Big Sur 11.1 External Display Issues!

If anyone still having problems with this try downloading Display Menu from the App Store (found the suggestion here), it's the only thing that made my monitor run 4K @ 60 Hz. Super simple and tiny app, saved my day!

1. Download Display Menu from the App Store
2. From the menu bar icon pick the resolution you want at 60 Hz
3. Enjoy 4K @ 60Hz again!

For my BenQ PD3220U Display the max resolution is 3840 x 2160 @ 60 Hz (4K), but I tend to use at 3360 x1890 @ 60 Hz because the is a bit bigger.

Indeed!

Apple DOESN'T READ these forums. This is what I did and I call their attention:

• Open a ticket at https://getsupport.apple.com/
• Leave feedback at https://www.apple.com/feedback/macos.html
• Bug @applesupport on Twitter

Everyone, I mean EVERYONE that had posted in this thread should do the same. This is the only way to be heard, otherwise this thread will get to 100 pages, MacOS Ver. 15 would be out there and the bug will be there as well. We don't want that of course.

Similar issue on my end:

23" Apple Cinema Display connected via DVI adapter is no longer recognised. Display works fine on my other MacBook Pro running previous version of Big Sur.

The port does register the adapter being plugged in - when I plug it in, the mouse cursor drags and becomes unresponsive for a few seconds.

What's going on?

Having same issue. MacBook Pro 16 connected to 43in LG 4K display via usb-C cable.

Before 11.1 - no issues. display correctly identified and able to display native 4k resolution with HDR enabled

After 11.1 - display not recognized correctly. Native resolutions incorrect. Max resolution 1080p on a 4k display.

Reset PRAM - no change

Reset SMC - no change

Temporary workaround. Using LG on screen controls, change display port version 1.4 to version 1.2. After that I am able to get full 4k from the monitor but I lose HDR. The display is still incorrectly identified as 27 in screen.

Sounds like something changed between 11.0 and 11.1 that affects displays. Apple needs to address this ASAP

I've a similar issue, I've two external monitors connected to my MacBook Pro 2019, the first monitor is Benq EW3270U connected to a CalDigit powered hub via DisplayPort, the second monitor is Benq SW271 connected directly to a USB-C port on the laptop using a USB-C to a DisplayPort adapter, both monitors are 4K@60Hz, all the cables used can handle the throughput requirements, the hub and adapters can handle it too, the setup used to work fine on MacOS 10.x, since I updated to Big Sur, the second monitor which is connected directly to the computer using the USB-C to DisplayPort adapter shows 800x600 resolution!

Your setup is very similar to mine and same issues. 2020 16" Macbook Pro connected to BenQ 27" 4K@60hz via CalDigit thunderbolt dock.

Before big sur 11.1 = No issues whatsoever

After = Any resolution above 1080p forces refresh rate to 30hz max

FYI to manually switch between specific resolutions and refresh rates:

• System settings > display settings

• option + click on 'scaled' option

• Click "show low resolution modes" to display refresh rate list

How does a bug like this make it through QA I'll never know!

I have this same issue with my BenQ PD2700U Display:

Before 11.1 Update - all works as expected - Display supports full @60Hz.

After - max @30Hz when doing 4K.

Using the App Display Menu shows that no Retina supports 60Hz anymore.

THIS IS CRAZY!!!! Please FIX this ASAP.

I have been involved in this Discussion Group almost since day one. Please look at the name of the Discussion Group. This is about External Displays not working on Macs, as they should, since the introduction of Big Sur 11.1. This covers MacBooks, iMacs and Mac Minis. All Mac Models (MBs, iMacs & Mac Minis) are affected in Big Sur whether intel based or M1 based. More importantly, Apple seems to be doing nothing about the issues. This is where we should be focusing our energies.

The same issue with my MBP 16" connected to a 32in LG 4K-UHD (LG 32UD99-W).

While burning the firmware with newly "Bug Sur" 11.1 I even got a message from my LG stating that the resolution's changing to - hold an believe - "1920x1080" and I should change the resolution to "3840x2160" for a more comfort ...

In this discussion https://discussions.apple.com/thread/250715148 I found a reference to "DisableMonitor 1.92".

I tried this workaround and it worked for me ...

Please can someone check whether or not the workaround with "DisableMonitor 1.92" - https://github.com/eun/disablemonitor - works til Apple improves "Bug Sur" 11.1 ...

Exactly same problem and posted in another thread (https://discussions.apple.com/thread/252181385). Happy not to update my other MAcbook pro (MBP) AND LEAVE IT ON 11.0.1 until I hear it has been resolved. I might add that since the cable from the monitor to my Macbook Pro was also powering it I have noticed that it is not charging the MBP as well- I again notice that when I try various ports and even connecting to th same port I get a mix of maximum reolutions. Sometimes it is 800x600, sometimes I have the choice to go up to 1024x794.. Anyway at least glad to have the HDMI port on the replicator.

Apple truly borked this update. It's rendered my $1000 display unusable. Does Apple even have a QA department anymore? And then you have people who seem to just want internet points replying with frickin general help articles as a way to accumulate internet points. Oh look, my post count went up, but I still don't understand the issue at all (@kareng12 "community specialist" - https://discussions.apple.com/thread/252179066?login=true&page=1 - what specialist recommends general help articles?).

My first question is DOES APPLE EVEN HAVE QA?

My second question is when will this be fixed?

I assume this is related to https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212027 - this doesn't just plague M1 computers though as evidenced by the many posts in this thread.

I was able to get my external monitor to run on 4K resolution via USB-C after holding the "option" key while clicking on "Scaled" mode in the display preferences - unfortunately this only runs in 30Hz refresh rate rather than the monitor's supported 60Hz.

Post a feedback on the apple feedback form! we need to make them understand how big is the community experiencing this issue! Customer service is not aware of the problem!

https://www.apple.com/feedback/

I got 60Hz back. I purchased a HDMi(4K)-USBC (https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B077FGWN3M/) and connected my MBP16" to my BenQ PD2700U. At first still no 60Hz option in the Big Sur Settings so I downloaded Display Menu (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/display-menu/id549083868?mt=12) and with that my option of 60Hz and all Res were back. This only worked for the HDMI connection - the USBC-DisplayPort is still not showing 60Hz in the Display Menu. Oh and DisplayPort Setting of the BenQ has to be 1.1 to at least get 30Hz at HighRes - 1.2 only gives 1080p (ggggrrrrrrr)

If you read through the discussion, there’s no solution as it is a bug in big sur 11.1 which can’t be worked around.

I think there are only three things to do

1- leave a feedback on the apple area: https://www.apple.com/feedback/

2- call the technical support so they know how many people are having the issue

3- pray issue will be solved soon