Big Sur external monitor

Hi guys/gals,

I have found your solution for j5 Create Display Adapters. As you all may know, I contacted j5 Create about the issue and they got back to me a week ago saying they were TBD about a Big Sur driver for Display Adapters. Just this afternoon I got a email containing the new beta driver. I know some people don't trust betas, but please trust me on this. It does actually work right. I made sure to download it and make sure it worked before I made a reply about it. This is the full email which contains a link to the driver.

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We would like to inform you that we have a Beta Driver for macOS 11.1 Big Sur available!

In order to get the j5create adapter working, it will require that we install the new j5create Display device driver. Please disconnect your j5create device if it is connected before continuing on to the installation process.

(NOTE: This driver is NOT compatible with M1 Chip mac books & macOS 11.2 Big Sur BETA we advise to disable automatic updates and do NOT update to Big Sur 11.2 at this time! )

macOS 11.1 installation steps: 

1. Please click on the link below to download the driver install file:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/149mqP-puHkgSqBl4BsxaVRESeuOjKKFa/view?usp=sharing

2. Open Finder, then select “Downloads”

3. Locate and double-click the file labeled as: “j5create_video_adapter_driver-3.3-2021-01-03.dmg” 

4. Please select “10.15-11-v3.3-2021-01-03.pkg” file (This is the macOS 11 Display driver installer.)

5. Proceed through the installation process to completion, i.e select “continue”, “install”, and enter your password when prompted

6. You will be prompted that our driver will be blocked (Magic Control Technology Corporation) during the installation

(Note: The installation might complete but do not restart until you allow the driver through)

7. Select the "Open System Preferences" button to take you to the "Security & Privacy" settings. 

8. Under the "General" tab you will find a message at the bottom of the window that states "System software from developer “Magic Control Technology Corporation “ has been updated.......".

9. Make sure to unlock the padlock at the bottom left-hand corner of the screen to make changes (enter admin password) and to select "Allow" next to the message mentioned above

10. Once this is completed, you will be prompted to restart your computer. A window will appear, please select "Not Now" and then click the driver installation window option "Restart" instead.

11. Connect your device to the Mac computer and your video cables to the display/monitor once the mac computer is back up. Also ensure that your display/monitor is on the correct video input as well. 

12. A "USB DISPLAY DEVICE" notification will appear in the upper right corner of the system Please be sure to click on the icon and select “Allow”.

13. The "USB Display device" Application should also open automatically. If it does not appear, please find the application on the Mac computers dock or launchpad to access the app.

14. Next click on the "Activate USB Display Driver" button located at the bottom right-hand corner of the window. 

15. You may be prompted to allow the application. If you are prompted, please select "open system preferences" and Under the "General" tab you will find a message at the bottom of the window that states "System software from application “USB Display Device” was blocked from loading.” 

16. Make sure to unlock the padlock at the bottom left-hand corner of the screen to make changes (enter admin password) and to select "Allow" next to the message mentioned above. (You should not have to restart your computer but please do if prompted)

17. An Authentication message may appear again, click "Open System Preferences" under the "Screen Recording" message, If this message does not appear, please reconnect the adapter. If the message still does not appear, ensure to check your Security & Privacy settings. Go to your Apple Icon > System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy tab > screen recording > Check if "DJTVirtualDisplayDriver" is there and has a checkmark next to it. Then disconnect and reconnect the device after. 

Once these steps have been completed, you should now see the desktop background and the display should now be ready to use!

Click on this link if you would like to see our PDF instructions with images: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1x56umHDSbY-ErYu0TJ_MQmb1zMiq5m95/view?usp=sharing

Thank you.

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If you have any issues I am here to help anyone.

Best Wishes,

NG_5

Hello,

There is a fix for j5 Create and Big Sur. They released a beta driver. I will post the email I received here.

j5create Customer Service(Support Ticket System - j5create) 

Jan 8, 2021, 12:00 PM EST 

We would like to inform you that we have a Beta Driver for macOS 11.1 Big Sur available!

In order to get the j5create adapter working, it will require that we install the new j5create Display device driver. Please disconnect your j5create device if it is connected before continuing on to the installation process.

