Macbook 2016 HDMI output flickering

sineied wrote:

Seems I have a somewhat related issue:

On my Macbook 2016 with an Anker USB-C HUB with HDMI output plugged onto my video projector, the display is gone sometimes after a few minutes, sometimes even seconds. This is totally random, and I'm sure it's not the cable because the old Macbook Pro 2010 of my wife works perfectly.

I initially thought the issue was from my adapter, then I found this thread which makes me worry... I absolutely need stable video output because I plan to use my macbook for DJing and VJing at the same time, so I can't just unplug/replug the adapter when the display is gore as it will also cut the audio!

For a device of this price with this kind of voluntary limitation (only 1 port for everything!), it is not acceptable to have this kind of issues, still unresolved months after the release.

What can we do???

Many of us have found that if you prevent the laptop from sleeping it will reduce/remove the issue and it certainly worked for me. As for a proper solution there doesn't appear to be one, they've clearly made changes in software and it's still not resolved so it feels a lot like a hardware issue that they're not going to admit until a class action pops up which is how things normally seem to work with Apple. I'm still fighting to return mine and bought a Dell to replace the rMB which will have been my last Apple laptop.

I'm having the same flickering issue with a 2016 Macbook 12" and a Dell 4k P2715Q Monitor, both when using an Apple Multiport Adapter and a MINIX NEO C Mini Multiport Adapter.

On top of this, intermittently the monitor is no longer recognized so it blacks out completely and no amount of rebooting or plugging out cables helps.

Running latest updates of Sierra.

We have this Problem in our Company with two Macbooks (year 2016) too.
I send one Notebook to a Apple Partner.

The entire chipset will be swapped. This week we get the device back. I will report if it was a hardware problem.

Very annoying

On macOS 10.12.2 I got my monitor working, with some problems with the resolution, but it worked.

On macOS 10.12.3 It broke again: my monitor continuously enters power saving mode 😟

El Capitan 10.11.6 was unstable, but the monitor didn't enter power saving en the resolution was detected correctly. Then in the first mac OS Sierra it was still unstable and the resolutions didn't work. In macOS 10.12.2 the monitor finally worked with in a stable manner, but the resolution where not detected correctly (could work around that). And now in macOS 10.12.3 the monitor doesn't show anything because it enters power saving..... (and the resolution is still not correctly detected.)

Also very annoying the HDMI out on iOS using the hdmi-out cable doesn't now has similar problem. in iOS 10.2 they introduced the same bug that the resolution isn't detected properly and in 10.2.1 it has the same power saving problem...

+1

Screen flickering/white noise when first switching on or when coming out of sleep. After a few flickers it seems to settle and is stable.

Apple USB-C Multi-AV adapter

2016 Macbook Pro 15''

2,560 x 1,440 monitor

Does anyone have any successful stories with Apple Support?

Hmm, could You check your HDMI-Cable?

If the Cable not Supported for 4k Resolutions, it could be a problem too.

The chipset of my Macbook was changed by my Apple Partner.
After changed Chipset, i try my tests again with a 4k HDMI Cable.
Now, I havent the flickering -> On both systems: newest Sierra Verions and Bootcamp with Windows 10.

I think important is the lenght of the HDMI-Cable too. When it's over 10m, you could get problems too.
Maybe you look in this direction.

(Please write your Experience - Thank You)

Awesome! I had gone to the shop to exchange my HDMI cable twice. Note: very cheap cable. Always for the same model. I even installed 10.12.4 beta. No dice.

Just tried another cable (other manufacturer, better quality). Flickering eliminated completely.

Thanks a lot!

After reading through this thread, I tried out the "switch audio output" suggestion, and now my MacBook pro 2016 seems to reliably output to an HDMI cable/monitor for a lasting duration using my AliExpress no-brand multi-port adapter. YES! Thanks for the help there.

Only thing is, with the settings this way, I can't use the multi port both for charging and for HDMI... So that's a bit annoying, but, it will work for now.

Seems I spoke too soon.... Flickering returned.

Luckily after a restart (shutdown, disconnect from monitor, power-on and again connected), the image seemed stable again on 10.12.3.

