macOS recognizes monitor as TV

Question

Level 1

4 points

macOS recognizes monitor as TV

Hello. I connected a new monitor and it seems that macOS is not recognizing the monitor properly.

Usually, the monitor should be recognized properly, but according to the system information, macOS seems to recognize it as a TV.

To solve this problem, I tried changing the cable and connecting it to a different terminal on the monitor. However, the same problem occurs.

What is strange is that this problem does not occur on Intel Macs. I know that Apple periodically updates EDID or monitor-related updates. Can anyone to help this problem?

[Edited by Moderator]

MacBook Pro (2021)

Posted on Jun 24, 2025 5:00 AM

Reply

Answer 1

MrHoffman

Level 10

153,457 points

Jun 24, 2025 8:54 AM in response to namyounsu

Check that the display firmware is current. That’ll probably need a box running Windows, given it’s a Dell.

https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000131809/steps-for-updating-the-firmware-for-your-dell-monitor

Reply

Answer 2

namyounsu Author

Level 1

4 points

Jun 24, 2025 10:25 AM in response to MrHoffman

The monitor firmware is updated to the latest version (and, unlike Dell, supports macOS!)

Reply

Answer 3

MartinR

Level 7

25,546 points

Jun 24, 2025 8:09 AM in response to namyounsu

namyounsu wrote:

I wish this was an intentional issue, but I've had the same issue with other ports on my monitor (HDMI, DP, USB-C).

What's even more interesting is that Intel Mac recognize it as a "monitor" very well.

It's a non-issue. There is no difference in the video signal being sent from your M1 to your Dell monitor just because the System Report indicates "Television ... Yes.".

Either your Dell monitor is identifying itself as a TV or the Mac is reporting it as such in this list. It may be some difference in the info exchanged or interpreted between an Intel Mac & the U3818 vs. an M1 Mac & the U3818. The GPU's in the two Macs are different.

Reply

Answer 4

Jun 24, 2025 8:37 AM in response to MartinR

MartinR wrote:

There is no difference in the video signal being sent from your M1 to your Dell monitor just because the System Report indicates "Television ... Yes.".

There is one potential difference. HDMI supports two different color encoding schemes: YCbCr and RGB ( AMD – Selecting the Desired Pixel Format for an HDMI Display ). YCbCr is more common among HDTVs; RGB, among computer monitors.

If the signal that the Mac sends uses a different encoding than the one the display expects, the screen will show incorrect colors. I believe this sometimes happened back in the Intel Mac days. I do not know if it happens with current versions of macOS or with Apple Silicon Macs.

Reply

Answer 5

MartinR

Level 7

25,546 points

Jun 24, 2025 6:34 AM in response to namyounsu

You're probably using an HDMI cable to connect the monitor, which would be sensed as a TV type of connection. It's not a problem.

Reply

Answer 6

dialabrain

Level 10

137,253 points

Jun 24, 2025 6:51 AM in response to namyounsu

Feel free to send Apple feedback.

Feedback - macOS - Apple

Reply

Answer 7

namyounsu Author

Level 1

4 points

Jun 24, 2025 6:40 AM in response to MartinR

I wish this was an intentional issue, but I've had the same issue with other ports on my monitor (HDMI, DP, USB-C).

What's even more interesting is that Intel Mac recognize it as a "monitor" very well.

Reply

Answer 8

namyounsu Author

Level 1

4 points

Jun 24, 2025 8:42 AM in response to MartinR

It's a little bit fortunate that it's not a big problem.

However, on another monitor, the Dell U2720Q, it is recognized as a monitor normally, and functions such as Night Shift work normally. (It doesn't work when it's a TV or projector, so it's a little inconvenient.)

Therefore, as @dialabrain said, I left an inquiry on Apple feedback.

(ps. I agree with that bonus!)

Reply

Answer 9

Jun 24, 2025 8:56 AM in response to namyounsu

Dell's description of your monitor does not mention a TV tuner.

That monitor does have two HDMI v2.0 inputs. Even if you reserve one for computer use, that leaves one that you could use to connect a "bonus" (digital tuner box, DVR, streaming player, or DVD/Blu-Ray player).

Reply