Big Sur 11.1 External Display Issues!

Thanks man! That did the trick for me. This is a really annoying and strange issue. What helped for me a while back was:

• unplugging the monitor;
• creating a new user account;
• plugging in the monitor;
• logging back in to my own account;
• then the issue was fixed.

However, your solution is a whole lot easier. Hope it stays correct now.

Still no improvement with the 11.2 the promised 4K bug is not solved eventhough listed

macOS Big Sur 11.2 improves Bluetooth reliability and fixes the following issues:

• External displays may show a black screen when connected to a Mac mini (M1, 2020) using an HDMI to DVI converter

Instead in addition the not-loading the battery while connected to the display is back - and that on my 16" MacBook Pro

macOS Big Sur 11.2.1 addresses an issue that may prevent the battery from charging in some 2016 and 2017 MacBook Pro models.

scheduled for install tonight - however my mac is 2019 ---- AAAAAHHHHRRRRRGHHH - don't expect a fix

Just shows that Apple should in fact be aware, so why no fix?

The way it has been working for me is as follows:

1. Leave the monitor on
2. Shut Down the computer
3. Disconnect the monitor for a minute (in reality should be some seconds but not sure how many).
4. Turn on the monitor.
5. Turn the computer on again

In this sequence, the monitor starts ok for me

I don't know if something happened overnight, but today I was able to connect my Dell 27'' external monitor to my MacBook Pro (running Big Sur 11.2.2). I did the updarte of the OS two nights ago, and yesterday (Saturday 27th Feb) I was still unable to connect the monitor using the USB-C port. After looking a bit around for this problem, I did the following steps and now it seems to work:

• I disconnected my laptop from the external docking station that I used to connect the monitor (via HDMI cable);
• rebooted the laptop without any peripherals attached;
• after the laptop came back on, I connected the monitor using the USB-C cable that came with it - now the laptop has recognised the monitor and I can use it in the same way as I was using it when I had my other laptop running Catalina OS.

I am not advocating that this is in any way a solution to this problem - in fact I have seen comments saying that something similar worked for them, and other comments saying it did not work. Why it worked in my case I have no idea (I didn't do anything at all other than installing on Saturday the updated version of the OS - I did nothing at all on top of it). I can only say that now I can use the external monitor (including using all the USB ports that are on the monitor itself) and charge the laptop via the single USB-C connection Monitor-Laptop.

Hope this helps trying to pin down the issue, somehow....

Here's my temporary workaround for the external display issue that no one wants to hear (and what I just have to do until Apple gets their S#%T together).

1. Get all my displays working. For me if the computer is asleep this involves: waking computer, then unplugging/replugging my 2 external displays (fun!) to get them recognized. Then arranging them the way I want in Settings>Displays>Arrangement.
2. Go to Settings > Energy Saver. Slide the display-off slider to "Never" (How's that for saving energy Apple?)
3. Also check "Prevent Computer from sleeping automatically when the display is off"
4. When I'm done with my Mac for the day, I manually off the displays with their own power buttons (or don't, that's just to save energy like Apple should be doing)
5. Next time I need to use my Mac, I manually turn displays back on. They should be connected and arranged properly bc the Mac never went to sleep.
6. Fight for world peace and happiness.

Anyhow, that's what I'm doing right now as a dumb workaround. Hopefully ol' Timmy C and Apple hears the fury and fixes this issue fast. 🤙

1 - I had an MBP from around 2016, No issues with my two Apple Cinema Displays, using Apple DVI to Thunderbolt adapters. High Sierra and Catalina OS.

2 - In December 2019 I upgraded to a new MBP 13" and my displays were fine, using Apple and another brand of DVI to USB-C adapters. I did this as programs I needed had to have a 64-bit processor

3 - I exchanged it a few weeks later for the 16" MBP as I needed more ports. Catalina OS. Happy monitors.

4 - Updated OS to Big Sur 11. No issues

5 - Mid December 2020 I updated to Big Sur 11.1. Monitors were not recognized. Went through two Apple Senior Advisers, downloaded and sent multiple system reports.

6 - Big Sur 11.? - no change. I plugged the monitors into an older MacBooks Air using Catalina. No issues Updated it to Big Sur. No issues.

7 - I get my third Senior Advisor. Apple suggests an Apple multi-port adapter, USB-C to my MBP. tells me to hook up my monitor to the HDMI port. I get a Rocketfish DVI to HDMI adapter. I get color stripes, which change tones if I turn the monitor on and off.

8 - I borrow an Acer monitor from a friend. Connecting it via HDMI to the Apple adapter works.

I have an appointment Wednesday at my local Apple Store's Genius Bar. Not sure why I did this, but I figure it can't do more than waste some time.

