M1 Mac mini display issue

My pink squares disappeared after installing 11.2.1. and didn’t reappear until this morning. They are no longer pink and are two black squares that persisted for almost one minute only on the Desktop. They flickered on and off. I was able to take several screenshots, and the artifacts are not visible in them.

FYI - I'm not seeing squares anymore. However, I am having to reset my displays almost every unsleep to have access to my app toolbars. Otherwise, they disappear and I don't have access to app functionality. As long as I open display settings and toggle options, it resets... It's weird workaround, but it works.

I think that's something that has been up in the air for some time. There have been some really promising results from people trying the 11.3 beta, which indicates it's a software issue. Really though nobody can be 100% certain until Apple either issues a fix, recall, or publicly acknowledges it in some way. Beyond calling people and asking questions about it I don't think Apple has really acknowledged it.

Well I thought 11.2.1 fixed the issues and they had vanished for a while but yesterday and today the pink squares are back with a vengeance. Now on the login screen and on the desktop more than I have ever seen like it has actually got worse. I see them now while typing this every so often they are flashing up in different places to the right of safari. Not fixed.

Can confirm that Big Sur 11.3 beta fixed the ghosted transparent windows issue. M1 Mac mini with 23" Cinema Display with Apple's DVI to HDMI dongle. Getting a slight flicker but it's usable again as a secondary monitor.

So, I've found an interesting experiment that colors most/all windows pink. It tells me the pink we might be seeing in all of this is the one they use for transparency like mattia1089 has found. I've found that when I use control+up arrow, create a new desktop, then drag a window to that desktop all in one operation that the windows on that new desktop are all pinkish in color. Also like mattia1089 has found turning the "Allow wallpaper tinting in windows" feature off fixes the color problem.

So, I wonder if that fixes the pink blocks as well.

Note that, rebooting fixes my problem above completely. Any new applications that are opened directly to that desktop don't seem to have any issues either. Just the ones that were previously opened. If those previously opened windows are sent back to the original desktop they're fine but when bringing it back to the newly created desktop they get the pink hue again.

It's a weird bug for sure but that also gives me confidence that it is a software bug.

I'm using a MacBook Pro 16GB/1TB model. I'm following this thread because I had the pink squares issue on a Mac mini that has been returned at this point. I do not have the pink squares issue on the MacBook Pro, just this weird new desktop issue.

I do a great deal of photography. I've been using it 2013 Mac Pro and until recently I've never had any issues. I decided to buy a Mac mini M1. This was a monumental mistake. I have an NEC monitor with DVI input and the cable has HDMI output from the Mac mini. I visiting the Apple Store with several cables and adapters, it does not recognize the NEC monitor. If you connect the monitor which also has a DVI input to thunderbolt adapter into the Mac mini, the monitor does work, however when you connect a calibrator like Spectre View it does not see the monitor. I was told by a new monitor, my old monitor is still working and precisely calibrated when I had my Mac Pro.

I am sure Apple will fix this issue but until then I am returning it.

This afternoon there was an update from Apple that fix the monitor problem, you can connect a a DFI to an HDMI and plug it into the back of the mini. Now the issue I have an NEC minor inspector view calibration but the message I'm getting from Apple is the monitor is not supported. The same Monitor has worked on several Apple computers with no issue. My opinion they launched Big Sur before it's time. I don't think I should have to spend over $1000 for a new monitor that works perfectly with Catalina.

Hey, I have exact same issues, M1 Mac mini, as of Feb 21 2021, All Big Sur updates 11.2.1, Using an HDMI cable into BenQ Monitor (2560x1440). At first only noticed it on Login screen, but now affecting desktop, so far only in first few mins after startup - lines of small pink rectangular squares moving around as I navigate dock, move to folders etc.

Come on Apple, my first ever real computer was an old CRT iMac and had a MacBook Pro, but been using window PC for years and expected things to be rock solid when I returned to MacOS - so naive!

11.2.1 Will fix your problem of hooking a monitor the dvi to HDMI

However older monitors may not be supported, I have an NEC LCD269OWUXI-BK and not supported.

The monitor has calibration software, specter View and I cannot calibrate the monitor. I do photography and it is important to have a calibrated monitor. I don't know if there's a workaround.

Ah, a former windows user are you? Well you must remember this old trick, when rebooting, wave a chicken’s foot over the PC (no chanting required). Pls, let us know if this works on your mini as well.

OK, this is an update - I'm on 11.2.2 and upon wake, the screen goes out of resolution like 1080p with 4K, occupying 3/4 of the screen, this on a 32 inch 4K LG display with a very good HDMI cable. What I have since observed, is if I let it go to sleep again and re-wake it, then it goes to the right screen resolution. this is the first time I observe this.

2 external 4K monitors from different brands using thunderbolt never work no matter how I configure or what brand Or size I use. Lenovo, LG, Dell, hp etc. At least at this moment. Am definitely calling tech. Don’t want to start throwing down specs and such until I talk to them. Might be something on my end. I do have pink flashing dots popping in and out above my name at login though no matter what monitor has login on and it hasn’t disappeared with the latest macOS 11.2 update. I have the maxed out spec mini m1. Been slowly getting less glitchy I have to say, but I’m hoping this monitor issue disappears.

I know this is a small observation but just adds to my reporting so far the pink squares are now appearing in Blue and Green as well as pink as they have been since January. Always on login now. I am running 1 thunderbolt to Display port cable and one straight into the HDMI. I am on the latest official released update for Big Sur.

To note as of right now they are flashing up in a lot of places not matter what app I am doing. Now also watching YouTube to the right of my window and also typing this msg. It seems worse to me.

I have had my M1 Mac Mini for a couple months. My USB-C monitor never has trouble. I had this monitor connected via HDMI, and I would get the "snow" every other day or so on wake. I switched to USB-C and no issues.

I have connected a second monitor to HDMI, and the snow has reappeared. I have swapped out the hdmi cable, and it did not help. Clearly it is an issue with the Mac Mini, not my monitor or cable!

My first monitor (that has HDMI and USB-C) is a Dell. The second monitor (with only HDMI) is a Samsung. So, is not brand specific either!

I called Apple, and they said I could bring it into the store, but if they could not duplicate the issue there was nothing they could do. I just keep unplugging the HDMI cable and plugging it back in. But, a new computer should not have this issue!