Washed out external monitor on M1 Mac mini on usb c

I had to disable HDR to solve the issue (washed out display). I'm not saying that enabling HDR didn't solve the problem for you; I'm just illustrating that in different scenarios the solution may be completely opposite. So readers... try one... then try the other.

Try to disable High Dynamic Range option if you don't use it.

I have a M1 MBA and I am facing same washed out colours problem with LG 35WN75C through USB - C to USB - C cable. I have also faced same problem with LG 32GK650 through USB - C to Display Port Cable. Even when I was mirroring iPad using the same cable , colours where washed out. Both worked without any issue with cheap HDMI connectors. However, Windows laptop displayed colours correctly on both the monitors using any cable

I have read multiple forums for solution, but one which has worked for me is to close the lid and then open it after some time. This resolves the issue related to washed out colours. Don’t turn on HDR. It messes up the colours again ( I am pretty sure that washed out colours have something to do with the HDR )

For Mac Mini , one can try mirroring screen through airplay to compatible TVs. This apparently brings back the colour on external monitor. ( Haven’t tried it , but I can try with my MBA ).

In short Mac mini users can and should use HDMI, while for MacBook users , closing the lid on and off should work . Hopefully

Hi, I have a MBA M1 and I have had the same issue with my LG 35WN75 1440P ultrawide monitor. I am currently on Big Sur 11.3 and what works for me is that whenever the colours are washed out on the external monitor, I close the Lid until the external monitor becomes the main screen.

If the colours are still washed out, it most likely means when you open the lid and when the external monitor switches itself to work as a second screen, it should work fine.

If when you close the lid, the Monitor starts displaying the correct colour, most likely when you open the lid, colours will be still washed out. In that case , I change the screen resolution to any other resolution which resets it into being washed out again. Once it is washed out, I open the lid and most of the times it is displaying the correct colours.

For some people, an airplay solution might work. If you don't have a device that supports airplay, there are a few apps for Android TV that will create a dummy airplay device. I haven't tried it. But if you try let us know if that works

You are doing it all wrong. :)))

This is the Apple way:

1. Connect to your external screen via Airplay
2. Change the mirroring setting in Arrangement (set your screen to mirror if currently unmirrored or the other way around)
3. Disconnect Airplay
4. Be amazed at the deep blacks and pure whites!

I experienced the same issue with a view sonic a Mini M1 and a Caldigit TB+ dock. (There is a solution, so keep reading!)

For a long time I used the HDMI output of the M1 mini and the DisplayPort output of the CalDigit to get a working setup. I found it very frustrating. Recently (after the 3rd update to bigger), I thought that this might have been fixed and tried again. With no luck. I changed the USB-C cable for good measure (same issue) and then started to google around. Sure enough lots of other folks had the same issue. Seemed to affect LG display. One message tipped me off though saying that the protocol over HDMI can use a dynamic range and that somehow this may be the cause of the issue. I decided to give it another shot and looked into the menu of the ViewSonic.

Sure enough there is, under "Color Adjust" a menu for "Color Format" that has

• Auto
• RGB (Full range)
• RGB (Limited range)
• YUV (Full range)
• YUV (Limited range)

And, low and behold, the display was set to "RGB (Full range)". On the hunch that the M1 was sending a limited range, I decide to switch to auto. And it instantly fixed the problem!

I am now running two 4K displays one hooked up via HDMI on the mini, the other via USB-C on the TB dock and everything works blissfully well.

I'm posting in the hope that it helps some of you. Go check the menu of your display and make sure that anything is color adjustment that refer to the "range" in RGB can do automatic or reduced.

Best of luck!

---

Laurent

@IdmUS. You are onto something.

Wanted to share with you and others something interesting.

In response to your post, I tried looking for RGB full color option on my LG 4K 27U650 type monitor and only found HDMI UTLRA Deep Color toggle. Which was on. I turned it off and then on. And went about my day.

Few hours later, I just tried Display Port again just to check, and voila.... It is now showing full colors (no washed out) @60Hz. I tried rebooting, disconnecting and connecting, putting my MacBook M1 pro to sleep and wake, closing the cover and re-opening. It is still showing full vibrant colors @60Hz. I will see if it stays like this for the next few days. But, I am happy now.

It does not make much sense, but hey.... It worked.

See my post on this. I had to enable HDR to solve the issue.

I am in the same boat. L4 4K 27UK650-W. Using Caldigit USB-Pro with Macbook pro M1.

1. Display port - with or without the dock - washed out color. Tried what was suggested above. No luck. connects at 60Hz
2. HDMI - thru the dock - nice saturated proper colors. But, only connects @30Hz.

So, I am relegated to use HDMI @ 30Hz

2016 Intel Macbook - perfect colors @60Hz - Display port or HDMI. No Issues.

I worked with Caldigit and they confirmed that it is not their dock. They did spend a lot of time checking things out.

So, it took 5 years for Apple to mess something that was working. Disappointed.

Same issue for me with my M1 Mac Mini, starting with 11.3. Two Asus monitors, one HDMI and one USB C to HDMI. But it's the HDMI monitor that just went bad with the color issue. I changed the refresh rate (previously set at 60) to 50 and then back to 60 and that seemed to fix it at least for now.

You are right. I should have been more clear. The option is not available for DP. I connected via HDMI cable, toggled the setting off and then back on, and went back DP. That’s how I got the good colors on DP.

FWIW, it seems that some of the older generations of LG monitors and other displays have issues with M1 Macs and perhaps the use of generic "uncertified" cables, i.e. cables that have not been certified by the VESA/DisplayPort or HDMI consortiums.

I just purchased a current generation LG display, 27UP600 (previous generations UK, UL, UN) and its performance is spectacular regardless of the settings on the display and whether I connect via a certified USB-C to HDMI or certified USB-C to DisplayPort cable directly connected to my M1 MacBook Air.

If I go into display settings and switch away from the current colour profile and then immediately back to it on the display that has the issue it goes away... for a while.

Also sent feedback through feedback assistant but have had nothing back.

Hey man. That worked for me! I have dual Samsung Curved 27" C27F591 and the one connected via USBc (Extended Monitor) had washed out colors. I tried every solution I found online to no avail until I read your post. I simply turned the monitor off and then back on. That fixed it for now! Thank you!

As mentioned, I have tried all the motheds (including disabling HDR) without any progress. Only thing works is to use thunderbolt cable.