that they are not even detected while the other ports of the adapter seem to work:

     

    - one screen is a Samsung HDMI TV - nothing special, I think it has a 1980 x 1080 resolution. I connect the HDMI directly to the Apple Multiport adapter

    - the other screen is an ACER computer screen with a VGA connection only. To connect it to the multiport adapter, I first connect the VGA to an HDMI and then plug the HDMI into the multiport.


    I hope this is clear...thanks for asking for clarification. Any idea what to do? Cheers!

  • by Lanny,

    Lanny Lanny Jul 23, 2015 1:38 PM in response to birkenkrahe
    Level 5 (7,888 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 23, 2015 1:38 PM in response to birkenkrahe

    They should work. If you live near an Apple store, take the adapter in to verify that it's functioning properly.

     

    Verify that the TV is switched to the appropriate HDMI input.

     

    Verify if the Acer monitor's VGA input is switchable also.

  • by birkenkrahe,

    birkenkrahe birkenkrahe Jul 23, 2015 2:38 PM in response to Lanny
    Level 1 (1 points)
    Jul 23, 2015 2:38 PM in response to Lanny

    Will do thank you. I don't know if I should report back here or not...probably not since there's nothing else to discuss. Cheers from Berlin!

  • by birkenkrahe,

    birkenkrahe birkenkrahe Jul 24, 2015 5:47 AM in response to birkenkrahe
    Level 1 (1 points)
    Jul 24, 2015 5:47 AM in response to birkenkrahe

    Hi, the problem is solved but I think it is worth reporting because it required the Apple support service!

     

    Actual problem: turns out that some of these MacBooks when they come out of the factory have the ports screwed up in the sense that the ports do not get enough juice to drive external screens. Apple support told me to do a Power unit reset after which the problem disappeared.

     

    Steps: In order to do this, you need to shut down the computer first. Then you need to press the buttons "Shift" + "Control" + "Alt" + "Power" simultaneously. The screen should not come on - it should only show the battery status. Now you power up again and - at least for me - the problem disappeared. Thanks for the other helpful hints however, but I am glad I didn't have to go to the store!

  • by ISA1337,

    ISA1337 ISA1337 Jul 24, 2015 9:21 AM in response to birkenkrahe
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 24, 2015 9:21 AM in response to birkenkrahe

    This did not the trick for me . Whenever I plug in my monitor into the USB-C dongle via HDMI the screen starts flickering. It looks like, that the MacBook is continuously switching from single to dual screen and back. Only occasionally external monitor keeps displaying the screen. This is what I tried:

     

    - Changed monitors (2x)

    - Changed HDMI cable (3x)

    - Changed USB-C to HDMI dongle (2x) - I ordered 2 for office and home.

    - Restarted / Shutdown

    - Power unit reset

    - Re-plug of the USB-C dongle into MacBook

     

    I'm getting the feeling, that the MacBook itself is broken.

     

    Ideas anyone?

  • by Lanny,Apple recommended

    Lanny Lanny Jul 24, 2015 9:27 AM in response to birkenkrahe
    Level 5 (7,888 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 24, 2015 9:27 AM in response to birkenkrahe

    What they had you do is a SMC reset. Those are the key commands for it.

     

    More properly phrased, "On the built-in keyboard, press the (left side) Shift-Control-Option keys and the power button at the same time."

     

    Reference: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201295

  • by Ziatron,

    Ziatron Ziatron Jul 25, 2015 10:17 PM in response to ISA1337
    Level 4 (3,924 points)
    Apple Watch
    Jul 25, 2015 10:17 PM in response to ISA1337

    Ideas anyone?

     

    Your problem may be HDCP, (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection).

     

    Apple's Mac lines includes a form of digital copy protection that will prevent protected media, such as DRM-infused iTunes movies, from playing back on devices that aren't compliant with the new priority protection measures.

     

    The Hollywood demanded technology is called High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) and aims to prevent copying of digital audio and video content as it travels across a variety of display connectors, even if such copying is not in violation of fair use laws.

     

    Your display may not be on the "approved" list, or was removed from it. (Some displays fail the HDCP handshake more than others.)

     

    Can you try a different display to test?

  • by ISA1337,

    ISA1337 ISA1337 Jul 27, 2015 2:34 AM in response to Ziatron
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 27, 2015 2:34 AM in response to Ziatron

    Never heard of that HDCP. I tested different displays:

    - LG 27" (1920x1080) -> flickers/broken with HDMI. Works with D-SUB

    - LG 24" -> flickers

    - BenQ -> works via HDMI

     

    Is there a general incompatibility between Apple and LG displays?

     

    Note: I did a 1,5 hour session with Apple support. We also tried the SMC Reset without success.

  • by ISA1337,

    ISA1337 ISA1337 Jul 30, 2015 6:18 AM in response to ISA1337
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 30, 2015 6:18 AM in response to ISA1337

    It seems that Apple has a general Incompatibility with LG displays.

     

    I now have to use D-SUB connector OR but an (expensive) Apple display, I guess.

  • by Lanny,

    Lanny Lanny Jul 30, 2015 7:43 AM in response to ISA1337
    Level 5 (7,888 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 30, 2015 7:43 AM in response to ISA1337
    ....OR but an (expensive) Apple display, I guess.

    Actually, Apple's only display is a Thunderbolt display, and it only works with Macs that have a Thunderbolt port.

  • by cseljatib,

    cseljatib cseljatib Aug 10, 2016 7:53 AM in response to birkenkrahe
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    Aug 10, 2016 7:53 AM in response to birkenkrahe

    hi there,

    I have the same problem, but after that I have tried your solution, unfortunately did not work for me. Any further suggestion?

  • by cseljatib,

    cseljatib cseljatib Aug 10, 2016 7:54 AM in response to ISA1337
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    Aug 10, 2016 7:54 AM in response to ISA1337

    hey ISA1337,

    I have the same problem, I wonder if did you finally arrived to a solution to this annoying problem?

    thanks in advance

  • by kenofstephen,

    kenofstephen kenofstephen Aug 10, 2016 7:27 PM in response to birkenkrahe
    Level 1 (27 points)
    Apple TV
    Aug 10, 2016 7:27 PM in response to birkenkrahe

    I tried a similar setup:

     

    Macbook 2015/2016 -> USB-C Multiport Adapter with HDMI -> HDMI to VGA adapter -> VGA monitor

     

    and it's very unstable, I don't think converting the signal twice can be stable anyway.

     

    You may find the USB-C adapter with VGA on the market instead.