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Studio Display Will Not Wake From Sleep

Love the Studio Display. Unfortunately, it will not wake up once it goes to sleep.

Video showing the issue:

https://player.vimeo.com/video/695566328?h=a311f9d8f1

Problem persists under different conditions:

Am currently using the Mac Studio, but have also tried it with M1 MacBook Pro (13",2020) as well as a 2013 Mac Pro (using a thunderbolt adapter). The issue remains, regardless of the setup.
I have tried not putting my Mac into sleep at all, and instead just locking the screen. But eventually the display turns off, and when I need to use my computer, it doesn't turn on again.
Have tried different thunderbolt cables, both Apple-branded and non-Apple-branded
Have tried using the Studio Display in a single-display set up, as well as in a dual-display set up
Have tried on macOS Monterey 12.3.1 (latest update)

Current Workarounds (if you can call them that; it's a significant interruption to workflow to do this each time I need to resume working at the computer)

Restarting the computer entirely
Unplugging and re-plugging in the thunderbolt cable
(if using a 2nd monitor), logging in, manually setting the machine to sleep, and then waking it up again: 50% of the time, when re-waking the Studio Display may come on the second time if lucky.

I'm not alone in experiencing this issue. There appear to be other threads related to this issue, albeit with slightly different set ups described. The difference is that I've tested this problem with several different Mac setups (MacBook, Mac Pro, Mac Studio) and confirm it appears to be a larger issue.

Current System Specifications:

Clean MacOS Install: When I set up my Mac Studio, I set it up as a clean install - so there are no randomly corrupted preference files that could have been brought over via data migration.
MacOS Version: 12.3.1 (build 21E258) --> note: the issue existed on 12.3 (i.e. not a new issue introduced by the .1 update)
Mac Studio (M1 Max/24-core GPU/ 64GB/ 1TB) --> note: also tested with 2020 MBP + 2013 MP
Monitors: Studio Display + Dell U2720Q --> note: also tested as a single-display setup without the Dell monitor.
Connection: Thunderbolt. Have tried with several different cables, including the Apple cable that came with the Studio Display itself.

I've taken a lot of time to put this together, including the video. If anyone has a contact at Apple that could help escalate this issue, I (and others) would be very appreciative. I have also filed a report here: Feedback - Displays - Apple

Thanks in advance.

Posted on Apr 4, 2022 4:34 PM

Best reply

jspence444

Level 1

45 points

Posted on Jul 4, 2022 10:16 AM

Hi everyone, I'm the original poster who made the video and started the thread, and I'd like to follow up with some information that might be helpful.

In my case, it's a confirmed hardware issue with the Studio Display monitor itself. The monitor is being repaired by Apple. They are replacing the logic board and thunderbolt ports. I went through 2 levels of tech support with Apple, and shared data from my system with the Apple engineering team. Also did the firmware update for the Studio Display when that came out. The whole thing has been quite an ordeal, so I'd like to share the info below to make it easier for others with the same issue.

How to confirm that you have the same issue

Testing Procedure: log in to your computer. Then put it to sleep via Apple Menu -> Sleep. Wait 2-3 mins. Then wake by clicking your mouse or pressing a key on your keyboard. Repeat this procedure 4-5 times as it can be intermittent. And make sure that you wait 2-3 minutes after sleeping before waking.

Testing Specifications

Test with just the single Studio Display monitor and your computer, without anything else connected (except mouse and keyboard). In other words, leave all other monitors or accessories disconnected.
Test with different thunderbolt cables to confirm it's not an issue with your cable.
Test the same monitor with different computers to confirm it's not an issue with your computer.

If you perform the testing procedure as above and the issue persists, then you may have the same hardware issue that I did. If that's the case, then your best bet is to get it repaired under the 1 year AppleCare Warranty. Get started on that sooner rather than later because it takes a lot of time to go through the process: calling AppleCare, getting a case number, taking it to your nearest Apple Store so the Genius Bar can confirm it in person, ordering the parts, bringing the monitor back home, waiting for the store to tell you that the parts have come in, taking the monitor back to the store, and waiting for them to actually perform the repair.

