Open lid external display with M3 MBP does not work in full screen mode

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Open lid external display with M3 MBP does not work in full screen mode

I have been using Canva for presentations for the last couple of years. I recently upgraded my MBP from 13" MBP mid 2017 no Touch Bar to a new 2023 14" MPB M3. To my surprise (and disappointment) the presenter view no longer works. My set up is to connect to a large Screen TV mounted to the wall using Airplay, and use my laptop on a podium in presenter view to see my notes and next screen in the presentation. In presenter mode either the Tv or the laptop screen goes black and no longer works. That is because the audience view (on the TV) requires the use of Full screen mode. When I enter full screen mode one of the displays goes black. The reason is that with this version Apple has chosen to only offer two choices - Mirror or extended screen. It is the extended screen that causes the problem as it considers both displays as one screen rather than 2.

Is there a reasonable reason Apple chose to no longer also offer serrate display as they did previously? I know there are some changes and limitations to how many displays the M3 chip can support, but the Apple support website only discusses closed lid use and not open lid use. It appears ththis initial version of how to handle open lid external displays still needs some work.

MacBook Pro 14″, macOS 15.1

Posted on Dec 11, 2024 2:29 PM

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Answer 1

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Servant of Cats

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Dec 11, 2024 3:55 PM in response to getipadhelp

If your 14" MacBook Pro has a plain M3 chip, it only supports one external display with the lid open … two with the lid closed, if you are running macOS Sonoma 14.6 or later.

Use dual monitors with your MacBook Air and MacBook Pro with M3 chip - Apple Support

You would need a MacBook Pro with a M3 Pro or M3 Max chip to use two external displays with the lid open.

I believe you can have one AirPlay or Sidecar (iPad) display in addition to your hardware-supported display(s). An AirPlay connection is not as good as a hardware-supported connection to a real standalone display. There may be limitations on resolution choices, and there may be artifacts and lags.

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Answer 2

Dec 11, 2024 4:29 PM in response to getipadhelp

there are actually THREE different ways to use Mac screens, not just Mirrored and Extended you mentioned. But the third way is a bit convoluted.

if you use Mission Control extensively, you will find that it has a feature called "spaces". In this mode, you can clump some Applications and windows together, and set it aside as a "Space". Controls in Mission control all you to swap different spaces onto the active display.

The generalization of that multiple "Spaces" concept to multiple displays is called "Displays have Separate Spaces". You must check this box to use that feature.

...

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Answer 3

getipadhelp Author

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Dec 11, 2024 7:18 PM in response to getipadhelp

OK I found a fit - The DISPLAYS HAVE SEPARATE PACES In Mission Control solved the problem. So It I not a flaw - But is so hidden that it will be hard for most to find.

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Answer 4

getipadhelp Author

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Dec 11, 2024 7:16 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

DISPLAYS HAVE SEPARATE SPACES WORKS - Yes !!!

THANK YOU - It took a while to find that setting tin Sequoia as they moved things around (again)

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Answer 5

varjak paw

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Dec 11, 2024 4:23 PM in response to getipadhelp

Have you talked to Canva support about this? They may need to update something to be compatible with macOS 15 and/or newer Mac hardware. You might also check Canva's own Community and see if someone there has any suggestions:

https://www.canva.com/community/

Regards.

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Answer 6

getipadhelp Author

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Dec 11, 2024 6:57 PM in response to varjak paw

Yes I am in conversation with Canva, and they are working on a solution - they have provided a work around but it is awkward to use, so they are working on a fix that is what I would call "production quality".

However this is not limited to Canva. That is just the most troubling application at the moment. This happens with any application. For example: Open Mail and then Open Finder and drag one of them to the other display. Then press full screen on either display and the other display goes black. Press escape to exit full screen and then both displays display their applications again. This is a full screen issue with MBP M3 silicon.

I have reported it to Tom's Guide in hopes they can help us bring this to Apple's attention. In my opinion it is a flaw in the OS. I am running Sequoia 15.1.1. I believe this was also the behavior on Sonoma as well. But one of the first things I did to try to fix the problem was upgrade to the latest OS. So my more extensive testing has been with Sequoia.

I really appreciate all of the suggestions. even the one on spaces mentioned in another post. I use Spaces a lot but had not assigned an application to a specific space. So I tried that and still get the same behavior upon going into full screen mode.

Hopefully someone with an M3 silicon MBP has found a solution and can prove that this is not a flaw in the OS.

Background - I have over 50 years of IT experience and stayed up to date on each major new technology advancement through the years - yes I know I am an official Geek!! But I also know there are so many details and MAC-OS is so large that I can't be an expert on every little nuance. But collectively I believe this group is. That is why I am asking for help.

Thanks again - everything everyone has shared is good knowledge to have abut 2 displays one being the bolt in MBP display. But so far no one has really addressed the specific problem of Full screen blacking out the second display.

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Answer 7

getipadhelp Author

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Dec 11, 2024 4:08 PM in response to Servant of Cats

Thank you for replying - but you did not address my issue or comment. Fir clarity I am using the internal display(openlid) and 1 external display.

it dies not support full screen separately on each display. It treats both displays as if it were one larger (combined) screen.

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Open lid external display with M3 MBP does not work in full screen mode

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