No HDMI signal after update

After updating to Catalina, Mac Mini 2018 does not send any HDMI signal.

It was working fine today, until the Catalina update.


Can not enter safe mode nor recovery mode.

Tried resetting NVRAM, no change.


Just in case, I tried another cable and I also tried connecting it to AVR, but still no signal.


Mini is connected to 4K TV, I don’t have any other option (except USB-C to HDMI adapter which I don’t have).

Mac mini 2018 or later

Posted on Oct 8, 2019 11:41 AM

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Posted on Oct 9, 2019 12:15 AM

cwanke72 mentioning lower res displays led me to workaround.


I dismissed it at first because I do not have any other displays except Sony 4K TV.

Then I remember Sony has two "30Hz non HDR" HDMI ports.

I connected Mac Mini to one of those, had to shutdown Mini (it was powered when I changed connection) and after I turned it on - signal was finally reaching TV.


Now I need to figure out how to make it work on 60Hz HDR port.

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245 replies

Oct 16, 2019 9:23 AM in response to zprcai

I had to erase and completely reload my Macbook Air (early 2015) to get it to stop going into eternal slumber every time I turned my back. Sure annoying. And for anyone wondering, My mac started with High Sierra and it still made me reinstall Catalina. I never thought I'd see the day when I longed for my cheap old Windows machine but here it is and here I am missing it.

Oct 16, 2019 6:41 PM in response to Lee Wi

I upgraded my 2018 mini to Catalina a week ago. I noticed issues with my 3rd monitor not working & didn’t think much about it at first. But now it’s a real issue.


my only fix is disconnect everything but the hdmi monitor, restart, and it will eventually work after several “out of range” errors on the monitor. Then reconnect the other two monitors. Real pain in the *** since I keep my mini under my desk.


my 3rd screen is older so I use an hdmi to dvi cable. It worked flawlessly before Catalina.


I’ve seen usb-c to dvi cables on amazon but they all say they max at 1080p on Mac. Can anyone confirm this? My monitor is 1920x1200 so if they only do 1080, that’s not going to help at all.


of course Apple could always fix what they broke, but I’m not holding my breath on that one. Maybe we need the “Apple Pro HDMI Cable (just $999)”...

Oct 16, 2019 11:23 PM in response to mblataric

Having same problem - updated to Catalina today and suddenly my two external monitors when black screen - connected via USB 3.0 mini dock. I can plug one monitor in at a time directly through USB and mini adapter which works, but can't get both screens up together through the dock anymore.


I've reset PRAM, and done everything others said worked through this thread but no fix yet to bring both screens back. Now getting new notification "USB Accessories Disabled - Unplug the accessory using too much power to re-enable USB Devices" - I have nothing even plugged in and this message just appeared for first time.


APPLE fix this - I rely on multiple monitors to work everyday. I hate to say it but I had to call Microsoft for tech support on a software issue today and they were much better than Apple has been lately...having second thoughts.

Oct 17, 2019 7:52 AM in response to mblataric

A week ago I let my 2018 Mac Mini update to Catalina, and like everyone else here, it bricked my HDMI port for 4K monitors. I bought the thing specifically because it could output 4K.


I wasted a night on a chat session, and that tech support person didn't have a clue. So I scheduled the next open Genius Bar appointment at my local store, waited 3 days, and then wasted my Saturday night making 2(!) trips to the store. On the first trip the tech person plugged my Mini into an old monitor... and of course it worked. He also plugged a wired keyboard so he could force select a monitor, and claimed that was the cure. So I went home, plugged it into my 4K monitor and... nothing. Back to the store, and he pretty much shrugged and told me to buy a wired keyboard so I could press CMD-F1 to select the output, which wouldn't have worked at all. He was just as uninformed as the earlier tech support person - now 4 days after Catalina's release and after this thread had been started. I wasted the remainder of my Saturday night researching, and I immediately ordered a USB-C to HDMI adapter, a part I have ABSOLUTELY ZERO USE FOR outside of this bug work-around.


I got the adapter yesterday, and like everyone else here, it works now. But no sound, so I plugged my soundbar into the headphone port. So much for digital surround sound...


This is all absurd. The ignorance of the Apply tech support people is absurd. Releasing this garbage firmware/software is absurd. I am completely unimpressed and furious at all my wasted time and trips to the store. And I've wasted money on an adapter that I otherwise did not need.


And the fact that Apple hasn't fixed this problem yet is the most absurd thing of all. I still can't use my HDMI plug, and I'm not all all impressed.


TOTAL FAIL


Oct 17, 2019 8:27 AM in response to Bibidoc1

No! Even the new adapter, model A2119, does NOT guarantee 3840x2160 at 60Hz - https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT207806


As a matter of fact the Mac Mini isn't even mentioned in the material from Apple:


Model A2119 is the newest model of this adapter. It supports HDMI 2.0 at these resolutions and refresh rates when used with macOS Mojave 10.14.6 or later or iOS 12.4 or later. It also supports HDR video in HDR10 and Dolby Vision formats when connected to a compatible playback device and display, TV, or projector.

  • Up to 1080p at 60Hz
  • 3840 x 2160 at 30Hz
  • 3840 x 2160 at 60Hz with these devices:
    • 15-inch MacBook Pro introduced in 2017 or later
    • Retina iMac introduced in 2017 or later
    • iMac Pro
    • iPad Pro


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No HDMI signal after update

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