Big Sur 11.1 External Display Issues!

I have been going through the same thing for months as well. I've tried the whole turning off/on and it does work sometimes, but now that I've updated to 11.2.1, the monitor is giving me a high contrast image on top of limiting me to 1080p resolution. Not sure if it will matter, but I'm on a MacBook Pro 16 i9, 2019. Big Sur is a Big Headache. :-(

My Apple Cinema displays (DVI, Fire Wire and USB outputs) still don't work with Big Stupid, oh, my bad, Big Sur 11.1 or 11.2.1.

Initially, Apple gave me a good amount of attention. But now, not so much.

I plugged the monitors into a MacBook Air and they still work.

I've noticed comments about changing monitor settings, but I don't think I have that option.

Maybe they're not the smartest monitors in the world, but they work, especially for my needs.

I have started using SwitchResX (third party) with EasyRes (from App store) installed and for some reason after a few days I get all resolutions, except that most are at 30Hz. I am on Big (should be 'Bug') Sur 11.2.1with a 2015 iMac. I am using a TB2 to DP 8K cable purchased from Amazon.

Hi there,

The bug is still present on macOS 11.2 & 11.2.1. Since Apple is currently working on a future beta of macOS 11.3 you can report the problem using the feedback form, this might help developers and public testers to identify the culprit.

Hi, I want to insist. One guy here told me he works with external hp usbc docking station 120w with MBP 16 2019 and displayport and 49” external.

this worked for me 2 weeks ago since now.

IS NOT THE SOLUTION AND IS 200€ aprox , but is working for me.

for the most desperate guys try this :S

Hi dragontorc,

it was me who uses the HP dock. Just to clarify: it's not a USB-C dock (I tested two different USB-C docks, without success), but it's a Thunderbolt 3 dock, which is technically a different thing. USB-C docks (i.e. for external HDMI or DP connectivity) seem to have the same issue as USB-C direct connection. Just as an additional information...

Same issue here, after updating my Macbook Pro 2017 to Big Sur 11.2.1, my 4K LG 27UL850-W monitor reports 'no signal' with all of the 4 USB-C ports. Tried resetting NVRAM and SMC, repeatedly turning the monitor off/on, but so far nothing works, I completely lost my external display.

Quick Fix that worked for me!!!

I have a Quick Fix for the 11.1 or 11.2 External Display issue. Purchase a long Belkin cable directly from Belkin.com, (HDMI Lightning connector). I did and it is now working for me. Careful though, I first purchased the same cable through the Appstore and it did not work. Belkin replaced it and that one did not work. I contacted Belkin directly and they determined my cable was faulty and offered to send a third one. I agreed but I insisted that they pretest it at their end before sending.

Same problem. Just installed 11.2.1 - No Joy.

I'm running a Macbook Pro 2016 - 2019

32GB ram 4TB.

I'm connected to a J5Create JCD543. Via USB-C

2 DELL SE 2719HR displays.

Also tested on a 2019 Macbook Air. - No joy

Prior to Big Sur, my set up was solid.

Work Arounds: As of Feb 16 2021

Option 1: j5Create just launched a driver. But...well... as of now, it's not useable. It works. Kind of... but it's DJTVirtualDisplayAgent and some other USB virtual software that needs to be approved by security. It enables the second display, but with a 1 or 2 second screen lag. So any interaction with items on that display are slow. Like using Virtual PC in the 1990's. Maybe they will improve this.

Option 2: Use 2 USB-C ports. So, one cable goes into the j5Create hub and the second goes into an HDMI to USB-C adapter. Not the end of the world, but does require an extra USB-C port. results in normal use of 2 displays.

Option 3: I tried other hubs (prices may have changed since posting this.)

USB-3 Hub 123.99

https://amzn.to/3jV4aYp (both displays worked, but requires a special USB-C dual port cable) - returned

Portable USB-C hub pro $59

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0855GZ7PT (both displays worked, but also requires 2 ports, plus, it's a short cable, all cables must be visible on the table. I'm sure you know what I mean.. messy. - returned

Docking Station OKX $149

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08HLXLW1Q (Yes, best choice so far. only requires 1 cable and has lots of ports. BUT It does require a driver.

https://www.displaylink.com/downloads

It's still a hack. requires you to be logged into the user account that you have installed the software. So, that means 1 display will be active while rebooting, up until you actually log in, then after about 15 seconds, it launches the second display. No lag, it works well as a work around. This one I'm keeping.

Oh, to save you time, I tried installing this displaylink software to use with other hubs. No dice, it looks for it's own hardware. sorry... (as of the time of this posting. Maybe that will change)

Summary:

I kept the OKX docking with displaylink for my home office. It's nice and clean, with the hub hidden and a 1 simple cable into my USB-C port (also provides power). Nice... but cluncky when rebooting. Must wait for software to load.

At work, I kept the j5Create. 1 USB-C cable from the hub, and all my devices are neatly tucked away. Requires a second HDMI-USBC cable to power 2 monitors, and takes 2 ports. Hopefully Apple will figure out the conflicting software or someone will find a terminal hack to help us all out.

Ethan-

I have 2 Dell monitors connected to my 2020 MacBook Pro 16". When I installed Big Sur 11.2 they both stopped working just like many others here.

After days of frustration, I found that if I switch the monitors to the USB-c hubs on the right-hand side of my MacBook instead of the left like they had always been, they started working again!

I also noticed that the top left USB-c hub doesn't recognize pretty much anything, including power... The bottom left USB-c hub seems to recognize power and non-display USB devices but definitely not my external displays.

Hopefully this also helps some others with display issues! It's incredibly disruptive to workflow when you're used to working with multiple displays and all of a sudden they are taken away...

Just a follow up to my earlier post:

Today I reinstalled the J5Create Virtual USB plug in

https://en.j5create.com/pages/big-sur-support

It's performing much better than before. 1 problem I can see is that now, Apple TV will not show video in the apple tv window or full screen. I think it's related to the license protection probably. You know how Apple now prevents showing copyright items on a projector, I think it's like that. If I remove the J5Create software and go back to 2 USB-C cables for each screen, AppleTV works normally.

I'll also add that I think both the j5Create and DisplayLink options appear to use the screen recording feature. Today on my macBook air runing the DisplayLink, I saw a message "Someone is viewing your screen" on the log in screen. It went away when I logged in and turned off DisplayLink on that computer. So, hmmm. that's not good.

I hope Apple addresses this in the OS soon.

Same problem, totally lost extended display function for iMac USB C<>Lightning with my 2019 Macbook Pro.

Both are using Big Sur.

Suggested resolution for Apple, rename Big Sur to "Big load of rubbish"

So guess we all sit and wait

Same issue here with MacBook Air with m1, and HP z27n G2. I've tried a pair of usb-c to usb-c cables, and also a usb-c to DisplayPort converter, and a lot of different settings of monitor and a many recommendations from various forums. Nothing worked. My Nvidia 1070 in a desktop PC runs that monitor over DP excellent, so the monitor is OK. I see that only a power delivery over usb-c to usb-c cable is working, when I connecting my Mac. I've also updated to Big Sur 11.3 beta 2, and issue is still here.

There is a nicely documented page that is keeping track of these external display issues here:

https://piunikaweb.com/2021/02/04/external-4k-monitor-issues-after-macos-big-sur-11-1-update/

Apple please fix!

Same problem on my BENQ monitor! This is unacceptable from Apple. Please Please sort this out asap, it has not been fixed for over two months now!

Im using. 2016 MacBook Pro which is apparently related to this.