Why is my macOS external display not working?
Why is my macOS external display not working?
I recently encountered an issue with my Mac where my external display stopped working. Although my Mac recognizes the external monitor and identifies its model, the screen remains blank. I checked all the connections, and everything seems to be plugged in properly. I tried different cables and even tested the external display with another device, and it worked perfectly. Strangely, the system settings show that the external display is detected, but I’m still not getting any output on the screen. I’m not sure if this is a software issue or a hardware problem, but it’s becoming quite frustrating as I rely on the external monitor for my work. Can someone help me understand what might be causing this issue and how to diagnose it further?
4 Answers
From my troubleshooting experience dealing with similar macOS external display issues, I can suggest these steps:
1. Boot your Mac into Safe Mode by holding the Shift key while it starts up. This will only load essential drivers and can help to rule out software conflicts.
2. Log in to your account, go to System Preferences > Displays, and try the “Detect Displays” button. If your external display works in Safe Mode, it could indicate a software conflict in your normal account.
3. Create a new user account and log in with it. Then, connect the external display. If it works, the problem might be specific to your user profile.
4. Check your Mac’s System Report under the Apple menu > About This Mac > System Report > Graphics/Displays section to ensure that the external display is listed here. If the display appears, it’s a good indication that the hardware is functioning correctly.
When I experienced this issue, it turned out to be related to power management settings. Here are steps you can try:
1. Go to System Preferences > Energy Saver and make sure “Prevent computer from sleeping automatically when the display is off” is checked.
2. Open System Preferences, then go to Displays, navigate to the Arrangement tab to confirm your display settings, and make sure the external monitor is arranged correctly.
3. Sleep and wake your Mac with the external monitor connected. This sometimes forces macOS to re-detect attached displays.
4. Disconnect the external monitor, shut down your Mac completely (do not restart), and then reconnect everything before starting your Mac back up.
You may be facing a software glitch that might be affecting your external display’s functionality with your Mac. I recommend trying a few steps to see if they can resolve the issue:
1. Restart your Mac and the external monitor. Sometimes a simple restart can resolve any temporary software issues.
2. Go to System Preferences > Displays and click the “Detect Displays” button. This can help the Mac to reinitialize the connection with the external monitor.
3. Check for macOS updates. Sometimes, updating to the latest version of the operating system can resolve compatibility issues with external hardware.
4. Reset the NVRAM/PRAM: Turn off your Mac, then turn it on while holding Option, Command, P, and R keys. Keep holding them for about 20 seconds, then release. This can help resolve issues related to display settings.
5. Check DisplayPort/Mini DisplayPort or HDMI settings on the external monitor. Ensure that the correct input source is selected.
My experience with this issue stemmed from a hardware incompatibility. Here’s what worked for me:
1. Ensure the cable and adapters are certified and compatible with macOS. Non-certified accessories can cause such problems.
2. Try different ports on your Mac. Sometimes, certain ports might exhibit issues due to dirt or damage.
3. Use a different external display to confirm if the issue is specific to your monitor.
4. Borrow or purchase a different brand or model of cable to see if that eliminates the problem, as some brands may not work well with macOS.
5. Ensure that your monitor firmware is up to date (some new monitors allow firmware updates).