macOS Big Sur - Multiple Display "Recovery"

App & System Services Core OS macOS

Created Jun ’20

Replies 163

Boosts 0

Views 54k

Participants 153

I've found something thing macOS Big Sur broke - the "recovery" after changing display sources. Let me explain...

I have one big 4K monitor, connected to both my Mac (USB-C) and my PC (HDMI). I switch between the two sources on the monitor depending on what I'm doing. Each computer also has its own dedicated monitor (built-in for my Macbook, an old external for my PC).

Prior to macOS Big Sur, if I switched to the PC input on the monitor, all the macOS windows would shift over to the built-in laptop display, and then shift back to their correct window once I switched back. They no longer do that.

The application all stay on the laptop screen and the big screen is empty when I switch the source back on the monitor. I then have to move everything back to the big display.

I guess that's better than the PC behavior where even if you switch the source on the display back to the Mac, Windows still thinks its connected and continues to extend the display (the fix for that is to go to display properties and select "only show on display 2") , but thats a whole other gripe.

Has anyone else experienced this as well? Is there a setting I'm missing? Should I file a bug report?

Boost

Rudy63 OP

Nov ’20

Just upgraded to Big Sur and found only one monitor is supported anymore. Catalina and all previous OS versions worked fine.
I wonder why Apple is not catching such a big problem in their release testing process.
Very frustrating.
Should switch back to Windows.

rbalthazar OP

Nov ’20

A quick workaround for windows to switch back to the correct monitor when disconnecting the second monitor and connecting it back.
If you minimize all windows (Option+Command+H+M) before connecting back the second monitor, windows will be in the same monitor they were previously when you click in their dock's icons.

rajivrajaniipy OP

Nov ’20

I also have same issue, have LG 4k monitor, whenever my MacBook goes to sleep and I wake it up all my apps go to inbuilt screen, didn't use to happen before the upgrade. now its a pain to manually move all the windows back to monitor every time I start to use it after it sleeps!

cherokee1 OP

Nov ’20

Same issue with 2019 iMac and LG 4k monitor.

Similar to @rajivrajaniipy, on wakeup from sleep, my external monitor is blank, and windows from that monitor are hidden and not accessible. Even when the external monitor is working, the desktop is not accessible on that screen.

chuckyoufarley OP

Nov ’20

Similar problem here after upgrading to Big Sur yesterday. If I switch my monitor input and switch back to the input my 2018 MacBook Pro is on then all my windows are hidden off screen.

stid OP

Nov ’20

Same issue here. It happened when upgrading to Catalina a couple of years ago. The issue disappeared after several upgrades though.
Now it is back again on Big Sur :(

Sabbanides OP

Nov ’20

My issue that started with the BigSur update is that when I'm working on my macbook directly and then plug my external monitor, one or more of my apps remains open but mostly invisible. I can swipe up with 3 fingers and see all the apps, but when I choose one I cannot see it - even if it is the active software.

sholland410 OP

Nov ’20

running a 2019 macbook and external monitor is not being recognized.

using a dell monitor, running usb-c to displayport cable. any ideas?

AndreaC83 OP

Nov ’20

Same issue for me. Extended monitors no longer keep the apps in place once disconnected from the macbook pro late 2016.
Please fix asap.

sbeutel OP

Nov ’20

Same here. Even after wake from sleep the apps on the second monitor are hidden. I only can access the app windows by showing all open apps, then move the app to the internal display, and after restoring it, move it back to the second display.
Looks like Apple never tested with multiple screens.

furtado.diegos OP

Nov ’20

same issue on 2019 macbook
My external LG monitor is not being recognized.

mirkoseifert OP

Nov ’20

I have the same problem. My LG monitor is permanently connected to my MacBook. When my screen is locked and I unlock it using my fingerprint, some windows (e.g., Mail, Finder and Safari) are not visible. For other applications (e.g., Slack) it works. It seems that the applications that were shown on the external monitor because the screen was locked "loose" their position. The ones that were shown on the MacBook display keep their position.

I need to use the Magnet tool to move the windows in order to make them visible. This was definitely not he case before upgrading to Big Sur.

This new behaviour is quite annoying - in particular if one needs to unlock the screen multiple times a day.

cryptodevice OP

Nov ’20

Similar problem...Big Sur, Mac Mini 2018 with two (2) LG 27" 4K monitors. I can only get one monitor to work at a time. I've tried a dual monitor configuration using USB-C connections for both and USB-C for one monitor and HDMI for the other. I've tried Detect Displays to no avail.

I had a similar issue with Catalina, but only at startup. If the 2nd monitor wasn't recognized, shutting down and restarting resolved the issue.

cv_ OP

Nov ’20

I had this issue as well, both in public beta and now in the public release.

Fix for me was to reset NVRAM and SMC, immediately solved the problem. Am back to my normal workflow, able to leave my desk to work on the laptop then go back later. The external display shows all windows as they were before I unplugged.

NVRAM Reset: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204063
SMC Reset: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201295

Hope it helps others as well. 👍

m00seknuckle OP

Nov ’20

Same - was fine using LG 4k wide monitor until plugged ipad into USB c connected to external monitor. Selected to change the input accidentally to the Ipad and when switched back everything was gone.

Had to connect back to usb c to ipad, unplug connection and reset input to hdmi before it 'rediscovered'