How do I make my Studio remember which monitor is which?

That may be true, but it's a useless and aggressively unhelpful comment. Duplicate EDID serials appear to be common across major manufacturers, and they don't exactly say "uses a duplicate serial number" on the box. The practical reality is that Windows and my 10-year Old Mac Pro don't have a problem with them, and it's something that Apple could easily provide a workaround for in macOS.

Apple shipping a minor tweak in an operating system update is an awful lot easier than forcing expensive, wasteful upgrades on an installed base of millions of monitors. Apple also has a history of doing exactly this, as they did to fix the dire video port problems with M1 Minis when they were launched.

Apple is NOT going to tweak their software to cover the defects in other manufacturer's products. Products should meet the Industry Standards without hacks.

If you want to apply pressure, apply to Samsung to "get with the program" and remove that defect.

Apple will issue an update to their defective OS release in due course. It takes a long time for Apple to admit they got it wrong, ie the touch bar, the SD card slot etc etc.

Unfortunately a lot of Apple devotees have a habit of displaying moronic tendencies. As can be seen on this forum..

This is just more of the same absolutist unhelpfulness. Apple frequently fixes and works around issues with third party products. Software can be fixed easily; hardware can't. Apple itself has a long history of not conforming to standards correctly; None of these companies are perfect, but they have to figure out how to get along.

If you have nothing constructive to add to the conversation I suggest you stop commenting.

All,

I have brought my problem (Studio Ultra with Studio Display and two outboard 27" Samsungs of 4K class) to the attention of Apple Support via text. I explained my problem and stated that several persons in a community support discussion had similar problems. A call-back from a higher level of support will happen soon in my case. The front-line tech advised: " I also encourage any and all of the individuals who may be experiencing issues to reach out to us directly by phone. We are always here and happy to help. The more people reporting this directly to us (outside of the public forums) the better. "

Based on this, I'd encourage all persons with this display location/file&desktop location/dock location anomaly to contact Apple directly, to develop some kind of a critical mass of input that will enable somebody with rank to address it.

Best to all,

Tony Gill

Honolulu

Further to the above, I've spent two and a half hours today escalating the issue up through the Apple tech support system and performing remote diagnostics on my Mac, Studio Display, and Samsung screens. The investigation was thorough. The supervisor in charge was made aware of all issues known to me, including those in this thread. Apparently, engineering will be brought in. We are due for a followup call in a week.

Best to all,

TG

That sounds promising. The problem will only grow as they sell more Mac Studio's, so sooner or later they're going to have to come up with a fix. After all, they sold it to me on the basis that it would support multiple displays. They didn't say except this display, or that display.

Keep us updated..

For my specific issue related to this, I have mostly solved it with a KVM that has built-in EDID Emulation (CKLau KVM). This emulation allows me to switch ports between PC and Mac without any of these machines believing that the monitors were physically disconnected, and therefor it no longer reassigns screens with different windows or icons.

I believe they make stand-alone EDID Emulator connectors you can try out to see if it helps. However, they are all HDMI and not DisplayPort based (if using DP).

Despite solving the issue with screens being swapped around, Mac Studio still has a major problem: Now when I wake Mac Studio from sleep, it will cause all my monitors to turn off and on every 15 - 30 seconds indefinitely, until I unplug and replug them back into the KVM. This is my second KVM I am trying here so I know it's not the issue, but the Mac Studio is in fact the issue.

To solve the new issue, I simply have to keep my Mac turned on, indefinitely.

No matter what I do, Apple will not allow me to use Macs as part of a KVM setup without major issues. But I think it's clear that a lot of the problems begin with Apple, and their use of USB-C which requires conversion to third party displays. It's almost as if they intentionally made this a problem to force people to use their displays.

I have fully resolved my issues with my Mac Studio not remembering which monitor is which. As my previous post stated, I am using a CKLau KVM Switch, and this switch has built-in EDID emulation.

The EDID Emulation appears to trick macOS into thinking that the monitors are still physically connected and turned on, even when I am not connected to the active port the Mac is on. I have tested this extensively with putting the Mac Studio to sleep and waking it up the next day, and even fully shutting down and starting up.

Not once did I have to rebuild my desktops (triple 2k monitors), or had any icons move, or have any monitors not waking up. I am getting a full, Triple 2K/1440 @ 144Hz picture and performance with zero issues.

Originally I had an issue with my monitors turning off and on as I said in my previous post, but it wasn't the KVM's fault, it turns out that the three different brands of adapters and cables I tried out all had the exact same issue with supporting a stable signal. When I tried a much cheaper fourth brand of USB-C to HDMI Cables, it solved my issue and now I have a Mac Studio that acts like a normal computer for once.

The good news: I no longer have to rebuild my work environment whenever I wake up my Mac. All monitors will turn on and stay on. All icons remain in place. I don't have to leave my Mac Studio on indefinitely any more. And no more headaches.

The bad news: In order to make my Mac Studio function like a normal computer with multi-monitor support, I had to spend an extra ~$500 on a new KVM Switch, with new USB-C to HDMI Cables just so the Mac will not forget which monitor is which. Another Apple Premium I had to pay.

It took 10 years for me to dial up a KVM/cable combo solution just so my Mac acts normal.

I suppose whatever this KVM Switch is doing, maybe someone can find a cheaper method to keep the Mac tricked, and perhaps finally get some peace. It's clear that EDID Emulation helps with this, at least via HDMI.