(NOTE: This driver is NOT compatible with M1 Chip mac books & macOS 11.2 Big Sur BETA we advise to disable automatic updates and do NOT update to Big Sur 11.2 at this time! )

macOS 11.1 installation steps: 

1. Please click on the link below to download the driver install file:

2. Open Finder, then select“Downloads”

3. Locate and double-click the file labeled as:“j5create_video_adapter_driver-3.3-2021-01-03.dmg” 

4. Please select “10.15-11-v3.3-2021-01-03.pkg” file (This is the macOS 11 Display driver installer.)

5. Proceed through the installation process to completion, i.e select “continue”, “install”, and enter your password when prompted

6. You will be prompted that our driver will be blocked (Magic Control Technology Corporation) during the installation

(Note: The installation might complete but do not restart until you allow the driver through)

7. Select the "Open System Preferences" button to take you to the "Security & Privacy" settings. 

8. Under the "General" tab you will find a message at the bottom of the window that states "System software from developer “Magic Control Technology Corporation “ has been updated.......".

9. Make sure to unlock the padlock at the bottom left-hand corner of the screen to make changes (enter admin password) and to select "Allow" next to the message mentioned above

10. Once this is completed, you will be prompted to restart your computer. A window will appear, please select "Not Now" and then click the driver installation window option "Restart" instead.

11. Connect your device to the Mac computer and your video cables to the display/monitor once the mac computer is back up. Also ensure that your display/monitor is on the correct video input as well. 

12. A "USB DISPLAY DEVICE" notification will appear in the upper right corner of the system Please be sure to click on the icon and select “Allow”.

13. The "USB Display device" Application should also open automatically. If it does not appear, please find the application on the Mac computers dock or launchpad to access the app.

14. Next click on the "Activate USB Display Driver" button located at the bottom right-hand corner of the window. 

15. You may be prompted to allow the application. If you are prompted, please select "open system preferences" and Under the "General" tab you will find a message at the bottom of the window that states "System software from application “USB Display Device” was blocked from loading.” 

16. Make sure to unlock the padlock at the bottom left-hand corner of the screen to make changes (enter admin password) and to select "Allow" next to the message mentioned above. (You should not have to restart your computer but please do if prompted)

17. An Authentication message may appear again, click "Open System Preferences" under the "Screen Recording" message, If this message does not appear, please reconnect the adapter. If the message still does not appear, ensure to check your Security & Privacy settings. Go to your Apple Icon > System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy tab > screen recording > Check if "DJTVirtualDisplayDriver" is there and has a checkmark next to it. Then disconnect and reconnect the device after. 

Once these steps have been completed, you should now see the desktop background and the display should now be ready to use!

Please let me know if you guys need anymore help with j5 Create adapters.

NG_5

[Link Edited by Moderator]

I just got off the phone with Apple Support and (for once) they fixed this same issue -- I upgraded to Big Sur and my external monitor (LG HDR 4K) stopped working. Here's what worked for me:

1. Shut down your computer
2. Unplug your "main" monitor but leave your external one (the one that's not working) plugged in
3. Start your computer up

Hopefully the monitor will wake up and you can sign in as normal (this worked for me). Let your computer start up completely and *then* plug your original, main monitor back in. It should wake up and your computer will recognize both. You can then go to System Preferences -> Displays ->Arrangement and reset or mess with anything that got out of whack.

Anyway, I hope this helps someone. This is on my 2018 Mac mini.

I had the J5create 4 way splitter which worked great until I upgraded to Big Sur OS11.0. I usually never upgrade any software quickly but this time I did. The splitter stopped working and when I went to their website I saw them telling Apple users that many of their products don’t work with the new Apple upgrade and don’t upgrade. I spoke to them and they told me they are working on new drivers to fix the issues, I’m on their list to contact me once it’s done but it’s been 45 days since my upgrade and I cannot wait any longer. I tried 4 different splitters from various companies that just mirrored my screens and did not extended my screens. I started researching and contacting different companies and StarTech told me that their product would work and do what I needed it to do and they were right. Maybe other docking stations from other companies might also work but I was frustrated trying things that weren’t working and needed a solution, so I tried the StarTech products and it worked.

