My Mac mini M4 has a dark, high contrast image output. I've tried switching from HDMI to a C-DP cable, tried two different monitors, upgraded the OS to Tahoe 26.1 but all with no improvement. I didn't have this problem with my Macbook M2 Air, just since I've switched to the Mac Mini.
Has anyone any suggestions?
Mac mini, macOS 26.1
I had similar problems with my LG monitor with my M4 Mini. I fixed it by turning off High Dynamic Range in the System ➙ Displays settings pane:
I also have the color profile set to what you see in the screenshot. I also have Reduce transparency and Increase contrast turn on in the System ➙ Accessibility settings pane.
Give that a try and see if it helps at all. 🤞
Where are the pictures from?
Where is your library located? If on an external drive how is it formatted?
Also have you installed and run any "cleaning", "optimizing", "speed-up", anti-virus or VPN apps on your Mac?
In addition to Old Toads excellent advice:
Go to System Setting > Accessibility > Display:
1) turn off Increase contrast if on
2) turn on Reduce Transparence if off
3) set the Display contrast slider to Normal
Hi Old Toad. I'm mainly having problems when editing on Final Cut Pro X, importing MP4 files directly from a SD card via a UGreen add-on base unit for the Mac Mini. No VPN, etc installed yet though I do run NordVPN on all my other Apple devices.
The changes you and den.thed suggested have made a significant improvement to my monitor image, for which I thank you both, and I think just a few more minor "tweaks" will improve things even more for my aging eyesight 👍🏼
Regarding your other devices: Unless you're using a true VPN tunnel, such as between you and your employer's, school's or bank's servers, they provide false security from a privacy standpoint. Read these articles: Pubic VPN's are anything but private and Security Risks: The Dangers of Using Free VPNs (eccu.edu).
Additionally a new study ("Apple Offers Apps With Ties to Chinese Military”) is specifically about VPN apps in Apple’s App Store.
I recommend uninstalling the VPN according to the developer's instructions. Then you can check to see if you've removed all of the supporting files by downloading and running the shareware app to search for any files with the application's or the developer's name in the file name. For the NordVPN files you'd do the following search(es):
1 - Name contains nordvpn
2 - Name contains vpn
Any files that are found can be dragged from the search results window to the Desktop or Trash bin in the Dock for deletion.
FAF can search areas that Spotlight can't like invisible folders, system folders and packages.
If you get warnings that the file can't be deleted because it is in use or used by another app boot into Safe Mode according to How to use safe mode on your Mac, run Find Any File again and delete from there.
Note: if you have a wireless keyboard with rechargeable batteries connect it with its charging cable before booting into Safe Mode. This makes it act as a wired keyboard as will assure a successful boot into Safe Mode.
Just some food for thought.
Many thanks for your reply. They seem to have worked partially but I need to reduce saturation to get a better image.
Thanks for your help 👍🏼
Mac mini M4 has a dark, high contrast image output
