Mac Studio External Monitor Backlight Stays On

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Level 1

10 points

Mac Studio External Monitor Backlight Stays On

I recently bought the M2 Max Mac Studio and I connected an LG UltraFine External monitor to it.

The monitor has a built in USB hub so I have connected it to the Mac Studio via Thunderbolt/USB-C cable for display and to utilize the USB hub.

I have my screen set to enter the screensaver mode after 5 minutes and then to turn off the monitor after 10 minutes and I also set it so that the Mac Studio does not automatically sleep when the monitor is off.

I noticed that after 10 minutes, when the monitor is supposed to shut off, the backlight of the monitor remains on.

I switched to an HDMI cable and everything works as expected, the monitor will shut off after 10 minutes and the backlight does not stay on.

Furthermore, another monitor which is exactly the same and it is connected via Thunderbolt/USB-C to my 14 inch M1 MacBook Pro (my work computer) and this issue does not occur.

I have swapped monitors to see if one may be bad, but it is not an issue with the monitors.

The issue only seems to be when the monitor is connected to my Mac Studio on the Thunderbolt 4 port.

I have tried multiple settings configurations and multiple Thunderbolt cables but nothing seems to resolve the issue.

As it currently stands, I have to turn off my monitor at night or if I'm going to be away for a lengthy time.

I would prefer to use the Thunderbolt cable so that I have use of the USB Hub in the monitor and also because when I try using an HDMI cable it only give me a 30 hz refresh rate which I do not like.

If anyone has any suggestions on how to resolve this, I would greatly appreciate it.

Mac Studio, macOS 13.4

Posted on Jul 13, 2023 11:13 AM

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Answer 1

seoproo

Level 1

13 points

Jul 14, 2023 2:39 AM in response to joe sumner

If the backlight on your external monitor connected to a Mac Studio computer stays on even when the computer is turned off or in sleep mode, there are a few potential causes and troubleshooting steps you can try:

Check power settings: Make sure that the power settings on your Mac Studio are correctly configured. Go to "System Preferences" > "Energy Saver" and ensure that the "Put hard disks to sleep when possible" and "Enable Power Nap" options are selected. This will help ensure that the computer is entering a proper sleep mode when not in use.
Update macOS and monitor firmware: Ensure that you have the latest version of macOS installed on your Mac Studio, as well as any available firmware updates for your external monitor. Keeping both the operating system and monitor firmware up to date can resolve compatibility issues and address potential bugs.
Disconnect and reconnect the monitor: Try disconnecting the external monitor from your Mac Studio and then reconnecting it. Sometimes a simple reconnection can reset the communication between the computer and the monitor, resolving any issues.
Reset SMC and NVRAM: Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC) and Non-Volatile Random-Access Memory (NVRAM) on your Mac Studio can sometimes resolve power-related issues. Follow the official Apple support documentation to reset the SMC and NVRAM for your specific Mac model.
Try a different cable or port: Test the monitor with a different cable and/or connect it to a different port on your Mac Studio. Faulty cables or problematic ports can sometimes cause unusual behavior.
Check for third-party software conflicts: If you have any third-party software installed on your Mac Studio that manages display settings or power management, temporarily disable or uninstall them to check if they are causing the issue.
Contact technical support: If the issue persists, it may be necessary to contact the technical support for your external monitor or Apple support for further assistance. They can provide specific troubleshooting steps based on the make and model of your monitor and your Mac Studio.

It's important to note that the steps provided are general troubleshooting suggestions, and the specific steps may vary depending on the exact model of your Mac Studio and the external monitor you are using.

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Answer 2

tbirdvet

Level 6

17,831 points

Jul 15, 2023 4:29 PM in response to joe sumner

FYI. I also have a Mac Studio connected to my LG 27" 5K monitor using the TB cable provided by LG and connected to the specific port on the monitor that has the TB symbol and no issue having the display turn after after several minutes. It makes no difference which TB port I use on the Studio so not sure why you would have this issue. Did you try another port on the Mac to see if the issue remains but not sure why that would make a difference but worth a check.

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Answer 3

joe sumner Author

Level 1

10 points

Jul 14, 2023 7:33 AM in response to seoproo

Tried that...didn't help.
Everything is updated.
Tried this...didn't help.
Apple Silicon based computers don't have SMC or NVRAM.
Tried this and it didn't help... I thought I covered this in my original post.
No issue from third party software
The issue happens with any monitor I connect on the thunderbolt port. I can try reaching out to the monitor manufacturer but I don't believe this is an issue with the monitor itself.

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Answer 4

joe sumner Author

Level 1

10 points

Jul 15, 2023 4:58 PM in response to tbirdvet

My LG 27" monitor is not a 5K monitor so I'm not quite sure we have the same monitor.

Anyhow, the LG monitor I'm using is not Thunderbolt it only has USB-C (like most monitors). As I mentioned in my original post, I have two of these monitors and one is connected to my work computer which is an M1 MacBook Pro on the thunderbolt 4 port and it doesn't have an issue. But, the same monitor plugged into my M2 Max Mac Studio Thunderbolt port does encounter the issue.

Please read the original post as it explains the issue.

But, to respond to your question, yes I've tried multiple ports on the Mac studio with both monitors and the issue still occurs.

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Mac Studio External Monitor Backlight Stays On

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