So, it seems to me that something in the first Big Sur update disabled functionality in my MBP's USB-C ports. The questions are:

• Does Apple know what happened?
• Does Apple know how to undo it?
• Can Apple undo it?
• Ethically (hah!), does Apple owe everyone new monitors or new computers?

Update:

I installed Big Sur 11.2.3. No difference, as expected from other comments.

Last week I made an appointment at the local Apple Store Genius Bar for tomorrow Wednesday 3/10). Today (Tuesday) I got a call to confirm the appointment and ask what I wanted to accomplish.

 I said I expected to bring in my laptop and one of my monitors, with the purpose being:

• Connect my monitor to one of the store's Mac Book Pros to see if it works.
• If it does, determine if mine can be fixed or possibly replaced if the tech can't figure out what is wrong.
• If it doesn’t, start shopping for new monitors.

But apparently, due to COVID-19 protocols, all I can do is check it in for an evaluation, which will take at least two days.

I can’t be without it for two days, as even handicapped having some capability is necessary.

I had the same problem after my macOS was upgraded from 11.2.1 to 11.2.3 today. The external Display was working fine before.

Here is my setup, a MacBook Pro 2019 <<--- USB-C ------ DisplayPort--->> a Dell 4K monitor.

Reset PRAM and Reset SMC didn't work for me.

Interestingly, it worked when I tried it with another Dell HD monitor using the same cable. So I was focusing how to better configure the monitor to be compatible with this version of macOS. (Seems to me macOS 11.2.3 has some issue with its DisplayPort support)

Here is how I solved it by following some document on Dell's website. Hope you can find similar docs on how to change DisplayPort version of your monitor.

"If your system only supports DP version 1.1, monitor may get No Video condition. With older video drivers, there is a chance of getting No Video when the monitor MST is set to "Off" or "Primary".

• The following "Hot Keys" will change the MST settings to MST Secondary. You are basically changing the monitor’s Display Port modes from DP 1.2 to 1.1Press any key (excluding power button) to show the following dialogue box "There is no signal coming from your computer"
• Press any key again and the "input source" menu will appear.
• Press the green check mark (√) button for about 8 seconds and the following dialogue box will appear, "Set MST option to secondary"
• Press the green check mark (√) again the DP mode will change from DP 1.2 to DP1.1
• The monitor is now set to MST secondary and Resolution will be 3840x2160 @30hz."

After some power down and up of the monitor, finally the monitor could detect signal and work.

One thing I noticed is, the previous display(in macOS 11.2.1) settings in the macOS > Display settings were all gone. I needed to reconfigure things about font size, etc.

Hi everyone, so, with all due respect to previous posters, I wanted to try and refocus the conversation. Rather than slagging off apple or posting negative comments, let's try and make sure apple see this thread and understand the issues at hand.

The post is about the issues caused by the update to Big Sur 11.1 and the way it broke display connections that previous worked correctly.

For example, my issues are:

I have a 20" Apple Cinema Display LCD, connected to a MacBook Pro (4 thunderbolt 3 ports). It is connected with a Comsol brand USB C - DVI adaptor. I have a second identical display at another location, connected with a genuine apple USB C - DVI adaptor.

• Prior to the update, my display worked fine.

• Post update, if my laptop goes to sleep, when I wake it up my display flashes on and off like a strobe light, but only ONCE you log in.. if you leave the MacBook sat at the log in screen, the external display runs fine. Once you log in, you have to restart the laptop to get the external display to function correctly.

• Prior to the update I was able to control the sleep/wake of the laptop using the power button on the monitor. Post update, nothing.

• The MacBook Pro does not recognise the full functionality of the display under its settings.

Installing SwitchRES X has given me back recognition of the display as a Apple Cinema Display and a full range of resolutions, including recommended, experimental and above the reported resolution of the display, all of which work. I still have the flashing issue.

Lots of other users have similar problems. The issues seem universal and do not only apply to M1 machines. It appears any MacBook capable of running Big Sur 11.1 has the same issues. I have not seen a single MacBook Pro with USB C Thunderbolt 3 etc ports that is not effected.

it is CLEARLY a software issue, as on MacBooks that have the display issues with Big Sur, the display is recognised and works perfectly with bootcamp or Virtual Machines. If you downgrade to a previous OS the display works perfectly.

While my displays are old, they are still excellent screens. other people are in the same situation. The have excellent displays that cost hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars and now are, effectively, useless.

Many people have displays that do not have HDMI, USB or USB-C ports that can have their internal firmware adjusted to run on older/slower protocols.

Apple needs to either fix the problem or revert back to the display drivers and software that was used in Big Sur 11.0

If you are going to post your issue, please list the hardware you are using, ie the type of display, the adaptor and the connection. and what you have done to try and fix the problem.

