Display preferences on Macbook M1 pro

Question

Level 1

9 points

Display preferences on Macbook M1 pro

I have to reset my MacBook Pro Display settings at least once a day and often more than once. I use 2 external displays (BENQ). Almost anytime my MacBook goes to sleep or I restart it, I need to open up Display preferences and reconfigure the way my screens are set up/positioned I didn't have to do the with my previous MacBook.

Not sure why I have to rearrange the displays multiple times. Any tips, it is frustrating having to reset it so often.

MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 12.2

Posted on Feb 25, 2022 3:30 PM

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Answer 1

Sharhari

Level 5

6,293 points

Feb 28, 2022 3:30 AM in response to Ants1234

Previously NVRAM/PRAM & SMC resets solved similar kind of issues. (Reset NVRAM or PRAM on your Mac - Apple Support)

Not sure if these still work in newer M1 Mac's.

Also there are files where these preferences are stored and may have errors and needs to be deleted, upon restart these files are freshly created.

Example files: ( ~/Library/Preferences/ByHost/com.apple.windowserver.plist )

I'm not sure of exact file of the display sets setting.

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Answer 2

Sharhari

Level 5

6,293 points

Feb 25, 2022 10:16 PM in response to Ants1234

Have you tried safe mode for troubleshooting? (check if you have same issue)

How to use safe mode on your Mac - Apple Support (Takes more time to boot compared to normal boot)

Note: Safe mode prevents your Mac from loading certain software as it starts up, including login items, system extensions not required by macOS, and fonts not installed by macOS. It also does a basic check of your startup disk, similar to using First Aid in Disk Utility. And it deletes some system caches, including font caches and the kernel cache, which are automatically created again as needed.

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Answer 3

Ants1234 Author

Level 1

9 points

Mar 1, 2022 4:05 PM in response to Sharhari

I tried reseting the PRAM but that did nothing. I am not sure how to look for display files that I could try deleting. I used these same monitors with my old MacBook and never had to reset the displays in system preferences. Now I have to open up system preferences several times a day. It doesn't make sense. Not sure what I am doing wrong.

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Answer 4

djlund

Level 1

8 points

Mar 21, 2022 5:08 PM in response to Sharhari

Reset PRAM-- is no longer relevant with M1 chips. Documentation says that if you Shut Down and wait a few seconds and reboot, that the PRAM and NVRAM are reset. Command-option-P-R does nothing. The new way to troubleshoot is to push the power button and hold it down until the troubleshooting screen comes up.

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