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Video or Display Driver for Macbook Pro

Hi I can't connect my Macbook Pro laptop to a new monitor I bought. I test all the equipment which works and connects to my mobile phone and to a friend's Macbook, but not my Macbook Pro. I looked for updates on my Apple system and all up to date. I phoned Apple support and they were not able to advise on an update or driver. I have heard that there are display or video drivers that could help, but I can't find any. Can anyone please advise or guide me where to look?


Thanks,


Caroline

Mac Pro

Posted on Aug 5, 2020 9:10 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Aug 5, 2020 9:46 AM

Hi Kaz, I used an adapter connecting with a USB-C to connect to thunderbolt 3 port on Macbook Pro with a HDMI connector connecting to an HDMI to HDMI cable to the monitor. I have phoned HP who confirmed there is no driver needed for the HP Monitor. They suggested I call Apple for a driver. Just spoke to Apple who said I don't need a driver and am up to date with updates. The monitor, cable and adaptor all work with my friend's Macbook immediately. So I am baffled as to what to do with my Macbook Pro?


Thanks,

Caroline


8 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Aug 5, 2020 9:46 AM in response to kaz-k

Hi Kaz, I used an adapter connecting with a USB-C to connect to thunderbolt 3 port on Macbook Pro with a HDMI connector connecting to an HDMI to HDMI cable to the monitor. I have phoned HP who confirmed there is no driver needed for the HP Monitor. They suggested I call Apple for a driver. Just spoke to Apple who said I don't need a driver and am up to date with updates. The monitor, cable and adaptor all work with my friend's Macbook immediately. So I am baffled as to what to do with my Macbook Pro?


Thanks,

Caroline


Aug 5, 2020 10:34 AM in response to neuroanatomist

Hi,


Thanks - I am connecting my Macbook Pro MacOS Catalina version 10.15.6 to an HP 27W HD monitor using a USB -C / HDMI adaptor to HDMI to HDMI cable to the HP Monitor.


I am grateful for any new insights as I have been going through and talking about this to quite a few technicians. To me I sense that my Macbook Pro requires some configuration. One forum suggested needing to re install with the initial disc that should have come with the Mac but it is a business laptop that I don't have the original software disc anymore.


Do you think I could go to an Apple store and see what they say after physically looking at it, as I do feel like I have exhausted all trouble shooting.


Thanks, Caroline

Aug 5, 2020 11:41 AM in response to CarolineMaya1

You are getting advice from PC experts, who know NOTHING about Macs.


There is no such "configuring", "driver-adding" or "fussing" to be done.


If you equipment is not defective, the display comes up and shows a picture without intervention of any kind. BUT, it only happens under certain conditions:


to get a Mac display to become active, you need the Mac to query the display, and the display to answer with its name and capabilities. Otherwise, the display will not be shown as present, and no data will be sent to the display.

 

This query is only sent at certain times:

• at startup

• at wake from sleep

• at insertion of the Mac-end of the display-cable, provided everything on that cable is ready-to-go

• on invoking Option-(Detect Display) button in Displays preferences (from another display)

 

so try doing some of those things and see if the display comes alive.


Modern Displays with multiple ports are sometimes busy scanning the other ports, looking for an input, and miss the query from the Mac. They need to pay attention to the port you are actually using, or they will miss the query.


Some displays have On-Screen Display settings that can be used to tell the display a computer is attached on a certain port, or a certain port should be highest priority. Changing those may make your display more responsive.


Some displays include their own private "sleep" settings for the display alone. This can allow the display to enter its own sleep mode, on top of the Mac's not sending it data. A display that is sleeping on its own cannot respond to the Mac's query, and will stay dark.

Video or Display Driver for Macbook Pro

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