For Reference, this is the combo I have that works 100% with my Mac Studio M1 Max solving the "which monitor is which" issue:

CKLau KVM with EDID Emulation: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B07RSV2WZP

USB-C to HDMI Cables: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B085HC43Q9

Took me a while to find this thread but was happy to see that I'm not the only one with this problem. My case sounds very similar to yours. I have a brand new mac studio with 3 identical 24inch Sceptre LED monitors. The studio I bought as an upgrade from my 2019 mac mini (which handled the triple monitor configuration with ease by the way - never had a problem with it switching the arrangement).

The studio lacks the ability to keep track of these monitors. Every time I reboot or wake from sleep, the monitors are rearranged into some whacky configuration. I'm contemplating sending it back and just sticking with my mac mini until they have this sorted out.

I have tried every solution proposed on every forum and thread under the sun that deals with this issue. I have found one band-aid solution that seems to kind of work for me but it's less than ideal. Here's what I do: When I wake or reboot the machine, if the monitors are out of order or incorrect configuration, I figured out that if I put the mac to go to sleep and then immediately move the mouse to prevent if from sleeping, it goes back to the correct configuration. Don't know if this will work for everyone, but it's free and it's worth a shot. This is the only thing currently preventing me from sending this thing back. $2200 for a device that can't even remember which port a monitor is plugged into is a waste of money imo.

Like yourself, I have also spent way too many hours on the phone with an Apple Support senior tech (or whatever they call the next level up from your standard run-of-the-mill tech person that you get when you first call in). We were unable to get a solution the first time I called. She made an appointment to follow up with me after she had a chance to speak to engineering. Of course on the second appointment after a lot of back and forth with them blaming my monitor manufacturer for the issue, and me asking them why it is not happening with my older mac if it's the fault of the monitor manufacturer - We finally arrived at the truth - They have no idea what's going on. Essentially, the end result of my conversation was that I'd have to "wait a few months until the new version of the operating system is released". According to Apple Support, "The new OS version MIGHT fix it." MIGHT... No promises. I'm not waiting 5 months on the chance that it MIGHT be fixed. What's even more egregious is that in our first call, I gave them the link to this thread and they read through it, and then still proceeded to try to pass the blame. Everyone here has done a fantastic job at identifying the actual problem and proposing solutions to it, but clearly Apple is not listening.

Long story short, Apple was no help at all. This is a huge oversight on their part. And to the Apple apologist in this thread (we all know who I'm talking about), I know it hurts you to hear it but this is 100% Apple's fault. The common denominator here is the Mac M1 chip (especially the mac studio). You can't really expect us to believe that every monitor manufacturer is to blame, and even if they were, how much cooler would Apple be if they'd just fix the problem for us instead of lazily pointing the finger at monitor manufacturers and telling us to wait until the next OS release for a possible fix? They have an opportunity here to be the heroes and they are absolutely blowing it! As pointed out by the user with the toothbrush analogy earlier in this thread - they could simply write conditional code that says "if the EDID is the same then base the configuration off of the port number that they are plugged into." I don't understand why if my old mac could do it then Apple suddenly deserves a pass for their new tech not being able to do it. There's no excuses for it. There's no way around it. No matter what the Apple sheep say, Apple took two steps back with this mistake. The fact that they continue to advertise that the studio supports up to 5 monitors right out of the box is nothing but a bold-faced lie.

I have already started telling everyone to avoid mac studio if you have identical monitors. This is totally unacceptable to me. Yeah... Despite the band-aid fix that I found for it, I think I'll be sending this back at least until they can get this sorted out. I'm not at all happy with Apple's response to this issue. I shell out significant (for me at least) cash for this thing I expect it to work properly.

I'm behind you 100%. There's no excuse in 2022 for this issue. The EDID thing is just BS. When they released the Studio they didn't say it will support multiple monitors EXCEPT THIS ONE AND THAT ONE. Didn't anyone at Apple test this thing before they released it?

"When I wake or reboot the machine, if the monitors are out of order or incorrect configuration, I figured out that if I put the mac to go to sleep and then immediately move the mouse to prevent if from sleeping, it goes back to the correct configuration "

I've found the same behaviour with my Studio. It was purely by chance, but it went back to the proper configuration when I moved my mouse after sleeping for only a few seconds..

Using new apple silicon MacBook Pro. 2 displays. Have to redo positioning and resolution settings all the freaking time. Even the brightness is constantly getting reset to something lower. Very very annoying, especially after the 100th time.

If Readers have been unable to prove solutions and post them in the any postings already made, then Readers simply do not have an acceptable solution for you. These are User-to-User Support Communities, and Apple movers and shakers do not visit here looking for potential issues.

Your next step should be to contact Apple support with your concern, and work through the first responder's scripts and ask to discuss your issue with a specialist. Unless/until you contact Apple support, Apple can not internalize the scale for the problem, and will continue to be slow to respond.

Get Support

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Re: Preaching to the choir.

We're not preaching to anyone, we're having a discussion. Clearly a number of users who are having this issue HAVE contacted Apple support and shared that info with the rest of us. That's what communities do..

And it's thanks to user DIGITALBRENT sharing his experience around this issue that I now use his hack to correct the issue when it arises.

After trying everything else I have found that Digitalbrent's hack of putting the Mac Studio to sleep and then instantly clicking or moving the mouse to wake it again seems to work. Just to clarify, if your Mac Studio wakes and your displays are mis-configured, simply put the Mac to sleep and instantly wake it again and for some reason your displays will reset to your original configuration. ( WTF Don't ask me ).

That is not currently supported. But if you wish to make that suggestion, here is the page for that:

Product Feedback - Apple

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