External display flickering with M1 iMac

I'm experiencing this on an mbp M3 Max... I'm on os14.3.1 and the screen flickers when using youtube on chrome?I've tried everything, changing color profiles, changing refresh rate, changed dark/light theme and toggled off any truetone/night shift/auto brightness in the os, etc. but nothing helps...

I also have a BenQ PD3220, and two BenQ 27" design monitors. It occurs more frequently on the 27" displays. For a premium like the Macbook Pro and premium monitors like the BenQ's, it's pretty annoying. I basically can't use YouTube at all.

Same problem here with Mac Book Pro M1 Max 16" 2021 and monitor BenQ PD3220U. Interestingly it only started flickering after updating macos to 14.1 :((

Hey Everyone,

I found a different solution that worked for me so hopefully this helps someone else out! I was having this issue as well but it was intermittent and some of the solutions here seemed to resolve the problem. After upgrading to Sonoma 14.4.1, the issue came back with a vengeance.

I have an LG 45" UltraGear™ OLED Curved Monitor model 45GR95QE-B and am using a USB-C hub that has a display port connector since the HDMI connection wouldn't allow for 120hz or 144hz a while back when I tried.

After trying some of the solutions mentioned here, the issue still persisted, but it seems that I was able to change my display port input type on my monitor itself from 1.4 (DSC) to just 1.4. This resolved the issue for me so hopefully this will help someone else out as it's one of the MOST frustrating issues to deal with. Nothing like trying to look at your computer screen only to have the picture go out randomly.....

Seems like it might have had something to do with the latest fix Apple applied for external monitors not being detected as I wasn't experiencing after deleting duplicate color profiles before updating my OS.

Good luck everyone!

<3

Great info and links, thanks.

Seems like that cable should be adequate.

What other device or devices are connected to the M1 iMac's USB-C port(s).

Does it make a difference, if only the display is connected to the iMac?

In addition to contacting Apple Support for assistance. I would test the Apple or Belkin USB-C to HDMI adapter and a short Premium Certified HDMI cable.

USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter - Apple

Belkin USB-C to HDMI Adapter - Apple

https://www.hdmi.org/spec/premiumcable

I was able to reduce flickering significantly by installing Display Pilot of BenQ and change Color mode from "Display P3" to "M-book". Nevertheless on transparent website overlays. Flickering is still too much to bear...

I have a M3 MBP with two ViewSonic VA2459-smh monitors attached with Anker USB-C to HDMI cables that were working just fine until this morning when one of the two monitors developed a flicker. On Sonoma 14.5. Have tried all the suggestions, even re-calibrated the flickering display to no avail. Changing the wallpaper to black obviously made the flicker go away, but as soon as I move a window to that display it obviously returns.

I've tried everything everyone else has. I can't seem to find any place to turn True Tone off though.

Reverse the cables at the monitors and see if the flicker stays with that monitor or is caused by that cable.

To turn off True Tone see > Use True Tone on Mac - Apple Support

What model is the Xiaomi Mi 27" monitor?

What cable or adapter and cable are you using?

These newer M-Series Mac's, require higher quality display cables.

Sure why not try, if you can return it for a full refund.

Updated my mbp m1 to os14.2.1. yesterday and am experiencing a flickering screen whilest watching youtube ever since. Really annoying. Restart etc. doesn't fix it.

Try disabling True Tone setting under Settings > Displays. I'm using Sonoma 14.3.

And just as fast as my flicker showed up, it's gone.