Hi everyone, so, with all due respect to previous posters, I wanted to try and refocus the conversation. Rather than slagging off apple or posting negative comments, let's try and make sure apple see this thread and understand the issues at hand.

The post is about the issues caused by the update to Big Sur 11.1 and the way it broke display connections that previous worked correctly.

For example, my issues are:

I have a 20" Apple Cinema Display LCD, connected to a MacBook Pro (4 thunderbolt 3 ports). It is connected with a Comsol brand USB C - DVI adaptor. I have a second identical display at another location, connected with a genuine apple USB C - DVI adaptor.

• Prior to the update, my display worked fine.

• Post update, if my laptop goes to sleep, when I wake it up my display flashes on and off like a strobe light, but only ONCE you log in.. if you leave the MacBook sat at the log in screen, the external display runs fine. Once you log in, you have to restart the laptop to get the external display to function correctly.

• Prior to the update I was able to control the sleep/wake of the laptop using the power button on the monitor. Post update, nothing.

• The MacBook Pro does not recognise the full functionality of the display under its settings.

Installing SwitchRES X has given me back recognition of the display as a Apple Cinema Display and a full range of resolutions, including recommended, experimental and above the reported resolution of the display, all of which work. I still have the flashing issue.

Lots of other users have similar problems. The issues seem universal and do not only apply to M1 machines. It appears any MacBook capable of running Big Sur 11.1 has the same issues. I have not seen a single MacBook Pro with USB C Thunderbolt 3 etc ports that is not effected.

it is CLEARLY a software issue, as on MacBooks that have the display issues with Big Sur, the display is recognised and works perfectly with bootcamp or Virtual Machines. If you downgrade to a previous OS the display works perfectly.

While my displays are old, they are still excellent screens. other people are in the same situation. The have excellent displays that cost hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars and now are, effectively, useless.

Many people have displays that do not have HDMI, USB or USB-C ports that can have their internal firmware adjusted to run on older/slower protocols.

Apple needs to either fix the problem or revert back to the display drivers and software that was used in Big Sur 11.0

If you are going to post your issue, please list the hardware you are using, ie the type of display, the adaptor and the connection. and what you have done to try and fix the problem.

According to "5 Things to Know About the macOS Big Sur 11.3 Update"

https://www.gottabemobile.com/5-things-to-know-about-the-macos-big-sur-11-3-update/

Bug Fixes

• ...
• External 4K monitors may not display in full resolution when connected over USB-C

Please, can anybody confirm whether or not Big Sur 11.3 Update corrects our nasty, long lasting external display bug? (I'am still downloading of Big Sur 11.3 Update 6,2 GB …)

Thx!

I'm still having the same problem with my external display (Dell U2715h, 2560x1440, 60 Hz), Big Sur (v11.3) and my 2017 27" iMac 5K.

• The display is connected to the iMac with a USB C to DisplayPort cable.

• If the display is powered on when I start the computer, there's no problem and it works.

• If I switch off the display while the computer is running, when I try to switch it on again the display doesn't shown any image. I could see that it's recognized by macOS in System Preferences, but for some reason the display doesn't detect any video signal.

• I can get signal again in the external display only if I restart the computer with the display powered on.

• I've tried reseting pram, SMC and different lower resolutions (1080p) but nothing works.

• Never had this problem before with the same display, same computer, same cable and same configurations in any of all previous macOS versions since 10.12.4 (Sierra) until 10.14.6 Mojave.

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!

the problem changed a little with the 11.3.1 Big Sur Update.

• Before the Update, a secondary HDMI monitor wasn't properly recognised after restarts and shut downs. If I reconnected the secondary monitor, it worked as usual.
• Now I'm able the restart without any problem. The secondary monitor works. I'f the computer (a Mac Pro 7.1) is shut down and booted up fresh, the secondary monitor doesn't work. Reconnecting doe still help.

Thanks, Apple the problem is solved halfway, but it would be very nice, if a fresh boot would work as well.

My clients laugh at me, and on your ten thousand dollar computer, when I have to crawl around on my knees behind the studio desk, to reconnect a second monitor anytime the system boots up.

This is a problem, that causes bad reputation for me and for Apple Macintosh computers among audio professionals around here.

Hey! I am very late to this party.

• Bought 16inch MBP April last year along with Letscom USB-C hub
• Fought a little to get my 32 inch Samsung curved monitor (C32F391) to play nicely initially but eventually managed and all was fine
• Today (randomly) Mac thinks the Samsung screen is showing but is blank - I can't shift this.
• Chat with Apple tell me to upgrade to 11.3.1, zap PRAM, SMC, etc - all with no success
• And now I am here with a phone number for further support which I fear isn't going to achieve anything...

I reviewed some answers on this thread but are there still some users who simply can't use their monitors at this time? I would rather not roll back OS if at all possible.

And +1 for beyond shocking QA from Apple...