If you have a different monitor sleep/wake issue

If you do not have a Studio Display, but are having sleep/wake issues with your monitor then you have a different problem. If you try the steps above and can't get the issue to show up in each setup, then you have a different problem. If you have a different problem, please start a different thread instead of posting a reply to this one, because this only causes confusion for others.

Finally, if everyone could please mark this post as "Helpful" so the testing steps above can be shown more prominently to people who might also be having this issue. Thank you everyone who contributed and tried to help solve the problem.

View in context

89 replies

pruppert

Level 1

9 points

Sep 1, 2022 12:15 PM in response to jbru13

Chiming in to agree. As a laptop user, this problem persists. And yes, unplugging and replugging the thunderbolt cable from the clamshelled laptop is the quickest way to fix. But it's still annoying. Wish Apple would find a fix.

Sep 1, 2022 12:22 PM in response to Jeremy K.

I want to be sure I am communicating what I intended.

It is NOT a momentary power off that brought relief.

Power off the display and remove AC power.

Leave it unplugged for 15 minutes, so that it does a complete reset of its on-board processor.

THEN try again.

If successful, your problem should be solved for quite some time.

jbru13

Level 1

8 points

Sep 2, 2022 8:48 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Unfortunately I think the unplugging from power fix may be anecdotal. Mine was unplugged for over a day, and after being plugged back in and put to sleep overnight, it was again non-responsive this morning and the TB cable had to be removed and plugged back in, just like always.

Sep 2, 2022 9:46 AM in response to jbru13

This was my experience as well. If powering down the monitor for a period of time fixed anything (which I'm not sure it did), it certainly didn't fix it for long enough to make it worth doing as a laptop user. Might be more worth it for a desktop.

jbru13

Level 1

8 points

Sep 2, 2022 9:57 AM in response to Jeremy K.

Do others in here have open support tickets with Apple? I'll call Apple support today to see if this is actively being worked on. Otherwise Studio Display #2 is going back before the return window is up.

jbru13

Level 1

8 points

Sep 2, 2022 12:34 PM in response to pruppert

I think those are two accounts for the same person. They followed up (I tried to link to the post but can't get it to work) saying that Apple did a hardware repair, and that essentially nothing changed. Which aligns with my experience in that I purchased two Studio Displays. This is definitely a bug. Although what's confusing is why every Studio Display user doesn't have the issue. From this thread it seems to affect, at minimum, various brand new m1 machines.

pruppert

Level 1

9 points

Sep 2, 2022 1:47 PM in response to jbru13

I have two Studio Displays:

One attached to M1 MacBook Air

One attached to 2018 Intel MacBook Pro

The issue is occurring for me on the latter display with 2018 MacBook Pro. I have never had the problem with the M1 connected display.

jbru13

Level 1

8 points

Sep 2, 2022 2:11 PM in response to pruppert

Interesting. I assume both displays have the issue when connected to the M1?

I just got off the phone with support and they had me delete the files starting with "com.apple.windowserver" in both:

[user]/library/ByHost/preferences

and

[computer]/library/preferences

There were a few such files in the User library location. Unsure if this has fixed anything since the issue usually occurs after extended sleep, but I'll report back. The next step I was given, if this doesn't work, is to try entering sleep from a fresh User account. After that I'll continue with support if nothing is solved.

jbru13

Level 1

8 points

Sep 2, 2022 2:22 PM in response to peteralden

It's interesting that you have one display waking and not the other, because on my Macbook Pro M1, when the Studio Display fails to wake up, all my screens stay black until I remove and reinsert the thunderbolt cable; at which point the computer picks up right where it left off (no restart needed).

So essentially whatever is going wrong with the studio display prevents all displays from functioning on my computer, but the computer is not frozen or otherwise affected.

KJD54

Level 1

0 points

Sep 2, 2022 2:37 PM in response to pruppert

I wrote earlier - just a reminder, I think this is a Monterey problem (or some MacOS issue). I have the same problem using a Mac Studio computer with M1 Ultra, but I have a Samsung monitor that wouldn't wake up. I attached the monitor to a hub and now when it is completely shut down, it will wake up with the Mac keyboard (wireless, extended Mac keyboard), but when it then goes into screensaver mode, the keyboard won't wake it up anymore. However, a tap on the trackpad will wake it from screensaver. But if I attach the samsung monitor directly to the computer, I can't wake it up without unplugging it and then plugging it back in, as most of you have noticed. So the problem isn't specific to the studio display. At least, not in my case.

