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Display arrangement changes at login

Problem:

  • Whenever I login to my MacBook Pro, my monitor arrangement is changed and left and right monitors are swapped. I have to go into System Preferences/Displays and swap Left/Right monitors.


Occurrence:

  • Happens every time after waking MBP from sleep mode and login.
  • This happened with 10.15.3 but not as much.


Attempted Remediation:

  • Swapping HDMI adapters and USB-C ports has no affect.
  • Unplugging/plugging HDMI adapters has no affect.
  • Reset NVRAM doesn't seem to have an affect.
  • Note: I have tried HDMI to USB-C (Thunderbolt 3) cables that do work but for some reason, the monitors are very slow to start at boot up (up to 90-seconds). The configuration listed below is the most optimal multi-monitor solution I've found with the exception of the swapping issue.


Hardware/Software Configuration:

  • MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2017)
  • macOS: Catalina 10.15.4
  • Processor: 2.8 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7
  • Graphics: Radeon Pro 555 2 GB, Intel HD Graphics 630 1536 MB
  • Display's: 2 ViewSonic "VX3211-4k"
    • Each connected via Apple USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter and 1m HDMI-HDMI cable


If there is a work-around for this or if you're aware of any 3rd party apps to help, I would appreciate some guidance or feedback.

Thanks!


MacBook Pro 15", macOS 10.15

Posted on Apr 3, 2020 6:25 AM

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Apr 3, 2020 6:31 AM in response to JimN

JimN wrote:

Problem:
Whenever I login to my MacBook Pro, my monitor arrangement is changed and left and right monitors are swapped. I have to go into System Preferences/Displays and swap Left/Right monitors.

Occurrence:
Happens every time after waking MBP from sleep mode and login.
• This happened with 10.15.3 but not as much.

Attempted Remediation:
Swapping HDMI adapters and USB-C ports has no affect.
• Unplugging/plugging HDMI adapters has no affect.
Note:• I have tried HDMI to USB-C (Thunderbolt 3) cables that do work but for some reason, the monitors are very slow to start at boot up (up to 90-seconds). The configuration listed below is the most optimal multi-monitor solution I've found with the exception of the swapping issue.

Hardware/Software Configuration:
MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2017)
• macOS: Catalina 10.15.4
• Processor: 2.8 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7
• Graphics: Radeon Pro 555 2 GB, Intel HD Graphics 630 1536 MB
• Display's: 2 ViewSonic "VX3211-4k"
• Each connected via Apple USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter and 1m HDMI-HDMI cable
https://discussions.apple.com/content/attachment/2e5c4d30-7d91-4c6c-8f50-fa479e49a3cc

If there is a work-around for this or if you're aware of any 3rd party apps to help, I would appreciate some guidance or feedback.
Thanks!



You can Try resetting NVRAM/PRAM http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1379



https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/change-displays-arrangement-preferences-mchlp1321/mac


ref: https://superuser.com/questions/1105308/mac-3-monitor-setup-my-desktop-set-keep-switching-places-between-monitors

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Apr 3, 2020 6:42 AM in response to JimN

JimN wrote:

Thanks, I already tried that and it has no affect on this issue. I forgot to add that to my remediation steps, updated my original message to include. Good suggestion though. 👍



Please submit your user experience— Apple Feedback http://www.apple.com/feedback


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Apr 4, 2020 11:19 AM in response to HWTech

HWTech wrote:
I think one of the monitors was extremely slow to wake up and communicate with the Mac which affected the order of the displays.


I think you hit on what may be happening. Both monitors are identical models, size, performance, etc. Both are connected the exact same way but when the system is in Sleep mode, I notice that one monitor frequently wakes on its own but because the computer is asleep, there's no signal. Interestingly, there's no way to predict which one is which because it alternates which monitor wakes from sleep. Based on your comment (above) it may be changing based on the last monitor that was awake just before I logged in.


I guess this poses a new problem - with this in mind;

  • I just realized that the monitor that wakes on its own is connected to the power adapter - maybe a contributing factor
  • I'm going to adjust the connectivity and see if that stabilizes this


Thanks for the thought!

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Apr 3, 2020 6:55 PM in response to JimN

I had a similar issue with an older version of macOS with one of our organization's setups. I forget exactly how I solved it, but I think part of the process involved changing the video input & outputs around until I could keep the one monitor I wanted as primary. I think I also had to swap them around in the Display Preferences as well. It was a pain. I think one of the monitors was extremely slow to wake up and communicate with the Mac which affected the order of the displays.

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Display arrangement changes at login

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