M1 Mac mini display issue

Also have this issue with the base model M1 Mac Mini - have only ever used a single display at a time with it and have seen the small pink squares (horizontal line of them across the screen roughly in the middle) on 3 different monitors (two Dell U2412m and one Dell P2214h) and using either a HDMI to DVI cable or a USB-C to DisplayPort cable (the monitors have VGA, DVI, DisplayPort inputs). All of the monitors and the HDMI to DVI cable have been used with Windows computers for years with no issues whatsoever.

They look identical to the pink squares other people have posted and are on the desktop (I use automatic login) immediately after booting up from cold, the mouse cursor covers them rather than going behind them - they seem to go after a few minutes and/or if you fiddle with the wallpaper/colour profile etc in System Preferences. All options for Spaces (as suggested earlier in the thread) are unticked, though that is presumably only relevant to multiple displays anyway.

Seems like no other possible fixes yet? Anyone got a reference number or similar to mention if calling support so that they can link the calls together? (haven't tried calling yet)

Apple is admitting it and working the problem. Lots of us have had calls with them that Apple initiated; I've had two.

There's no legitimate way to even suggest apple isn't admitting there's an issue and they're not paying attention.

It's slow going and it's an investigative process.

I say again for the billionth time; if you're not happy, you're not willing to accept what is clearly just more typical early-adopter issues of tweaking and tuning - and yes, maybe some design issues - RETURN THE MACHINE AND KEEP THE RETURN NUMBERS UP SO IT IS CONTINUALLY ESCALATED.

That's the biggest, most visible thing you can do as a consumer who is not finding happiness with the product.

Period.

Also experiencing this issue whilst using 2 monitors, strange thing is as soon as I open up a web browser, on either monitor, the pink blocks go away, and they don't return until I close the browser, it's got to be some sort of software issue rather than a hardware one.

UPDATE : It didn't fix the issue :(

''i read from the macrumors forum that disabling the “display spaces” from the mission control in system preferences might fix the pink squares error. Did someone try that ?''

My Mac Mini M1 512GB 16GB displays these pink boxes at the login screen and for another half minute or so on the Desktop. They do disappear eventually. I am connected via HDMI. I even tried two new cables from Amazon; it didn’t help my issue. The boxes have never appeared during use of the computer. They only appear usually from a cold boot. I love Mac OS and the Mini. I hope they can fix this. I saved up for a few years to buy this computer, and this is so disappointing.

I wouldn't bother turning off file vault if you have it on. Mine has never been on and I still have the issue, most likely the person suggesting this happened to by luck have a few times when the issue didn't happen and made up in their mind that this is the solution when it isn't. Given enough reboots they will run into the issue again until apple fixes it. Again suggesting people file bug reports to apple and just wait for them to fix it. Google how to bug report to apple if you don't know how.

So I've received my new machine, and it worked perfectly the first day. After that, my display issues came back (I've noticed once the pink squares, but it's far from being my main problem to be honest). I did a few more research, and it seems that the problem may come from the HDMI port in itself. I've ordered a brand new high quality and short (1m) HDMI cable, just to be sure, but if the issue remains when I try it, I might consider returning it again... apparently, the HDMI issues are a common and widespread problem.

I'll post some updates when I receive my cable !

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.

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.

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.

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.

Return it. Get the early return numbers up. Apple will take this issue more seriously the faster and sooner the return numbers rise.

I wonder if it’s the USB ports then. Maybe if after you’ve tried it like this a while you could try plugging the keyboard and mouse back into the Mac mini directly and see if the problem comes back?

i had same issue. Apple knows about it (noise on boot) and they told me that is software related. I had mine sent back and exchanged for a new one just because of Bluetooth issues.

Guys, I have the same problem and I just solved it by turn off Filevault, you can try it and tell me your experience, I hope it is the solution to the problem.I await your answer, good luck