Big Sur 11.1 External Display Issues!

Valid points, but the displays worked as designed etc PRIOR to a minor .1 update. So someone stuffed up there. And it is quite easy for Apple to roll back to the last batch of drivers and functionality that did, in fact work. It’s not like we are asking them to go back to OS10 ,

And yet, forums just like this are the reason Apple reversed changes to Apple Music, iOS 10.14 updates that broke connectivity over wifi etc etc.

they do actually monitor these forums. If clear and consistent information is posted, then they understand it’s an issue many many people are having.

I hope you are correct. Although it seems a fools errand I keep posting and complaining to Apple directly because it is maddening not to be able to use my external monitor. Certainly Apple is aware of the problem. It seems if Apple wanted to they would have fixed this problem long ago and inexplicably just don't care -- after we have all spend thousands of dollars to purchase their equipment. What to do??? I won't be spending another dime on any Apple product unless and until this issue is resolved.

My impression was my HDMI port failed in the initial upgrade from Catalina to Big Sur--it is possible I first upgraded to .1 but I couldn't be certain one way or the other. However my problem is not the same problem people are facing who can't get their USB-C to HDMI converters to work--and mine always have.

And who said I was replying to you. Perhaps you should give Apple pointers on how to run a proper forum while they’re hard at work fixing this issue for us. Weren’t you the guy that asked another why on earth would he use a usb c to usb c connection from laptop to monitor and not hdmi? Lol. You have offered nothing substantial.

Wow after reading a portion of these entries (no I don't have the patience to read all 40 pages) I am thankful that my issues are less severe, although still seriously annoying. I have a late 2020 iMac, intel i7, came preinstalled with Big Sur, which I updated to 11.2.3 before attaching my 2 identical LG 27" 1080p monitors via a 3rd party USB-C/TB3 to HDMI cable. The system finds the monitors, which I now discover apparently isn't a given, but randomly after sleep/lock one of two things happens. Either the display arrangement changes, or the screens swap.

My arrangement is <LG1><iMac><LG2>

First problem: after waking my display arrangement may be <iMac><LG2><LG1> or <LG2><iMac><LG1> or some other variation. I have not noticed any consistent pattern here.

Second problem: after waking my display arrangement will remain <LG1><iMac><LG2> BUT all the apps on <LG1> have been moved to <LG2> and vice versa so that while the display arrangement is the same, the screens are essentially swapped.

As an added bonus, the "snap to" function while trying to rearrange the displays is finicky making moving things back and extra fun challenge since half the attempts just drop the screens back to where they were rather than letting me change the arrangement.

Thanks for your response. My primary display is the iMac and for whatever reason that element remains constant. The white bar does not migrate with the rest of the changes, nor do the applications open on that screen ever become reassigned to one of the other monitors.

I bought this with Big Sur installed so I don't have a back up to go to. Given the host of problems I have had with Big Sur (these are only one subset for sure!) the fact that Catalina seems to you to be even less stable is tragic/scary/unfortunate.

Too bad you've had problems. Before updating you could backup your 11.2.3 with Time Machine to an external drive in case 11.2.4 is even worse--and one of the Recovery Mode options I think is to reinstall the OS that came with your device. Catalina was finicky for me After one update my Mac refused to output audio to the set output device for any movies displayed on my 4K tv--it insisted on using the TV speakers!

Same issue here - all fine before the update, I have a BenQ 27" 4K screen and its max capability is currently 1080p which is unworkable. Tried reinstalling, unplugging, a different cable, turning HDR off and don't get me started on the high dynamic range.

Unacceptable Apple.

The SMC reset noted above stopped working for my Mac Mini 2018 and again I lost my HDMI port--down to 2 displays: 1 T3 and then 1 USB-C to HDMI. Trying to reset the SMC cleared out desktop settings to default and maybe disabled Microsoft Edge and prevented screen sharing w/Apple support to troubleshoot. But still no HDMI. And the USB-C handshake required restart of the Mac and the 2nd display (Samsung 4K tv) and reconnecting cables so jury out there too.

I spoke to Apple tech support one or two days ago--the support person said Apple has not recognized a problem with Big Sur connectivity to external displays and hasn't provided any guidance to their support teams. That's what that one person told me.

11.3 does not fix the issue for me. I have a late 2015 IMac and new MSI 34 inch monitor. There is no 60Hz at higher resolutions particularly at 5k2k notwithstanding Apple promises that it can deliver at 6k. Apple have really lost their way. I will not be buying any M1 products in the near future. A total disappointment after waiting so long!

Just finished upgrading to 11.3. First had some issues with the system hard crashes (i.e. system locks up for a few seconds, then shuts off, fans buzz and it reboots). Seems a little better after SMC reset.

As for my USB-C display, it seems it's a little better display wise. Now it either detects fine, or is not detected at all instead of going into one of the following states:

• Not detected
• Detected at crazy low resolution
• Detected fine

BUT now my bookshelf speakers plugged into the audio out on the monitor get no sound!

It still detected the audio device. Ultimately macOS shows my display and audio device as HDMI whether its directly connected via USB-C or via the USB-C to HDMI dongle. But since 11.3 when connected directly via USB-C there is no audio output, but the audio device is still present. I can switch between built-in speakers and the Acer display audio and get audio and silence respectively.

For reference, my display is Acer XR342CK bmijqphuzx. Running macOS 11.3 on MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019).