Solution found!!

1. unplug usb c hub from both macbook and external monitor
2. plug usb c hub into macbook
3. plug hdmi cable into usb c hub.

Okay, so I just experienced the same problem.

• The initial set-up is an external BenQ monitor connected to MBP15-2018 with an Apple USB-C to HDMI/USB adapter, no HDMI signal from your device".
• After establishing that the cable and adapter functioned properly, I tested the monitor with another computer via a direct HDMI connection (Windows PC).
• After successfully connecting to the PC, the BenQ fired up for the MBP via the Apple adapter without an issue.

Completely mysterious.

krusty kretin wrote:

1. I just got off the phone with Apple Support and (for once) they fixed this same issue -- I upgraded to Big Sur and my external monitor (LG HDR 4K) stopped working. Here's what worked for me:

Shut down your computer

2. Unplug your "main" monitor but leave your external one (the one that's not working) plugged in

3. Start your computer up

Hopefully the monitor will wake up and you can sign in as normal (this worked for me). Let your computer start up completely and *then* plug your original, main monitor back in. It should wake up and your computer will recognize both. You can then go to System Preferences -> Displays ->Arrangement and reset or mess with anything that got out of whack.

Anyway, I hope this helps someone. This is on my 2018 Mac mini.

This worked for me. Thank you!

2018 Mac mini

I don't know if this helps.

I had a working setup on my Mac mini 2018 using 2 displays via usb-c. I investigated connecting one of the displays via HDMI because I am thinking of upgrading to the M1 because you can't connect both displays via usb-c on the M1. I got a no signal error on the display via HMDI. Chat support suggested NVRAM reset, SMC reset, boot in safe mode but nothing helped. One support person even suggested that HDMI-HDMI would not work on my mini because it used thunderbolt 3 and I needed to use a HDMI to DVI adapter.

Then I remembered something I read a long time ago on the forums here. I connected the HDMI to my TV and that worked. I disconnected from the TV and connected to my second display and it worked to my surprise. I tried booting with different display combinations, HDMI only, HDMI + usb-c, usb-c + usb-c and it still worked whenever I used HDMI.

I will revert to usb-c for both displays but at least I know HDMI does work and I definitely don't need a HDMI to DVI adapter.

I got a StarTech docking station and a few hdmi to display port cables from Amazon and my problem is solved. I am running 3 external monitors plus my laptop which makes it a 4th screen all extended ( not mirrored). I can also add an additional 5th monitor if I want to because the docking station has 4 ports, its own power supply, a usbc port to charge my laptop and a few USB ports that I have my wireless mouse plugged into. Problem solved. You have to download the proper drivers for your computer and customer service is excellent

I changed from usbc -> DisplayPort to usbc -> hdmi and it started working. It also seems like changing the cord or adaptor helps but unclear as to why.

I ended up with StarTech.com USB 3.0 to Dual DisplayPort Adapter 4K 60Hz, (USB32DP24K60). I had to switch my cables from HDMI to DVI as well. You can order on Amazon.

To answer your question, I had the same exact problem. I ended up doing little research on the issue and found out that they had some issues with the macOS Big Sur update. Something with the driver. Not the physical adapter. This is what j5 Create said:

"Attention macOS® 11 Big Sur users: j5create USB™ Display and USB™ Ethernet adapters are not currently compatible with macOS® Big Sur 11.

To avoid loss of functionality with the j5create USB™ Display and USB™ Ethernet adapters, we advise all Mac® users to delay updating to macOS® Big Sur 11."

I have contacted j5 Create about the issue and got a response saying that they are currently working on a new driver with no estimated ETA yet. I also noticed you posted a while ago, but I just saw this and figured another update on the issue would be nice.

Hope I helped some!

NG_5

Which adapter did you end up switching to? I used a j5 create and their website says they are now not compatible with the Big Sur update. SO now I need a new 2 HDMI to USB adapter

I’ve only used USB C to HDMI and the connection breaks every time the computer sleeps. Cable is plugged into the MBP direct with no hub in the loop. Rebooting is the only thing that works every time. Reminds me of WinXP days.