black screen in Catalina

Well everyone, if you need the solution, it's possible. It's just worst-case scenario.

I can confirm that IF YOU HAVE A CURRENT TIME MACHINE BACKUP from pre-Catalina install, this problem can be fixed by doing a clean install of macOS 10.15 Catalina on a freshly formatted drive. This requires you to install macOS 10.15, set up the machine as a new computer, and then use Migration Assistant to transfer your old user data back into your machine. To follow this process:

1. Make sure you have a working Time Machine backup from before your macOS Catalina install - DO NOT PROCEED IF YOU DON'T, or you will lose your data
2. Boot into recovery mode by powering on the machine and holding Command ⌘ + R
3. Use Disk Utility in Recovery Mode to reformat (erase) your system ("Macintosh HD", or whatever you named it) drive or the container that hosts the system drive and "data" drive.
4. Select the appropriate file format for your machine's needs (seek other articles to find this out)
5. Close Disk Utility after complete, and use the "Reinstall macOS" feature of Recovery Mode to reinstall 10.15
6. Allow the process to complete
7. Set up the machine as if it were a brand new device - don't transfer your data in this process
8. Verify that your new install of macOS 10.15 Catalina is no longer exhibiting the wake/sleep issues
9. Use Migration Assistant in the Utilities folder to transfer your user data back from your Time Machine backup to your fresh install of macOS - OR, if you prefer, take this opportunity to start "fresh" and only transfer back the specific data that you think you'd like to keep.

This is the most complete and time consuming way this could be resolved, but the issue has been solved for me. It must be caused by some sort of user-land kext or daemon, or something that is changed by performing a clean macOS 10.15 install and then transferring your user data.

NOTE: Only do this is you had the forethought to have a working and complete backup with Time Machine prior to installing macOS Catalina. I cannot stress this enough if you are new at this...

Good luck, and godspeed!

This solved the same issue i had after upgrading to Catalina, https://www.reddit.com/r/mac/comments/dfq969/mac_screen_wont_wake_from_sleep_after_catalina/

"In my /Library/Extensions/ folder I deleted MCTTrigger6USB.kext, MCTTriggerGraphics.plugin, and Trigger5Core.kext, which were drivers installed by the j5 software. Next time my computer woke from sleep the display came back without issue.

So my suggestion is, if no solution has worked for you so far, check your /Library/Extensions/ folder for any display drivers. Google the driver name before deleting it to verify it's not something critical, then try deleting and testing."

I just came up with a workaround where I DID NOT get the black screen after locking and walking away for a long time. I went into Energy Saver in Preferences and turned off Automatic graphics switching, and checked Prevent computer from sleeping automatically when the display is off. Screenshot of my settings attached.

This solution didn't work for me either. I spent 1hr 45mins on the phone with Apple support yesterday and they had me move all files out of the LaunchAgents and LaunchDaemons folder in both the visible and non-visible Library folders:

Macintosh HD/Library

User/Name/Library (visible when holding down option key in the Finder Go menu)

This worked for a while, but today the problem returned. I went back to those folders and the main files related to Microsoft OneDrive and Google Chrome. By process of elimination I uninstalled Chrome, removed all related files and the problem is resolved. I think it's related to some of the automatic software update files that are embedded in Chrome and opened on launch. I may of course be wrong, all I know is that this has worked for me, and the above solution did not.

This solved it for me. The additional files were removed for safe measure (created at the same date and time as the first two).

/Library/Extensions/MCTTriggerGraphics.plugin

/Library/Extensions/Trigger5Core.kext

/Library/Extensions/MCTTrigger6USB.kext

/Library/Extensions/DJTVirtualDisplayDriver.kext

Ive put my J5Create display adapter away and using an HP port replicator until they have released fully compatible drivers https://en.j5create.com/pages/drivers

@jgwnyc - No, I believe that most people were able to fix this with the solutions on page 8 where we are removing some of the .kext files and then replacing them after a full reboot.

Detailed fix:

1.. Delete these 3 files from the Library/Extensions/ directory:

MCTTrigger6USB.kext MCTTriggerGraphics.plugin and Trigger5Core.kext

2.. Reboot your machine.

3.. Go to your trash bin and put the files back (it will ask you to authorize them again with your password).

This seems to have worked for the majority of us that started this thread. If you still have problems, try resetting your PRAM by holding CMD + OPT + P + R at the same time when booting up your machine for 12 seconds, then release them at the same time.

I think if you delete those Library files and then put them back after reboot you should be good to go..

Oh, THANK YOU. This was my situation as well. 4-5 years a go i installed on my MBP this driver because of USB third display, today already 3 years after i have iMac Retina 27 with the same OS history, the drive Trigger5Core.kext was still in Extension folder. After delete and restart, black screen is gone. Many thanks :)

I've found a reliable workaround (reliable for me, anyway). THIS IS NOT A FIX. There still appears to be an underlying problem, but at least this helped me use my computer again. Here's how you'd do it:

1. Create a new administrator account
2. Reboot, log into the new account, and initialize all settings (I skipped everything I was allowed to skip)
3. After the new account is set up and active, reboot, and log into your normal account (NOT the new one)
4. Now, when waking from sleep, or entering a password at the screensaver or the lock screen, you will see a dialog box that prompts you for a password. It also says "Switch User" at the bottom left. But at least you can unlock the machine!
5. DO NOT DELETE the new user. Doing so will cause macOS to revert to the old behavior after a reboot.

I really hope this helps.

For everyone who can't find any third-party extensions that are causing the problem (like me on multiple machines), I can confirm that creating a Time Machine Backup, installing a fresh copy of Catalina and then restoring that backup through Migration Assistant/Setup Assistant WITHOUT restoring "Computer and Network Settings" WILL resolve the issue. Whatever is causing the problem does not appear to be being backed up in the Time Machine Backup. So you don't have to fear that you are just restoring the problematic file and that the problem will resurface.

Go to folder /library/extensions and if there is a file in that folder "Trigger5Core.kext", move it to the trash and empty the trash.

This appears to work as a solution.

This was NOT my idea, but from another Black Screen thread but I can't get the link thread to work.

Restart your computers in SAFE MODE (hold down the shift key during the reboot)

You will know if you have correctly entered SAFE mode because it appears in RED in the menu bar

In SAFE MODE my laptop returned to normal Wake / Sleep behaviour including closing and opening the lid.

Then RESTART as normal (literally make no other change, just restart SAFE restart normal) and it seems to be FIXED !!!

• There is no explanation for why this makes a difference it just works.

I was able to fix the problem, by just coping the extensions out of the directory into a folder on my desktop restarting and then copying them back into the extensions folder (authenticating) and then restarting. All works, and I didn’t have to delete anything.

I installed Catalina from scratch, formatted my HD completely and started over again, and everything seems fine. The only issue I have is... when i'm connected to my external monitor (DELL P2719HC), shell closed, and wake up from sleep, Catalina thinks I have multiple monitors and wake up with login screen in MacBook Pro monitor, then I press esc, it goes to sleep again and wake up in the correct monitor. But, when I undock, all seems well now.

i had same problem too. after remove Trend Micro PC cillin (antivirus) is ok.

Issue is resolved for me by updating to 10.15.1, no other actions required.