Mac Studio 'forgets' it's connected to a Monitor and won't wake up

Question

Level 1

4 points

Mac Studio 'forgets' it's connected to a Monitor and won't wake up

I have a Mac Studio connected to an LG monitor with two inputs. If I'm using my computer, and then switch over to the other input (Xbox), when I switch back to the Studio, it won't send out a signal. It's on and will function, but it will not send a signal to the monitor. I've turned on and off the monitor, unplugged it, changed the cables, tried to wake the computer with the mouse, keyboard, and power button. The only way I've found to resolve the issue is to hard restart my Studio every time this happens, which I've already done twice in the last 20 minutes.

Mac Studio (2022)

Posted on Nov 27, 2024 03:10 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Nov 27, 2024 05:23 PM in response to BitterSteve

The Mac does not rely on windows-like side-loaded "Drivers" which are actually packages of resolutions and settings for a specific display. Instead, it goes straight to the immutable source -- it asks the display itself.

To get a Mac display to become active, you need the Mac to query the display, and the display to answer with its name and capabilities. Otherwise, the display will not be shown as present, and no data will be sent to the display. "No signal detected" is generated by the DISPLAY, not by the Mac.

This query is only sent at certain times:

• at startup

• at wake from sleep — so momentarily sleeping and waking your Mac may work

• at insertion of the Mac-end of the display-cable, provided everything on that cable is ready-to-go

• hold the Option key while you click on the (Detect Display) button that will appear in Displays preferences (from another display)

Reply

Answer 2

BitterSteve Author

Level 1

4 points

Dec 2, 2024 09:59 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Grant,

This is a little complex, though what I gather, is that I need to have the monitor on the right input before I wake the Mac Studio, otherwise it just won't send out a signal. Keeping this in mind seems to have fixed the problem (without changing the relatively dumb way the Mac handles this, mind you), and my problem has gone away. Thank you for the response!

Reply

Answer 3

Dec 3, 2024 07:03 AM in response to BitterSteve

Modern Displays with multiple ports are sometimes busy scanning the other ports, looking for an input, and miss the query from the Mac. They need to pay attention to the port you are actually using, or they will miss the query.

Some displays have On-Screen Display settings that can be used to tell the display a computer is attached on a certain port, or a certain port should be highest priority. Changing those may make your display more responsive.

Some displays include their own private "sleep" settings for the display alone. This can allow the display to enter its own sleep mode, on top of the Mac's not sending it data. A display that is sleeping on its own can generally not respond to the Mac's query, and will stay dark.

Reply