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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?

macOS

50k

Posted by

IPv6Freely

Reply

I am just as frustrated. Brand new Samsung monitor and it is not working on Big Sur 11.4. Black border on each side. Same monitor works great on a Catalina Machine. @apple please fix this.

—
deepap19
I have a problem with my second monitor connected to HDMI on Mac Mini M1. Before the update of 11.4, it was working perfectly. I just recently updated the OS and now it takes time for my mac mini to detect the second monitor. Sometimes, I have to remove the HDMI cable and connect it again for the display to work again.

Please @apple fix this problem.

—
hmtugano
Same issue! After I upgraded my Mac, my hi-res HTMI-connected Samsung monitor streaked and blipped. The windows also jumped around when it would wake up. I had to unplug the Samsung and now it's worthless and collecting dust. I plugged in an old monitor with a VGA cable and the dock and menu still do not work on the second monitor. Luckily, I have not upgraded at home. ...I use three monitors there. I'm a graphic designer. I NEED multiple monitors. Apple, FIX THIS MESS!!!

—
bargnhunner

Replies

Same Issue with Target Display Mode

Posted by

giangg

just an update to my previous post - re-installing Big Sur (from recovery) did not fix this: application windows on external display are still hidden after wake... (sigh)

I did discover that it works fine when the external display is scaled to its highest resolution, in my case 3840x2160. Which is eye straining (for me)

UPDATE: not only on wake - pretty much whenever the monitor is dis-re-connected ..

Apple - when will you fix this?

Posted by

pkouame

Disabling "Displays Have Separate Spaces" in Monitor Control fixes the OP problem of display recovery after switching monitoring configuration/sources.

Posted by

moixa

I am working on a Macbook Pro 16" 2019 with two external dell monitors, along with J5 create dock. I am accustomed to 3 displays and now only have two. I have gone through all of the recommendations including switching my HDMI ports to ensure it wasnt one of the ports also switched out HDMI for VGA to ensure it wasn't the cords....no luck. I am so disappointed. I have unplugged, replugged, restarted in different sequences as well. When I be better off switching back to catalina? if so how do I do that?

Posted by

mkrolak

Hey all! Thought I would share my experiences here. Last week, I updated my 2017 iMac to Big Sur and immediately lost the ability to use my external display monitor. I tried several work arounds, but the best I have found is by connecting my monitor to my external eGPU instead of connecting it to my computer. Works great. I know not everyone has one, but if you do you might want to just go that route.

Posted by

elizabethsaint

2020 Macbook Air

Hi all!
I have the reverse issue after updating the Big Sur!

My built-in display on my Macbook started flickering after updating then stopped working yesterday! Connecting an external monitor via usb-c/HDMI dongle works for me...wierd!

:(

Posted by

m12furious

Hi,

Have you found the solutions? Here is what worked for me, I having the same issue as you, been googling everywhere but couldn't find the right answer.

Step:

Go to "Displays"
Select "Arrangement" tab
[IMPORTANT] You must drag the external monitor arrangement to left or right, depending on your current arrangement.
Start to organise your application in the order that you wanted.
Unplug the monitor and plug it back.
Voila! all windows should stays at its correct position on the screen.
Now, you can repeat step 3 to your original arrangement.

Hope it works for you!

Posted by

izzuddinnoormy

Hi, my external monitor was working, then simply stopped showing up in displays. Tried clicking around and doing software things. Then just disconnected each cable, adapter, etc. hooking external monitor to iMac and bingo came back to life.

Posted by

trevord

So incredibly frustrating, time consuming and costing. Big Sur update is a big ***** up if you have an external monitor set up. Signal appears to be going to it when you check system information but the monitor is not receiving signal, BLANK SCREEN.
Contacted APPLE they said can't do anything. Known problem. Wait for update. They should ONLY release OS updates that work. This is pathetic. Service person was as usual nice...but didn't have a work around and offered nothing for the time I wasted trying to make it work, research the issue, and contacting them. Starting to hate Apple.

Posted by

bobobug

I installed Big Sur and found out that windows were off screen when I plugged my external monitor.
I reset NVRAM and the issue seemed to disappear.

Later I did a reset from factory, also reset NVRAM again, installed Big Sur from scratch. A few days after, again windows off screen in the second monitor. Did a NVRAM reset, again seemed to fixed the issue. Permanently? Don't know yet...

Posted by

mmplx

Same issue. All the macOS windows would shift over to the built-in laptop display

Posted by

velizarx

Same issues.

MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2014)
External monitor: Samsung S24D590

Posted by

AlePerez92

Same issue. All the macOS windows would shift over to the built-in laptop display when disconnecting or locking the device ...

Posted by

Dtrue1908

Same Issue.

I have two external Monitors connected via USB C (MBP is closed) and when the Notebook goes to sleep, all Windows are shifted to the right edge of the left monitor (its the main monitor).
I can get the windows back by ctrl+arrow-up and dragging them to the right monitor. then back to the left one.

Posted by

MariuSteinbach

I'm having the same issue. After paying a huge amount of money for a Macbook I would expect a fix ASAP, or at least at this point someone should give us an update. Is this being worked on?

Posted by

demian85