Big Sur 11.1 External Display Issues!

@FabSalvatore

Exactly! I have the same issue with frozen Firefox after sleep, I've searched the net for similar reports but could not find recent ones! I had it on 11.2 and continues on 11.3 beta which I joined hoping to see the never ending issue with 4K@30Hz max via TB3.

I am using a MacMini M1/16GB and for me it happens also while using HDMI (native, no adapter needed), I don't see a difference with Firefox behavior related to display connection.

I was looking around for this problem with Firefox and I found this on bugzilla:

https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1415923#c136

There is a suggested solution, which is to use Firefox Nightly (v88) that should cure this bug, until the stable version 88 of Firefox comes out.

I have to be honest, since I reported this on the bigzilla page I have not noticed again this issue, so I will keep an eye; I've downloaded Firefox Nightly but still not used it.

I also have this bug using Firefox.

I am wandering if this is also the experience for Intel based Mac users or only for M1 based Mac users using Big Sur.

nb: I still (after the 11.2.2 update) have to resize my windows after waking up my computer (they are 16:9 instead of my 16:10 resolution), very annoying!

Hey everyone, before I upgrade from Catalina to Big Sur on my MBP 16, 2019 - 2.6 6 Core Intel Core i7 with 16 GB Ram - AMD Radeon Pro 5300M 4 GB. I currently have my Mac set up with 3 external monitors, yes 3, on Catalina, and it works great. I have two of the Apple USB-C to HDMI/USB/USB3 white ports, and one QGeem USB-C to HDMI (amazon). They work great. From what I have ready, I am afraid to upgrade to Big Sur - reading about all of the external monitor issues you all are experiencing!

Advice - will I run into issues with my setup if I upgrade???

I appreciate if anyone can comment or even share if they have good results.

Thanks !

If I would be in your position, I would wait with the upgrade. Even after upgrading to Big Sur, a downgrade to Catalina did not fix my issue (I assume a firmware update did the thing). Unless you don't want to feel the pain we have: wait.

No,

that’s not how it works. Operating system version has little to do with

compatibility with a given display. So you are going about this in the

wrong way.

Displays attach to computers with cables and connectors.

Some

computer models have different display ports than others. So you need

to know what kind of display ports your particular computer has first.

Likewise,

often different displays have different cables and connectors as well.

So you’ll need to know what options are provided for the particular

display in question.

In general, as long as the particular model computer you have has a

matching display port or connector, you can connect and use the display

with that computer.

In general, as long as the particular model computer you have has a

matching display port or connector, you can connect and use the display

with that computer.

No,

that’s not how it works. Operating system version has little to do with

compatibility with a given display. So you are going about this in the

wrong way.

Displays attach to computers with cables and connectors.

Some

computer models have different display ports than others. So you need

to know what kind of display ports your particular computer has first.

Likewise,

often different displays have different cables and connectors as well.

So you’ll need to know what options are provided for the particular

display in question.

Guys, we can all go home. Big brain here solved it!

All of our cables that have been working perfectly for years, coincidentally got swapped for the wrong cables right as we each independently upgraded to 11.1.

It's all so obvious in hindsight, I bet the deep state did it! /s

Apple Cinema Display 20" (via DVI - USB C adaptor) more issues.

Since I upgraded my 2017 13" MacBook Pro ( 4 Thunderbolt 3 ports) to Big Sur, my older, but still lovely Apple 20" Cinema Displays (I have 2 monitors, one at home, one at my partners) have become somewhat demented.

90% of the time, the screen works fine, UNTIL either the screensaver comes on or I put the MacBook to sleep. When I wake it up, the Cinema Display screen flashes on and off and on and off, etc etc. The only solution is to shut down and restart the MacBook. If I just restart, the screen won't reset.

Also, my monitors are identical, same model number, etc but one allows me to see some more options for it under the display settings, one doesn't.

I cannot afford to replace these displays and don't want to, they are great screens for what I need.

any ideas?

So first, I would be interested to hear what happens after wednesday. For reference, I’m plugging my 20” Cinema Display in, using a Comsol USB-C to DVI-D adaptor, and Ive also connected the USB ports with a genuine Apple USB-C - USB adaptor.

I thing it is highly unethical for Apple to deliberately “break” functionality, if that’s what has happened. Yes, in a perfect world I would dump my old 20” cinema displays and get new ones. I don’t have that option. I live on a disability payment and for me to upgrade any hardware is a multi year saving program.

‘There is nothing wrong with my existing displays. They work perfectly, until apple changed something. If this is deliberate, they need to either

1) admit what they have done, apologise and fix the problem

2) admit what they have done, explain why and tell us why they won’t fix the problem

3) figure out what the problem is.

Yes, shame on Apple

With Apples resources it is an insult to their customers not to have fixed this problem within a month. Obviously this is not a priority for Apple. Meanwhile, I am handicapped by working only on the screen of my laptop rather than having a big external monitor to keep a few windows open, and or to see something larger. Buying Apple products has ceased being a priority for me.

Same issue with MacBook Pro (13 inch, 2020, four ports Thunderbolt 3). Display is working, keyboard connected may be not, webcam do not switch on anymore. Apple Thunderbolt Display connected with genuine cable and apple connector (not exotic hardware so). Same behavior with a brand new thunderbolt cable ordered with Apple. My previous Macbook pro on Catalina DOES NOT works perfectly well : display, keyboard, webcam OK. Apple please correct this...we are working from home we need our displays/keyboards/webcams...

I'm in the same situation. Running on a 16" MacBook Pro 2019. After upgrading to big sur I can't use my benq designer monitor anymore on native resolution and 60hz. I have the option to run it on 1080p with 30hz which is too sluggish for any use. This is seriously impacting my work and quite frustrating to pay 4k € for a "professional" machine and suddenly having these issues by a pushed update from Apple which after 3-4months is still not resolved..

The monitor works perfectly fine when I boot into bootcamp on the same computer. So it's absolutely not a hardware issue. I've even tried with different cables.

I've got a MacBook Pro 16" (2019) and am holding back with the Big Sur update because of these issues (I have a Benq PD2700U monitor).

Just wondering - has anyone tried SwitchResX to get their displays working?

I use it all the time for Teamviewer sessions where my normal resolution is hard for customers/colleagues to view on smaller screens so thought that may be a way to 'force' Big Sur to play nice.

My preferred resolution is 3008 x 1692 @ 60hz which is nice and smooth - I changed it to 30hz and the cursor was jittery - I couldn't work with that.

Can anyone confirm if SwitchResX solves their issues?

For me, SwitchResX only allowed down-spec of what Big Sur 11.2.2 believed was the maximum resolution of the generic monitor it wrongly believed was attached. There was no way to up-spec to the actual resolution of my real monitor.