Mac thinks I have an external display. Cursor moves off screen.

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Level 2

223 points

Mac thinks I have an external display. Cursor moves off screen.

I have an issue whereby my 2021 MacBook Pro seems to think there its an external display attached when there is now.

The cursor moves off screen when I drag it past the edge.

I can drag windows to the side of the screen, they fade as if they are being dragged onto an external display and then I can leave them there.

Sometimes an app will open on the 'blind side'.

The System Settings > Displays screen allows me to 'Arrange Displays'. According to the Mac info ".. This option only appears when you have an external display connected to your Mac .."

In line with the cursor issue mentioned above, the cursor only moves off screen on the side I 'arrange the display' to be on.

My 'About this Mac' screen shows an external display.

So it appears my Mac thinks there is an external display connected when there is not.

How do I fix this? I can not see anything in settings that allows me to either remove that external display.

MacBook Pro 16″

Posted on Nov 13, 2024 5:10 PM

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Answer 1

Jaymz Author

Level 2

223 points

Nov 14, 2024 5:38 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

No. I did have some work done at an Apple Auth place a few days ago, they may have attached a secondary monitor / laptop at some stage. I was hoping there was a reset or some kind of pref file I could delete.

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Answer 2

Nov 14, 2024 1:39 PM in response to Jaymz

ugh, I expected it would tell you more about where it was connected.

The Mac does NOT save up display information from restart to restart -- it re-derives from existing displays it sees as currently connected. So seeing a display present says you have SOME sort of physical display connected, or you have installed something like Displaylink software or a dock whose software included the equivalent of DisplayLink software.

Spooky music... the call is coming from INSIDE the House ... spooky music continues...

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