KJD54

Level 1

0 points

Sep 3, 2022 4:15 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

All I can tell you is what worked for me. I got a new Mac Studio Computer with M1 Ultra chip and noticed that MOST OF THE TIME I couldn't wake my Samsung Neo G9 monitor after it went to sleep. Before I had this combination of monitor and computer I had a 2017 iMac which, of course, had no problems waking up. I needed more storage for the Mac Studio, so I got a hub from OWC that has internal storage. When I plugged the Samsung monitor into the OWC hub instead of directly into the Mac Studio computer, my wireless keyboard now works to wake the monitor from sleep. However, if the monitor goes into screensaver mode, the keyboard won't wake it up any more. But I can get it out of screensaver mode by tapping on the trackpad. Most of this thread is discussing the problem as though it is specific to the Studio Display, but since I don't have a Studio Display and I seem to have the same problem with waking my Samsung monitor, that makes me think that there is a problem with the MacOS.

It is interesting to me that the problem of not being able to wake the monitor must not occur with all monitors, and all computers, just a small number. If it occurred with all of them, it would have to be fixed right away or Apple couldn't sell any. Yet, there are specific people, like all of us on this thread, that have a problem. Maybe something specific to our set-ups that are screwing up some sub-routine on the computer? Computers are complicated!

My stuff, in case it might help to find a common culprit:

1) Mac Studio computer with M1 Ultra chip, running MacOS 12.5.1

2) Mac Magic keyboard with Touch ID and numeric keypad for Apple silicon

3) Apple Magic trackpad

4) Samsung Neo G9 monitor

5) OWC Ministax STX with HDD and SSD - my monitor must be plugged into this hub. If it is plugged directly into the Mac Studio, I can't wake it with the keyboard or trackpad.

6) External Western Digital 4TB drive for Time Machine

7) Direct ethernet connection to modem

8) A few other peripherals like a scanner, external speakers, and printer plugged into the Studio computer, but these are usually switched off.

Let me know if you have other questions.

RK Rossi

Level 1

35 points

Sep 3, 2022 5:01 AM in response to TechnicallyInclined

I'm connected to an LG 42 LED TV via HDMI for a monitor. I found away around the sleeping screen. I use the power button on the LG controller. Then I easily use my Expert Wired Mouse to get the screen up. Works every time.

Sep 3, 2022 6:20 AM in response to jbru13

So is this what you did?

For MacOS 12 Monetary, you got some relief by deleting two preferences files, then Restarting:

/Library/Preferences/com.apple.windowserver

~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.windowserver.<UUID>.plist -OR possibly-

~/Library/Preferences/ByHost/com.apple.windowserver.<UUID>.plist

-- where [~] tilde is an active abbreviation for "current user"

-- and <UUID> is a string of hexadecimal numbers unique to your system, grouped as 8-4-4-4-8 hexadecimal digits

Restart REQUIRED after these deletions (so that the System will re-create those plists in the correct form).

jbru13

Level 1

8 points

Sep 3, 2022 6:22 AM in response to KJD54

I can’t speak to the Samsung monitor (it may have a unique issue all to itself), but I can certainly say that not all monitors have this wake issue, because I’ve tried the Dell u2720, u2723, and u2715h, in various dual monitor configs, and none of them have had a wake issue, ever, with the exact same MacBook Pro configuration that has issues with the Studio Display.

Sep 3, 2022 6:29 AM in response to jbru13

I’ve had a similar experience with different waking from sleep issues with different monitors and different computers.

M1 MacBook Air + Studio Display: won’t wake if it’s been asleep for more than a few minutes

Same M1 MacBook Air + LG display: display would briefly power on and back off while computer was asleep, about once every half hour

Intel MacBook Pro + same LG display: no issues that I remember

Studio Display Will Not Wake From Sleep