External Monitor Issue After macOS Sequoia 15.1.1 Update

This solution worked for me.

Rather than deleting it, renaming the file to "com.apple.windowserver.displays.plist" to "_com.apple.windowserver.displays.plist" works as well. After you rename it, restart your mac, and your mac should detect your display now.

Macbook Pro M1 Pro, running Sequioa 15.4, using USB-C to Display port via thunderbolt dock, and a LG 27UD68 display.

This happened to my Apple Studio display after updating to 15.4.1. I first tried the solutions suggested by Apple which consisted of updating to the latest MacOSX and then unplugging the USB C cord and plugging it back in. Several tries including a reboot didn't seem to do anything.

So, I went into my Libraries folder, found that plist you mentioned (/Library/Preferences/com.apple.windowserver.displays.plist) and moved it to the desktop. Immediately the Studio display started updating.

Was it moving the plist file, or did it happen on its own?

Dunno, but I'm back running! If you've had this problem, I would try moving that plist file!

Well done Apple, with the last update Sequoia 15.4.1 now it works even worst than before.

Now it stops working each time the macbook goes to sleep mode.

Please fix this soon is impossible to work like this.

I have an M1 MAX MacBook Pro and have used it for several years now with a Setechi usb-c to VGA multipurpose adapter (various usb connections, card reader etc) connected to an AOC monitor. It has worked perfectly until the Sequoia version of macOS. Now often when the computer goes to sleep the monitor wakes up in a very low resolution blurry mode. I have tried all the display setting and nothing fixes it. Unplugging it from the adapter or unplugging the adapter and plugging it back in fixes the problem however. having to constantly plug and unplug the display or USB from the machine is extremely annoying and must be a bug in Sequoia since the exact same hardware worked perfectly for several years before the OS update... Anyone got a solution?

Okay, I'm sharing how I solved my problem.

I have an M1 MacBook Pro with Sequoia + Displaylink Release: 1.12.2 | Apr 28, 2025. My dock is a Dell D6000 updated to the latest firmware + two monitors.

Problem: They randomly shut down until they were completely off. I tried every possible option.

I solved it by downloading the Displaylink driver to version 1.11.0.

Good luck!

I have solved this problem!

My monitor is Kuycon G27-X, and I connected it to my MBP M1Max with USB-C, I got the same problem when I update MacOS from 14 to 15.5, I delete the “com.apple windowserver.displays plist” file, and restart my Mac, and the file still there .

So I copy the “com.apple windowserver.displays plist” file to my desktop and open it with Visual Studio Code, (Xcode may works too),delete all the content of this file, and overwrite the original file in /Library/Preferences/

then my monitor become normal again.

Reply to: External Monitor Issue After macOS Sequoi… - Apple Community

I now remembered what I did to fix the issue last time this happened after a MacOS update:

Power your monitor off and turn it on again.

Didn't work for me...

Hi all,

Same issue here --> Macbook Pro 2018 Intel I7 with T2 Chip

• Happens with:
  • Original Apple USB-C to AV digital (see screenshot)
  • Other USB-C HDMI adaptors
• Tried
  • Change cable
  • Change adapter
  • Change refresh rate
  • Reset NVRAM
  • Reset SMC
  • Pray....

Nothing works, have we an estimation of when this issue will be solved?

Regards.

I was facing same issue with my following config. i.e. flickering screen not detecting display

• Mac M3 pro - Sequoia 15.3
• Samsung - 49" Odyssey OLED G9

Following setting helped. and its now working as expected.

I think something is not letting GPU enough resources to work with ext displays properly. therefore I downgraded refresh rate of built in display and also turned off some other option which as per my understanding may cause resource issue.

Apple certainly needs to fix this as following is just a work around (for a $3k machine) and not guaranteed if this will work for everyone.

Exact same issue for me as OP. After updating to Sequoia 15.2 (I don't recall what the previous version was), the flickering issue occurred immediately after the update. Nothing else has changed about my set up after the update, so I feel very confident that the 15.2 update is the root of the issue.

Here's my set up prior to Sequoia 15.2 Update:

• Macbook M1 Max, 16-inch, 2021
• MacOS Sequoia 15 (not sure which previous version)
• External displays:
  • Working normally: "Display 1", LG 27GN650-B (connected via HDMI port)
  • Malfunctioning, flickering: "Display 2", LG 34UM69G-B (connected via usb-c port, USB-C to USB-C display cable)

Steps that failed to resolve issue:

• Follow steps 1-4 outlined here. Did not resolve issue.
  • Unplug cable and monitor power cord
  • Mac is already at latest update
  • Restart Mac
  • Change color profile of external monitor to Color LCD
  • Change refresh rate to 60 hz
  • Disabled true tone/night mode where applicable
• Changed USB-C cables, and tried plugging USB-c cable into different USB-c ports. Neither resolved issue
• Swapped display cable from USB-c/USB-c to USB-c/DisplayPort. Did not resolve issue.

