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Macbook 2016 HDMI output flickering

I have both MacBook 2015 and MacBook 2016,


and I've purchased the original Apple USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter.


I've loaded both MacBooks with genuine copies of Windows 10 Pro with bootcamp, partition cut into half between Mac OS and Windows 10.


The new MacBook 2016, while doing screen cloning using the Multiport Adapter under Windows 10,


the output always flickers, and the pattern is always consistent:


1.) Waking up from sleep, always flickers once;

2.) And then will at least flickers 2-3 times more;


It doesn't happen with the MacBook 2015,


is this is hardware design flaw of the new MacBook 2016?? Or is it a software (driver) issue?


All drivers are being updated to the latest.

MacBook, Windows 10

Posted on Jul 17, 2016 9:32 PM

Reply
394 replies

Oct 19, 2017 2:59 AM in response to kenofstephen

I eventually caved and bought one of these:

http://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/nqBMrBi


It worked so well that I ended up buying 2 more.

Added benefit: I realized (only when I bought the Neo-C, not the Neo-X) that my office has GIGABIT ETHERNET! I can now upload/download files at 900mbps, consistently.


I plug in one cable when I get to work, and I have:

  • My USB goodies all hooked up
  • HDMI monitor
  • Power cable
  • Memory card
  • Ethernet

Pretty amazing.


Best part? No flickering, no cutting out, no BS. Works perfectly, every time, in every port.

Jan 6, 2017 7:39 AM in response to kenofstephen

Hello. Did you return your Macbook or get this fixed? I just found this thread after putting up with the display issue for the last three months. I've been a Mac user since the early 90's and this is the worst Mac I've ever owned. Sad. I was so excited to get it. I'm in sales and connected to external displays is what I do. Doing a restart every time is not feasible. Thanks for starting this thread. I wish the last page didn't end with the issue still unresolved. Not sure that I have any options other than sucking it up and continuing to install beta software.

Jan 6, 2017 9:01 AM in response to kenofstephen

it could just be hardware related but try downloading the drivers again just to be sure. it could be something to do with the digital AV adapter but you mentioned it worked fine on the 2015 MacBook. I think this may be relevant to windows. Try contacting Microsoft and see if they have any support for the new MacBook. If not it is most likely to be drivers. It is likely that the usb c port is faulty though. Make sure your Mac OS X and Windows 10 is updated to the latest and then try re installing the drivers.

Jan 20, 2017 12:31 AM in response to kenofstephen

I have this issue too, with a MBP 2016 15" and a Samsung SE790C ultrawide monitor. It's driving me absolutely bonkers!


The Samsung monitor is connected via HDMI (with the official Apple USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter) and every now and then it will just flicker and then the screen will go black for a few seconds, and then the picture will reappear. Happens pretty regularly. Really don't understand what's going on. Any ideas anyone?


Upgraded to 10.12.3 Public Beta yesterday but made no difference.

Jan 31, 2017 11:13 AM in response to kenofstephen

I too am having this issue with a few additional observations.


I'm using a usb-c to hdmi adapter.

When I unplug the external monitor/4k via the usb-c adapter and plug it back in later, there is no response at all from the monitor/4k. If I unplug the hdmi cable from the adapter and reseat it in the adapter, the monitor comes on, BUT it comes on at a resolution that is larger than the viewable space on the monitor. When in this mode, I experience the flickering. It seems as if a true sync (of resolution) is not being achieved and the software is repeatedly attempting to adjust the resolution/positioning. I can reboot while the monitor is plugged in and upon restart it will sync and behave normally.


Another important workaround is that I can resolve this by opening the display settings and modifying the resolution on my external monitor to something that is not supported (e.g. 1600x900) and then gather the windows on the laptop before returning the setting to 3840x2160. When it resyncs at 3840x2160, the screen size is correct and there is no more flickering.


This is obviously a behavior condition on the part of the software as the hardware shows no diagnostic errors and functions normally otherwise.


Apple please let us know if there is a proper tracker created for the appropriate developers and a link to any other forum thread that is being officially monitored/responded to. This is a highly impactful bug.

Feb 1, 2017 7:15 AM in response to strobe33333

We're a tolerant lot aren't we? Seems that there's been an issue with video output since the release of the 2016 rMB and still here we are. This is beginning to feel more like hardware than software and yet Apple (despite reaching out to a few of us initially) are silent on the matter. Must it always take a class action lawsuit to get them to admit to anything wrong with their hardware?

Feb 7, 2017 1:00 AM in response to kenofstephen

Can people who do return/replace under warranty please post their experiences. I bought mine from Currys in the UK and they're telling me they will not refund/replace, I'm to follow standard fault procedure. If Apple would just admit it's a hardware/design fault it would be hugely useful but I cannot see that happening.


Cheers,

Feb 10, 2017 7:32 AM in response to kenofstephen

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???

Macbook 2016 HDMI output flickering

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