2024 MBP M4 Pro crashing using two external displays

Pretty much like the title says. Doesn't matter if it's two thunderbolt displays using the adapter or one thunderbolt display with a 4k TV through the HDMI port, if I go away to do something and come back it's restarted because it crashed. It will also flicker one of the displays on and off until you switch ports which I think is the precursor to the restart as last night I saw one display was off and woke up to it crashed. Help please?

MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 15.6

Posted on Sep 12, 2025 04:03 AM

Reply
12 replies

Sep 12, 2025 08:28 AM in response to Pipe_Hitter_Cubed

what make&model for each display and TV set, or a link to its specs?

what cables, adapters and docks are being used to make the connection?


--------

Kernel Panic Reports are stored in the Folder at:


/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports


If you copy and paste that string into: 


Finder > Go menu > Go to Folder


it will take you to the Folder where those reports are stored.


Kernel panic reports are named with Date&Time and start or end in ‘panic’


If you find one, please post as much as you can here, by using the “additional text” Icon in the reply footer (looks like a paper with writing). (Once the report devolves into incessant software-names or incessant Base-64 dumps with lots of AAAAAA lines, you are done.)


Please don’t post more about 20 lines of any other types of reports — they are interminable, and any information useful for this purpose is on the first screenful.


Sep 12, 2025 01:52 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Two 27" Thunderbolt Displays using the Apple Thunderbolt 2 to 3 adapters with 90 degree adapters as well, and the TV's a 2024 50" Series 4 Amazon Fire TV using its HDMI cable and a 90 degree adaptor. I'm using it primarily as a map for DND and I was switching back and forth different pages. Hope this is the right report. Also I haven't had issue with only one Display


Sep 13, 2025 05:10 PM in response to Pipe_Hitter_Cubed

<< It will also flicker one of the displays on and off until you switch ports >>


For ThunderBolt displays, are you using discrete thunderbolt cables, or just the captive display lead-in cord?


Cables "shipped in the box' are notorious for being 'lowest bidder' cables.

Are you using a certified cable that meets the specs below?


HDMI cables you want for HDMI-only Displays (higher resolutions than 720p TV sets) are marked as Certified with an anti-counterfeiting tag and are labeled:


"PREMIUM High Speed HDMI cable" or that + "with Ethernet" (up to 4K at 30Hz) --OR--

ULTRA High Speed HDMI cable" or that + "48G" (supports higher resolutions and backward-compatible)


Cables with No Certification tags are good for your standard 720p TV set, and not much more.


HDMI was invented for HD TV sets. it works great at its original resolution of 720i or 720p. At higher resolutions, it quickly develops issues that are complex to solve, and the cables and adapters required to solve are NOT intuitive.



Sep 13, 2025 06:35 PM in response to Pipe_Hitter_Cubed

nothing in that report that I can easily decipher either.


Lets try a different approach.


Consider downloading and running this little "discovery" utility, Etrecheck. It changes NOTHING. Etrecheck was developed by a senior contributor here, and uses mostly system calls and simple tests to collect often-needed information.


it contains little tests for speeds of devices, CPU utilization, memory usage, energy usage and a digest of recent problems, in one easy to use package. it does not even need to be Installed. Because less can be learned when your Mac is running great, best time to run is when your problems are actually occurring, if possible.


if you follow the directions faithfully, its report (pre-laundered of all personally-identifiable information) can be "Shared" to the System ClipBoard, then Pasted into an ‘Additional Text’ window in a reply on the forums.


Use Etrecheck Pro for free:

http://Etrecheck.com


The amount of data you get can be daunting. If you POST your report, some Readers here are willing to look over those reports, and can provide valuable insights.



Then start a reply on the forums, click the "additional text" icon, and PASTE





Sep 14, 2025 11:44 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Okay, hang on. When I go to "System Report" in "General Settings" those are two entire crash/panic reports under "Logs." It happened again last night and I got the comments from the report crash pop up this time which does look different. I'm probably not looking in the right spot for the reports otherwise, but this is last nights crash pop-up.


2024 MBP M4 Pro crashing using two external displays

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.