How do I resolve the issue of two OLED monitors not being detected by a newer MacBook Pro and macOS 26.2?

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Level 1

4 points

How do I resolve the issue of two OLED monitors not being detected by a newer MacBook Pro and macOS 26.2?

I am unable to connect two Alienware AW2725Q QD-OLED displays to my M4 Pro MacBook. The monitors are on the latest v102 firmware from Dell. I am using two DP 1.4 to USB-C cables of the same brand directly from the two monitors to two separate thunderbolt ports on my Mac.

The EDID/id information from the monitors seems to be correct and are unique in the serial/id field.

Oddly, when I did the MacOS on my Mac from 26.1 to 26.2 just now - while I left both monitors plugged in through the update and reboot - I had both monitors detected and working for the first time. Thinking this was a fix in 26.2 I was elated until I removed the monitors, and then reattached the cables, only for the same problem to occur. Subsequent reboots with monitors plugged in don't detect both displays as one might have imagined.

These two monitors work flawlessly on my work MacBook M1 Max on Sequoia and of course works with my windows machine.

Is there any known bug from Apple about this? From what I can tell these monitors should meet Apple's supposed stringent EDID standards from what I have heard from other community posts.

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: Escalating - not sure if we can consider it as PII

MacBook Pro 14″, macOS 26.2

Posted on Dec 21, 2025 8:36 PM

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Answer 1

TheLittles

Level 10

203,085 points

Dec 21, 2025 9:53 PM in response to stevenvc93

“How do I resolve the issue of two OLED monitors not being detected by a newer MacBook Pro and macOS 26.2?: […]These two monitors work flawlessly on my work MacBook M1 Max on Sequoia and of course works with my windows machine.[…]”

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Troubleshooting Monitor Connection:

Verify the Connection:

First off, see if the monitors are even seen:

Hold Down: the Option key
Click: the Apple menu
Choose: System Information or System Report
Select: Graphics/Displays and USB from the list on the left
Look For: the monitors

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Answer 2

Dec 22, 2025 7:30 AM in response to stevenvc93

that AW2725Q QD appear to be a 3840 by 2160 (4K) display with up to 10 bits/color capability, that can refresh at up to 240 Hz

connectivity includes:

2x HDMI 2.1

1x DisplayPort 1.4

Your MacBook Pro M4, even if the (plain) processor, supports up to two external displays. (But likely not at the maximum refresh rates the displays support.)

The cables or cable/adapters required for recent macOS are extremely sensitive to ANY data errors, and therefore it is prudent to use cables that are certified and no longer than ONE meter.

If using a discrete adapter, the USB-C portion (before the conversion electronics) cannot exceed one meter, and the DisplayPort portion (after the conversion electronics) can not exceed one meter.

re: HDMI

HDMI derived from USB-C is less capable than DisplayPort derived from USB-C. The next step up in HDMI speed required more bandwidth than a ThunderBolt port could produce, so Apple created a DIRECT HDMI port with higher data rates to support HDMI 2.1.

HDMI 2.1 requires certified ULTRA cables, and nothing less will suffice. HDMI uses higher voltage levels, so allowed cable lengths are slightly longer than for USB-C or DisplayPort.

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