Users report ongoing display problems in macOS Big Sur 11.1 and 11.2
A number of users running macOS Big Sur 11.1 or 11.2 are experiencing external display connection issues, according to reports across social media and support forums.
Credit: AppleInsider
The issues appear to have started in macOS Big Sur 11.1, according to reports from Apple Support Communities, Reddit, and the MacRumors forum. The recently released macOS 11.2 update doesn't seem to have fixed all of the problems, and some reports indicate that it actually worsened them.
Although the issues are related to the use of external displays, users are reporting two different bugs. For example, some users are running into issues with USB-C ports failing to recognize external monitors. This specific issue appears to affect both HDMI and DisplayPort display connections, either directly connected to a Mac or routed through a hub.
Other reports indicate resolution problems with external displays. This issue seemingly prevents external displays from functioning at a 4K 60Hz resolution. Instead, displays are locked at 30Hz and may even be recognized only as 1080p HD displays.
The issues appear to be ongoing, and there doesn't appear to be a patch in the first macOS 11.3 beta. No functioning and reliable fix or workaround has been discovered for either problem.
Credit: AppleInsider
The issues appear to have started in macOS Big Sur 11.1, according to reports from Apple Support Communities, Reddit, and the MacRumors forum. The recently released macOS 11.2 update doesn't seem to have fixed all of the problems, and some reports indicate that it actually worsened them.
Although the issues are related to the use of external displays, users are reporting two different bugs. For example, some users are running into issues with USB-C ports failing to recognize external monitors. This specific issue appears to affect both HDMI and DisplayPort display connections, either directly connected to a Mac or routed through a hub.
Other reports indicate resolution problems with external displays. This issue seemingly prevents external displays from functioning at a 4K 60Hz resolution. Instead, displays are locked at 30Hz and may even be recognized only as 1080p HD displays.
The issues appear to be ongoing, and there doesn't appear to be a patch in the first macOS 11.3 beta. No functioning and reliable fix or workaround has been discovered for either problem.
Comments
With 11.2, it boots up to the right resolution and refresh rate so far. I have found, however, that if the monitor is switched off and the Mac then goes into sleep mode, switching the monitor back on and waking up the Mac can cause it to drop the resolution down - but then switching the monitor off and on again fixes it. But this doesn't happen all the time. So there appears to be some improvement (at least for me), but not by much.
Never had any BT issues (knock on wood), using Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad 2.
It's attached using an Apple Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link Adapter (firmware 1.0.3), then a Amiroko USB 3.1C to Mini DisplayPort. Believe me I'm surprised it still works at all : )
However, under MacOS 11.2 I now have to unplug/replug the adapter from my M1 Mac mini about 90% of the time when the computer goes to sleep. Under MacOS 11.1 it was about 70% of the time. And under MacOS 11.1 using a Intel i7 Mac mini it was about 25% of the time.
I understand my display is old and I've cobbled together adapters to make it work, and it's a miracle that it still works.
But would love to have a better solution (other than the Apple Pro Display—Yikes! Beautiful monitor, but I'm not an artist, just have normal consumer needs). Or advice on better adapters until Apple or someone else makes a monitor that I can love as much as this one.
What the hell with tech people being constantly willing to excuse perpetual tech problems??
This issue sounds, once again, as though Apple don’t actually USE their own products. Issues with third-party displays have been ongoing since Apple ceased making their own. If they’re unwilling to build & sell their own displays, then they ought to be testing their computers with other displays. How else would they know if they’ve broken things in the OS or hardware that are required for reliable display usage?
This is why I refused to buy the 2013 Mac Pro. Nine years later and all they have is an insanely expensive first-party display that only big studios can justify or afford, and third-party displays continue to be problematic.
I’m so sick of the complacency in this whole stupid industry, as well as the blasé attitudes of tech industry-acculturated geeks (and some actual corporate bootlickers). None of this is okay.
Did you get anywhere with your issue? My Dad's 2017 imac has the same problem and has done for a while- was going it while on Mojave, skipped Catalina and updated straight to Big Sur 11.4 but is still doing it.
panic(cpu 0 caller 0xffffff801e7d4e77): "AMDFramebufferVIB::setPowerState(0xffffff937ec92000 : 0xffffff7fb8f47c1c, 0 -> 1) timed out after 45651 ms"@/System/Volumes/Data/SWE/macOS/BuildRoots/e90674e518/Library/Caches/com.apple.xbs/Sources/xnu/xnu-7195.121.3/iokit/Kernel/IOServicePM.cpp:5382
Backtrace (CPU 0), Frame : Return Address
0xffffffa09384bac0 : 0xffffff801e08e0dd
0xffffffa09384bb10 : 0xffffff801e1d4f33
0xffffffa09384bb50 : 0xffffff801e1c552a
0xffffffa09384bba0 : 0xffffff801e032a2f
Also get this one now and again
panic(cpu 3 caller 0xffffff7faac04deb): "virtual bool IOAccelLegacyDisplayMachine::display_mode_did_change(uint32_t): AMDRadeonAccelerator driver returns false"@/System/Volumes/Data/SWE/macOS/BuildRoots/e90674e518/Library/Caches/com.apple.xbs/Sources/IOAcceleratorFamily_kexts/IOAcceleratorFamily-442.9/Kext2/IOAccelLegacyDisplayMachine.cpp:267
Backtrace (CPU 3), Frame : Return Address
0xffffffa0c3be35b0 : 0xffffff800fe8e0dd
0xffffffa0c3be3600 : 0xffffff800ffd4f33
0xffffffa0c3be3640 : 0xffffff800ffc552a