Dell 2725QC monitor - insane colors

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Level 1

4 points

Dell 2725QC monitor - insane colors

Every time I update the MacOS the screen colors go insane. The monitor becomes almost useless.

The first time it happened I was able to return to normal using Self Diagnostic on the monitor. The second time that didn't help.

MacOS 26.0.1. M4 Mac Mini.

I've done a Factory Reset of the monitor.

I've done a Hard Reboot of the monitor.

I've done the Self Diagnostic on the monitor.

I've restarted the Mac Mini

I've switched from USB-C to HDMI.

I've switched USB-C cables.

I installed Dell DDPM for MacOS and I can access it. Everything appears normal. It does say 2.1.1.0007 is available as an update. I can download that but when it asks if I want to Update Now nothing happens when I click the YesÎ button.

An oddity. After restarting the Mac Mini, the screen colors are completely normal. However, after I enter my password and the screen goes to the regular layout then the colors go insane.

I've used this Mac Mini with a prior Dell monitor 2719DM and had no issues.

If I plug my M1 MacBook Air into the monitor then the colors are normal. Updated to MacOS 26.0.1 and colors are still normal when I plug it into the monitor.

To summarize:

The 2725QC worked fine with the M4 MacMini and MacOS 18.

Colors went insane after updating to MacOS 26.

Using Self Diagnostic on the monitor, was able to get colors back to normal.

Updated to MacOS 26.0.1 and colors went insane.

No problems with using the monitor as an external screen with an M1 MacBook Air, even after OS updates.

Given no issues with the MBA, there's something about the MacMini+Dell monitor+OS update that is causing the problem. I've also posted on the Dell forums but I'm hoping someone here might have a suggestion.

Mac mini, macOS 26.0

Posted on Oct 5, 2025 4:40 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Servant of Cats

Level 8

37,205 points

Oct 6, 2025 1:34 AM in response to boxner1

Have you checked System Settings > Accessibility > Display to make sure that you haven't turned on any of the features like Invert colors mode?

Seems like a long shot, but it couldn't hurt to check.

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Answer 2

boxner1 Author

Level 1

4 points

Oct 6, 2025 5:03 PM in response to boxner1

Update: after about 5 hours research and dealing with Apple Support by phone, I decided to use a Time Machine restore and see if the problem persisted after that.

While attempting to do a Time Machine restore I reached a point where it said I had to use Migration Assistant. I wasn't sure how to do that, so I began to back out of the restore process. While still in the restore pages I saw the option to Restart. So I did. The Mini went through the Restart and when it ended the colors were back to normal.

I've done 25 Restarts from the regular menu bar Apple logo, without any joy. What is different about the Restart from the Time Machine sequence?

In hopes that someone can figure this out, I'll also note that when doing normal Restarts, I always got a screen popup message saying "Display contrast increased". In the Time Machine/Restore Restart, I didn't get that popup.

I'll post this here so when the next time it happens I can check here and remind myself how to correct it. :-)

Thanks to everyone who had suggestions.

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Answer 3

Oct 6, 2025 5:07 PM in response to boxner1

try:

Settings > accessibility > Increase contrast > OFF

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Answer 4

boxner1 Author

Level 1

4 points

Oct 6, 2025 8:53 AM in response to boxner1

In checking the DDPM logs, there are numerous fatal errors after the OS update, but none in the log before the update. Even though I've deleted the DDPM activation file, logic says this is where the problem lies. I'll have dig deeper and try to root out all references to it.

So thanks for the suggestions here, but I now assume the issue lies with the Dell DDPM program and I'll take the discussion there.

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Answer 5

MrHoffman

Level 10

148,393 points

Oct 5, 2025 5:01 PM in response to boxner1

Figure out how to get the current firmware loaded. That may or may not help, but flaky behavior and flaky firmware updates can be firmware issues, as can be rendering issues.

If not already loaded, I’d also load the display package and the peripheral manager packages available for macOS from Dell:

https://www.dell.com/support/product-details/en-us/product/s2725qc-monitor/drivers

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Answer 6

Oct 7, 2025 7:09 AM in response to boxner1

Then the issue is likely being forced by the dell display software.

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Answer 7

boxner1 Author

Level 1

4 points

Oct 6, 2025 8:20 AM in response to MrHoffman

Actually, it was my suspicion that this was what was causing the issue since:

Monitor+M4 MacMini+OS 26.0.1+USB cable+DDPM = insane colors (DDPM is the display package)

Monitor+M1 MacBookAir+OS 26.0.1+same USB cable = normal. (DDPM was never installed on the MBA)

However, I've since deleted DDPM on the MacMini and turned off the monitor option of DDI/CI, which allows a computer to control a monitor's settings. That hasn't corrected the problem.

So, currently the MacMini and MBA are identical in terms of OS, programs and cables, but one works and one doesn't. That's confusing.

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