macOS Big Sur - Multiple Display "Recovery"

App & System Services Core OS macOS

Created Jun ’20

Replies 163

Boosts 0

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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

giangg OP

Nov ’20

Same Issue with Target Display Mode

pkouame OP

Nov ’20

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?

moixa OP

Nov ’20

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

mkrolak OP

Nov ’20

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?

elizabethsaint OP

Nov ’20

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.

m12furious OP

Nov ’20

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!

:(

izzuddinnoormy OP

Nov ’20

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!

trevord OP

Dec ’20

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.

bobobug OP

Dec ’20

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.

mmplx OP

Dec ’20

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...

velizarx OP

Dec ’20

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

AlePerez92 OP

Dec ’20

Same issues.

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

Dtrue1908 OP

Dec ’20

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

MariuSteinbach OP

Dec ’20

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.

demian85 OP

Dec ’20

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?