Steps that resolved the issue so far as of Dec 19, 2024 at 11:06:

• Swap display cables between Display 1 (working) and Display 2 (malfunctioning):
  • Display 2 is now connected via HDMI cable to mac HDMI port
    • Color profile: Color LCD, 60 Hz refresh rate, no true tone/night
  • Connect Display 1 via DisplayPort to USB-C mac port

Since swapping display cables between external monitors, the flickering has stopped. I will update accordingly if anything changes.

Update Dec 19, 2024 2pm: Unfortunately, the flickering still occurs but it's less often and less intrusive. The flickering happens maybe once an hour. And, instead of my mac thinking the display has been disconnected and rearraning all my open windows, it's just a brief off/on flicker and no windows move.

Exact same issue for me as OP. After updating to Sequoia 15.2 (I don't recall what the previous version was), the flickering issue occurred immediately after the update. Nothing else has changed about my set up after the update, so I feel very confident that the 15.2 update is the root of the issue.

Here's my set up prior to Sequoia 15.2 Update:

• Macbook M1 Max, 16-inch, 2021
• MacOS Sequoia 15 (not sure which previous version)
• External displays:
  • Working normally: "Display 1", LG 27GN650-B (connected via HDMI port)
  • Malfunctioning, flickering: "Display 2", LG 34UM69G-B (connected via usb-c port, USB-C to USB-C display cable)

Steps that failed to resolve issue:

• Follow steps 1-4 outlined here. Did not resolve issue.
  • Unplug cable and monitor power cord
  • Mac is already at latest update
  • Restart Mac
  • Change color profile of external monitor to Color LCD
  • Change refresh rate to 60 hz
  • Disabled true tone/night mode where applicable
• Changed USB-C cables, and tried plugging USB-c cable into different USB-c ports. Neither resolved issue
• Swapped display cable from USB-c/USB-c to USB-c/DisplayPort. Did not resolve issue.

Steps that resolved the issue so far as of Dec 19, 2024 at 11:06:

• Swap display cables between Display 1 (working) and Display 2 (malfunctioning):
  • Display 2 is now connected via HDMI cable to mac HDMI port
    • Color profile: Color LCD, 60 Hz refresh rate, no true tone/night
  • Connect Display 1 via DisplayPort to USB-C mac port

Since swapping display cables between external monitors, the flickering has stopped. I will update accordingly if anything changes.

Update Dec 19, 2024 2pm: Unfortunately, the flickering still occurs but it's less often and less intrusive. The flickering happens maybe once an hour. And, instead of my mac thinking the display has been disconnected and rearranging all my open windows, it's just a brief off/on flicker and no windows move.

I suffer the same issue after upgrading to 15.2 (most probably from 15.1, where everything works fine) on a MBP M1 2020, connected to USB C hub with power + external display via display port + USB stuffs.

What I have done so far to solve this issue in this order (actually I don't know which one as an effect):

• ensure the 'Prevent automatic sleeping on power when the display is off' setting is enabled
• configure the MBP display as main, and switch it back to the external display
• reset the Amphetamine App settings to default, then in settings disable the option 'allow system sleep when display is closed'
• switch external display refresh rate from 120 to 160: it makes the external display not working at all, even after a reboot
• disconnect the USB C cable (external display + power)
• shutdown
• reset (or try at least) SMC and NVRAM/PRAM
• reboot

Then it finally works again when the display is closed \o/

I suffer the same issue after upgrading to 15.2 (most probably from 15.1, where everything works fine) on a MBP M1 2020, connected to USB C hub with power + external display via display port + USB stuffs.

What I have done so far to solve this issue in this order (actually I don't know which one as an effect):

• ensure the 'Prevent automatic sleeping on power when the display is off' setting is enabled
• configure the MBP display as main, and switch it back to the external display
• reset the Amphetamine App settings to default, then in settings disable the option 'allow system sleep when display is closed'
• switch external display refresh rate from 120 to 160: it makes the external display not working at all, even after a reboot
• disconnect the USB C cable (external display + power)
• shutdown
• reset (or try at least) SMC and NVRAM/PRAM
• reboot

Then it finally works again when the display is closed \o/

What works for me is going back to 15.1 fresh re installation with TimeMachine profile recovery.

So far what didnt worked:

• upgrade to 15.2
• deleting displays settings files
• Reseting hardware stuff at boot
• Switching cables with or without docking station
• Reseting display settings
• Switching display frequency

MBP M1 with DP external Dell display via Dell docking station

Try these fixes:

1. Use a Different Cable/Adapter – Test a USB-C to HDMI adapter instead of HDMI-to-Type-C cable.
2. Change Display Settings – Set a lower refresh rate (e.g., 60Hz) and try different resolutions.
3. Disable True Tone & HDR – In System Settings > Displays, turn off True Tone & High Dynamic Range (HDR).
4. Reset NVRAM & SMC – Restart and reset NVRAM (Option + Command + P + R) and SMC (Shut down, hold Shift + Control + Option + Power for 10 sec).
5. Try Different Port/Monitor – If possible, test another monitor or port.
6. Check for macOS Updates – Apple might release a fix soon.