Q: Mac mini 2014 won't wake monitor via HDMI

I don't know your monitor's details. I was fortunate in that my monitor also has a DVI connector. I bought a $9 mini displayport to DVI cable. Six days now and it works perfectly. It is NOT an issue with your mini. It's an issue with ALL minis. So if you only have HDMI on your monitor, get a refund. If you have a DVI connection, do what I did.

My monitor has HDMI (2x) and VGA (Asus MX239h or something like that). I guess I could use a Mini-Displayport to HDMI adaptor to see if that works, but again, it's just the whole idea that I have to do buy something else because it's not working the way it should. Also, MM Mini-Displayport to Monitor HDMI seems to work only some of the time with users on the forums, so it's still a gamble.

I feel like I'm buying a Brand-New car that was sitting in an outside lot - in the sun and rain, with mileage other than '0'. If this is the reality of the Mac Minis right out-of-the-box, I feel like I should be able to negotiate the price.

Leaning more to just returning it and continuously checking to see if a solution has been made later on. Damned thing was a birthday gift and now it's just turning into a hassle and headache!

It's so strange that i face this issue with VGA when all people inside this thread are complaining just about the HDMI port.

I'm using an original Mini DP > VGA adapter.

Well, I think we're all in agreement, ALL video output connections should work - adapter or not, but ESPECIALLY if no adapter is in the equation.

Can you imagine... it's like having a Blu-Ray player with a non-functioning HDMI port, and then being told that you needed to use a Composit (RCA) to HDMI adapter in order to connect it to an HDTV.

My setup:

LG 32" Display with HDMI ports

HDMI1 has a mac mini 2014 which after more than 10 mins of sleep will NOT wake up monitor. Have to cycle through display input then it works

HDMI2 has a macbook pro 2013 connected for work  - never had problem waking monitor

I previously had a mac mini 2010 connected as above and never had this issue

My case number is:

727454872

On phone with Apple Support now - fingers crossed!

I too am having trouble with my VGA to Mini Display Port. It is connected to a projector that does not wake up after the Mac goes to sleep. My MacBook Air wakes the projector up fine from sleep. I have talked to many Apple Care Senior Advisors and non of them have been able to help. My monitor wakes up fine. It is connect through an HDMI to DVI cable. So I am not sure what the problem is from.

Did some troubleshooting an Apple Advisor and no luck yet. He was nice enough to escalate after doing a programmatic dump of my system. I expect to hear back mid week next week. I will post any updates here.

Returned Mac Mini today. Ludicrously busy store so didn't get to really chit chat about the problem. I'll just check the forums until people confirm problem is solved. Just to be clear... can others please help just confirm the rest of the following?

MM HDMI > Monitor HDMI = Sleep/Wake Issue

MM Mini DP > Monitor Mini DP = OK

MM Mini DP > Monitor VGA = ?

MM Mini DP > Monitor DVI = ?

MM Mini DP > Monitor HDMI = ?

My experience so far:

MM HDMI > Monitor HDMI = Sleep/Wake Issue

MM Mini DP > Monitor Mini DP = Not sure. My display does not have a DP port

MM Mini DP > Monitor VGA =Sleep/Wake Issue

MM Mini DP > Monitor DVI = ?

MM Mini DP > Monitor HDMI = Sleep/Wake Issue

HDMI to HDMI TV... no longer any problems

My experience so far:

MM HDMI > Monitor HDMI = Sleep/Wake Issue

MM Mini DP > Monitor Mini DP = Not sure. My display does not have a DP port

MM Mini DP > Monitor VGA =Sleep/Wake Issue (Also not working for me)

MM Mini DP > Monitor DVI = ?

MM Mini DP > Monitor HDMI = Sleep/Wake Issue

I would like to add that for some reason

MM HDMI > HDMI to DVI cable = Working

at least in my setup.

Posted here -- Monitor Doesn't Recognize Mac Mini After It Goes To Sleep

badladr Been struggling with this issue for the last few weeks also, but finally got it working.

 

Setup:

Mac Mini (late 2014) 2.6GHz, 16GB RAM 1600MHz

Display: HP Envy 24 IPS

 

When Mac mini is asleep, pressing the right 'Shift' key wakes both the Mac and monitor up.

 

Pressing any other key, or moving the mouse only wakes the Mac and the monitor would remain in sleep mode.

 

Hope this helps someone, as this issue is truly a pain.

Since that thread was marked as solved for the OP I thought there might be a chance that you folks might miss badladr's post. It's worth a try.

I can say after a couple of weeks of using this, that the mini will repeatedly wake up with HDMI >DVI cable on HDMI port to monitor DVI port.  That is a 100% solution for me.  My problem is that I have 2 monitors on the mini and the first one wakes up all the time, the second one is highly inconsistent.

There are times when 2 monitors wake up, but that is a combination of time and using the KB.  For some reason the mouse is 0% effective, it will only wake up the main monitor, not the second monitor.

On Monday morning I will have a good long block of time.  I am going to set the monitor power down to 1 minute so that I can try the full matrix of solutions by monitor and cable and chart them all so that I can call into support with all of the options and what works/doesn't.  To me, even though I have found a partial solution, this is still a flawed product.

Waking the Mac Mini via Right Shift does not wake up my Samsung SynchMaster 2220wm, which is connected to the MM HDMI port via a DVI to HDMI cable. I have two other monitors that work with that setup, but the Samsung is the preferred monitor. I have ordered a DVI to mini display port adapter, which the rep at B&H told me is compatible with the ThunderBolt 2 port. Once I receive and install it, I'll report back if it resolves my particular issue.

MY SOLUTION (that is not particularly energy conscious):

Having same trouble as everyone else with HDMI to HDMI connection or thunderbolt to HDMI connection from 2014 mac mini to an HP monitor.  Not a great solution (but an effective temporary one for me) because of the energy drain of a constantly 'on' monitor: I have found that by turning off "power saver" within the menu of the HP MONITOR ITSELF (accessed via a menu button on the monitor itself), I can wake up the mac mini and "wake up" the monitor immediately by touching any key on keyboard or by clicking the mouse.   (This just means even though the monitor is actually fully "on" already, the screen, which is blank when mac mini is asleep-except for an ugly box that floats around the screen saying NO VIDEO INPUT, will then immediately display the desktop or login page.) To save energy, you would need to manually turn off the monitor when finished using the computer.  When you then turn the monitor back on later, just press any key on keyboard or click mouse.