What a buggy mess, I hate windows style "voodoo" methods just to get stuff working.

So as I see it, it can be a power issue, or HDMI cable issue, or software issue.

Im on MacOs 10.12.4 beta 5 and the isssue with flickering when scrolling, random flickering, turning of external monitor 5 secs every 10 mins and so on still persists.

Tested 3 kinds of HDMI cables, and there is one of them there is MUCH better. So with that in mind I will try a High Speed HDMI cable later today.

Stupid Apple! Should have stayed on my macbook air 13 mid 2013....

Today, I try to change the shorter(about 1meter) connection line between Minix multi Adapter (with VGA) and the Epson Projector (original setting as about 5 meters). It works, and Projector catch the signal of MacBook Pro 2016 with touch bar normally.

I think it might be too long for the connection line to push the signal for Mac.

regards,Jimmy

We have this issue too, connecting our MacBook Pro 13-inch, 2016 to a Samsung monitor via VGA (using a Sitecom usb-c multiadapter). Flickering seems to get worse when opening certain Powerpoint files, Word files and certain web-pages.

All software is updated to the latest versions.

I have had this issue too and have been following this thread with interest. It has been a real pain for me and the one negative aspect of purchasing my 12" MacBook at the end of last year. I use it with a Samsung LU24E590DS and right now the problem seems to be fixed. The key point in my case is to not use the apple HDMI adaptor and I have just bought a QacQoc GN30H multi hub from amazon https://www.amazon.co.uk/Delivery-Charging-Ethernet-Specification-Aluminum/dp/B0 1MZ0HFDG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=14911556… No problems any more either with wake from sleep or simply plugging it in when the Mac is awake and running. Switching back to the apple adaptor and the problem returns.

The hub cost little more than apple's adaptor but has 3 usb, hdmi, ethernet, and memory card readers....and I'm hoping it continues to work for me :-)

I have been buying apple kit for years both for me and my family primarily because it has simply just worked - so I am extremely disappointed with this problem and the apparent lack of response/fix from apple

Schendstok wrote:

Seems I spoke too soon.... Flickering returned.

Luckily after a restart (shutdown, disconnect from monitor, power-on and again connected), the image seemed stable again on 10.12.3.

What a buggy mess, I hate windows style "voodoo" methods just to get stuff working.

..the voodoo is very much Mac side this time :-( Using identical cables (all mine are hidden in walls so I didn't want to change them) my XPS 13 (that I bought to replace the mB) with Dell USB-C dock works flawlessly with external monitors.

F@56 wrote:

I have been buying apple kit for years both for me and my family primarily because it has simply just worked - so I am extremely disappointed with this problem and the apparent lack of response/fix from apple

Apple's lack of proper response to this issue is shameful and they've lost me as a computing customer after many years of loyalty - my first Mac was the original Mac Mini G4 1.25Ghz back in 2005.

Windows is a lot better than it was and it's nice to have options on the HW side again. It's made me reconsider future non computer purchases too as I've lost faith in the brand when it comes to support and general value for money. You can charge a premium for your product when it's robust and support is good. If the product / support become as mediocre as the competition you've lost your USP and customers will realize this over time.

Case in point, do Apple ever actually respond here in the community? I had an Outlook issue recently and got a response from an ACTUAL support rep. OK, it wasn't flawless and it took a bit of back and forth to get it resolved but it was infinitely better than what happens here.

This community thrives because helpful people come here and share knowledge. Apple built it and encourages its customers to in effect 'self support'. What mugs are we to help them do that when they should be supplying resources to give real assistance to users who all paid the high price of entry into the ecosystem.

MS are making some compelling hardware now and the OS is flexible and robust. Other smartphone makers are making some gorgeous hardware too (e.g. S8), they just need to polish the OS, discourage people from putting cr*p in their app store and work out how to roll out updates quickly and efficiently to the hardware.

What's really sad is that the rot happening at Apple could be solved very quickly, there's not a lot wrong and they have an insanely privileged position of having a loyal and affluent customer base (compared to the box-shifting competition) but they're squandering it with penny pinching and arrogance.

What is even sadder is that they're not daft and know about everything above; they just don't care. I've realized this, must be others too.