Q: Macbook 2016 HDMI output flickering

I've been through a parade of multiport AV adapters and the Apple version is the only one that works even sort-of reliably...and even that one, every time I unplug the MacBook I have to use a Giottos rocket blower to blow the air out of the port to get the monitor to work without flickering occasionally.  Any lesser adapters (MonoPrice, Anker, etc.) the screen just blanks out constantly and is essentially unusable.  <sigh>

I have similar flickering problem on my 2016 MacBook using OS X.

So the original 2015 version doesn't have that? That is insanely annoying...

When I use "Mirror Displays mode" it happens a lot less, don't know why. I just hope it is a driver bug and that Apple can/will fix it

External monitor flickering Macbook 2016

Please let us know if exchanging the Macbook helped or if this is a generic problem with the 2016 model. Thanks!

I have this problem and after tons of debugging have narrowed the problem down a bit. I can consistently solve the problem by doing a full power-off restart (normal restart wont do it). Once I've shut the power off and back on, the screen is stable until the next time it comes back (usually after a few wake/sleep cycles).

Have tried all sorts of things (reset PRAM, new cables, different monitors, replace USB-C dongle, use 3rd party USB-C dongle, create a new generic user, etc.) and am now at a senior level of support with Apple and sending them detailed logs. Hopefully they will find the issue.

I will definitely circle back here if they sort me out.

-ambanmba

Thanks for investigating, please keep us updated. I have the same issue, it is solved after a normal restart though. After restart with the HDMI display connected it works stable all day. If I disconnect, sleep, and connect again it starts flickering every now and then. Also, the audio of the HDMI display is gone and the Macbook audio is active. Did you try with other displays? Wondering if it is generic or happens only with certain displays?

Interesting about the audio, I haven't tried it since I just use the audio out of the headphone jack. It's definitely not with specific displays because I've tried at least 5 different displays, many different cables (including an official Apple one). Mine also flickers no matter whether it's got power or on battery and no matter whether there is anything plugged into the USB port or not.

I have this issue too, several symptoms but all are solved by a restart, sometimes by unplugging and replugging the USB-C into the MacBook.

- External screen jumps like it's trying to switch to another desktop

- The external screen 'shakes'

- It goes black for a couple of seconds

- It doesn't come back after a sleep (the unplug/replug seems to resolve this)

I'm using the OWC USB C dock with Anker 3.1 cable from dock to laptop.  Also happens with the Kanex.  I've not tried the official adapter yet but from the sounds of things it's the laptop/OS.  Will try another HDMI cable for S&Gs though .. it's a Dell 2515H by the way running 2560x1440.

Hope there is some resolution soon as it's pretty annoying.

Adam