SOLVED: MacBook Pro Black Screen/No Display Every Other Logout

For some time, I have been attempting resolve a problem with our MacBook Pro. Every other Log Out from some (but not all) of the user accounts, the MBP15 logs out to a black screen. For the first few seconds after logout, the cursor is visible on a black field, but then disappears. The backlight remains lit. Even though the display is dark, the Mac is fully functional - if an external monitor is connected or if the computer is remotely viewed via remote access software (i.e., VNC, Apple Remote Desktop, TeamViewer), it can be operated normally.

MacBook Pro 15”, Early 2011 (8,2)

“Dual Graphics”: AMD Radeon HD 6490M + Intel HD Graphics 3000

Mac OS 10.13.2 (High Sierra)

After much experimentation and online research, I finally found a solution to this problem at this web page, in the section subheading “Turn Off Automatic Graphics Switching (for black screens on dual-GPU MacBook Pro only).”

I’m assuming that MacBooks NOT having dual graphics systems will not display this checkbox, or experience this problem. (I don’t have a single graphics MBP with which to test.)

To apply this solution:

• Open Energy Saver control panel
• Un-check the “Automatic graphics switching” checkbox at the top of the panel (above the “Battery/Power Adapter” tabs).
• It may be necessary to Restart the Mac to make the change effective.

According to this Apple Support document, turning off Automatic Graphics Switching will will cause your MacBook Pro to always display using its higher-performance graphics hardware. Presumably, when this feature works correctly, there are some battery power savings advantages of using the “integrated graphics” system. So while this may resolve the black display problem, it may reduce battery run time. It may be possible to get the advantages by manually checking and un-checking the Automatic Graphics Switching as needed for high performance graphics OR long run time.

Also, this problem only surfaces when logging out of the account. So if you are never logging out (either to switch accounts or for security), then you can certainly choose to run the MacBook with the problematic condition.

TEMPORARY SOLUTIONS FOR REGAINING DISPLAY FUNCTIONALITY

If one encounters this condition, here are some ways to temporarily restore display functionality:

• The Simplest, But Less-Safe Way - Simply hold down the MacBook Pro’s silver Power button in the upper-right corner of the computer’s body until it powers down (the backlight will go out, and the illuminated keyboard will go dark). This forced shutdown can potentially cause file damage, as it does not provide the user, application or system the opportunity to save work and politely close files. But if you’ve encountered this condition during a Logout procedure, then there shouldn’t be any user files left to close.
• Connect an External Monitor (great if you have the parts) - If you have a compatible monitor and cabling, connecting an external monitor to the MacBook (even while the internal screen is black in this case) will display the MacBook’s display on the external monitor.
• Typing in the Dark (safer, but tricky) - If you’ve encountered this condition for the same reason I did, then the Mac OS is sitting at the Login window, displaying a list of the computer’s user account names. If you do the following, you’ll be able to Login and Logout without being able to see what you’re doing:
  • 1) Type the first letter of a user name, which highlights that user icon
  • 2) Press the [return] key to select that user account for login
  • 3) Type that user’s password into the password field
  • 4) Press [return] to commit the password
    • After several seconds, the account will be logged in.
  • 5) Hold down the [shift]{option][command] keys and tap the [Q] key.
    • The current account will be logged out. After several seconds - as much as 10-15 - the computer should visibly display its Login window.

NOTE: Because you’re attempting this with NO visual feedback, you may not be successful the first time, If after completing the steps above you get no results, try Step #5, then Steps 1-5 again.

NOTE: If you’ve configured the “Users & Groups” control panel for to optionally display only the empty Username and Password fields, you’ll need to type in the username, hit the Tab key to move to the password field, type the password and hit the Return key.