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User profile for user: catwiththetat
catwiththetat Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

Macbook Air recognizes display but display returns no HDMI signal

Hello,


I am having issues connecting my Macbook Air to an external monitor using a Mini DisplayPort to HDMI cable. The Mac recognizes the display but the display itself does not find an HDMI connection. The display otherwise works for a Macbook Pro I have on a USB-C to USB-C connection. I've tried multiple output displays, all of which have the same error. I've also tried scaling the display to all of the possible options in System Prefs. I do not have any other older Mac devices that also have a Mini DisplayPort to check the input. I don't believe my Macbook Air has any other ports that offer video output. Details below:


Input:

  • Mid 2013 (MacBookAir6,2)
  • 13.3-inch (1440 × 900)
  • OS: macOS 11.7.9 (Big Sur)


Output:

  • DELL U2723QE Display
  • 27-inch (2560 × 1440)


Connection:

  • Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Display Adapter Cable
  • 4K@60Hz
  • Brand new


Error:

  • No HDMI signal from your device.


System Information:

DELL U2723QE:
  Resolution:	1440 x 900 (Widescreen eXtended Graphics Array Plus)
  UI Looks like:	1440 x 900 @ 60.00Hz
  Framebuffer Depth:	24-Bit Color (ARGB8888)
  Display Serial Number:	     
  Mirror:	On
  Mirror Status:	Hardware Mirror
  Online:	Yes
  Rotation:	Supported
  Automatically Adjust Brightness:	Yes
  Connection Type:	Thunderbolt/DisplayPort


Could I get some help on this issue? Thanks!


MacBook Air 13″

Posted on Aug 28, 2023 4:40 PM

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User profile for user: Servant of Cats
Servant of Cats
User level: Level 6
16,402 points

Posted on Aug 28, 2023 9:15 PM

The Dell U2723QE is a 4K monitor with a resolution of 3840x2160 pixels. (There's a U2722DE that is a 2560x1440 pixel monitor, but if you copy-and-pasted the System Information text, I'd tend to believe that QE is not a typo.)


https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-ultrasharp-27-4k-usb-c-hub-monitor-u2723qe/apd/210-bdpf/monitors-monitor-accessories

https://dl.dell.com/content/manual12109242-dell-u2723qe-monitor-user-s-guide.pdf?language=en-us


The specifications for your MacBook Air say that it "Simultaneously supports full native resolution on the built-in display and up to 2560 by 1600 pixels on an external display, both at millions of colors."


MacBook Air (13-inch, Mid 2013) - Technical Specifications


I don't know why System Information is reporting a resolution of 1440x900 pixels, but it might be because the monitor has more resolution than your MacBook Air can handle. (The monitor's 3840x2160 pixel resolution is higher than the maximum resolution that your MacBook officially supports.).


Dell's manual does not list 1400x900 pixels @ 60 Hz as one of the monitor's preset modes.


I'm guessing the computer or adapter can't handle 4K resolution, so it proposes 1400 x 900 instead. But that is such an oddball resolution that the monitor won't accept it, and you get "No signal." If you could force the Air to choose 1920x1080 or 2560x1440 resolution, the monitor might accept that. (However, this would not produce nearly as satisfactory results as using Retina "like 1920x1080" or Retina "like 2560x1440" mode on a Mac which could actually send 3840x2160 pixels to the monitor.)

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User profile for user: Servant of Cats
Servant of Cats
User level: Level 6
16,402 points

Aug 28, 2023 9:15 PM in response to catwiththetat

The Dell U2723QE is a 4K monitor with a resolution of 3840x2160 pixels. (There's a U2722DE that is a 2560x1440 pixel monitor, but if you copy-and-pasted the System Information text, I'd tend to believe that QE is not a typo.)


https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-ultrasharp-27-4k-usb-c-hub-monitor-u2723qe/apd/210-bdpf/monitors-monitor-accessories

https://dl.dell.com/content/manual12109242-dell-u2723qe-monitor-user-s-guide.pdf?language=en-us


The specifications for your MacBook Air say that it "Simultaneously supports full native resolution on the built-in display and up to 2560 by 1600 pixels on an external display, both at millions of colors."


MacBook Air (13-inch, Mid 2013) - Technical Specifications


I don't know why System Information is reporting a resolution of 1440x900 pixels, but it might be because the monitor has more resolution than your MacBook Air can handle. (The monitor's 3840x2160 pixel resolution is higher than the maximum resolution that your MacBook officially supports.).


Dell's manual does not list 1400x900 pixels @ 60 Hz as one of the monitor's preset modes.


I'm guessing the computer or adapter can't handle 4K resolution, so it proposes 1400 x 900 instead. But that is such an oddball resolution that the monitor won't accept it, and you get "No signal." If you could force the Air to choose 1920x1080 or 2560x1440 resolution, the monitor might accept that. (However, this would not produce nearly as satisfactory results as using Retina "like 1920x1080" or Retina "like 2560x1440" mode on a Mac which could actually send 3840x2160 pixels to the monitor.)

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User profile for user: Servant of Cats
Servant of Cats
User level: Level 6
16,402 points

Aug 28, 2023 9:20 PM in response to catwiththetat

I just noticed something. You have mirroring turned on. So the MacBook is trying to force the external display to run at the same resolution as the internal display – 1440x900.


No guarantee that you'll get signal if you turn mirroring off. You've still got a 4K monitor attached to a Mac which does not officially support 4K output. But maybe if you turn mirroring off, your Mac would be willing to negotiate some resolution (1920x1080 or 2560x1440) that is more acceptable to the monitor.

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User profile for user: catwiththetat
catwiththetat Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

Aug 28, 2023 10:36 PM in response to Servant of Cats

Thank you so much for your very detailed response! I've tried all of the possible scalings in the Display settings as well as turning off mirroring, which gives:


Color LCD:
  Display Type:	LCD
  Resolution:	1440 x 900 (Widescreen eXtended Graphics Array Plus)
  UI Looks like:	1440 x 900
  Framebuffer Depth:	24-Bit Color (ARGB8888)
  Main Display:	Yes
  Mirror:	Off
  Online:	Yes
  Automatically Adjust Brightness:	Yes
  Connection Type:	Internal
DELL U2723QE:
  Resolution:	2560 x 1440 (QHD/WQHD - Wide Quad High Definition)
  UI Looks like:	2560 x 1440 @ 60.00Hz
  Framebuffer Depth:	24-Bit Color (ARGB8888)
  Display Serial Number:   
  Mirror:	Off
  Online:	Yes
  Rotation:	Supported
  Automatically Adjust Brightness:	Yes
  Connection Type:	Thunderbolt/DisplayPort


Unfortunately this still doesn't seem to work. I also tried to connect to an old projector (Epson VS230) with a lower resolution and still had no signal.

https://epson.com/Clearance-Center/Projectors-for-Work/VS230-SVGA-3LCD-Projector/p/V11H552220

Resize:
640 x 480 (VGA), 1024 x 768 (XGA), 1152 x 864 (SXGA), 1280 x 800 (WXGA), 1280 x 960 (SXGA2), 1280 x 1024 (SXGA3), 1440 x 900 (WXGA+), 1400 x 1050 (SXGA+)


Thanks again for the advice and explanation, but I may just retire the laptop at this point.

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Macbook Air recognizes display but display returns no HDMI signal

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