M2 MacBook Air wakes up with blank screen

I can reproduce the issue on my MacBook Air M2 (OS version 14.3) by randomly typing on the login screen (while cleaning the keyboard) and closing the lid. Consequently, the laptop typically wakes up with a black screen. In this situation, the OS itself appears to be functioning correctly as work can be continued by connecting an external monitor. Specifically, the content on the external screen is normal while the built-in screen stays black.

I hope this discovery can provide insights for Apple engineers.

whoami24601 Said:

"M2 MacBook Air wakes up with blank screen: [...]In these situations, sometimes (but not always) I can get the external display to work, while the laptop screen remains blank. I.e. the system is 'thinking' normally, just not displaying on its own screen. [...]More likely, there's a magic keystroke sequence - I'd appreciate your insight or further debugging suggestions."

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Troubleshooting a Black Mac Screen:

A. Mirror the Screen to this External Display:

Performing the following will mirror the Home Screen, and allow you to use it as if it were you laptop's screen.

• Without Touchbar: Hold Down [command + F1]
• With Touchbar: Hold Down: [command + dull screen]

B. Remove App Attached Devices:

Boot up with nothing plugged in. See fi the circuity equals out.

Continue to my following reply.

Continued from my previous reply.

whoami24601 Said:

"M2 MacBook Air wakes up with blank screen: [...]In these situations, sometimes (but not always) I can get the external display to work, while the laptop screen remains blank. I.e. the system is 'thinking' normally, just not displaying on its own screen. [...]More likely, there's a magic keystroke sequence - I'd appreciate your insight or further debugging suggestions."

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Troubleshooting a Black Mac Screen:

For reference...

Troubleshooting the Mac's Power:

A. Black Mac Screen:

Go Here: If your Mac doesn't Turn On or Start Up - Apple Support

Using External Devices: Try Resetting the SMC and NVRAM, but this time, using an external keyboard. Connect an external monitor and see if you get an output.

B. Mac Power Issues:

Try a New Charger:

If it is currently charging from a charger, then use a new charger:

• Power & Cables - Mac Accessories - Apple - Select "Mac Compatibility" on the left
• Find the right power adapter and cable for your Mac notebook - Apple Support

C. A Few Links to Refer to Power:

• If your Mac doesn't Turn On - Apple Support

• How to Turn your Mac On or Off - Apple Support

• About Mac Notebook Batteries - Apple Support

• Charge the MacBook Pro Battery - Apple Support

• If your Mac Battery won't Charge - Apple Support 

whoami24601 Said:

"M2 MacBook Air wakes up with blank screen: I'm looking for ways to get my laptop screen to display what it's thinking without having to reboot."

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When Booting Successfully:

A. Revealing the Boot Process:

Using this command in Terminal, you can see the kernels and every step of the latest boot. It will be saved to your Desktop in a file called "kernlog.txt". So, next time you get into login, view this file.

sudo dmesg >> ~/Desktop/kernlog.txt

Source: what is verbose mode - Apple Community

B. Try Mirroring the Screen to this External Display:

Attaching an external monitor, what do you get when you mirror the screen? Performing the following will mirror the Home Screen, and allow you to use it as if it were you laptop's screen.

• Without Touchbar: Hold Down [command + F1]
• With Touchbar: Hold Down: [command + dull screen]

Perhaps the M2 macbook air might need to be exercised across

more than few choice means, to see what might cause reaction?

If your Mac starts up to a blank screen - Apple Support

//support.apple.com/en-us/HT210905

"A blank screen (black, gray, or blue) should appear once or more during

startup. If your Mac seems to be turned on but is stuck on a blank screen

follow these steps."

Some choice items to try & make reluctant Mac function are in above article.

Then, there are other items that may or not be required for further attempts.

How to revive or restore Mac firmware - Apple Support

//support.apple.com/en-us/HT213662

"Rarely, a Mac with Apple silicon or the Apple T2 Security Chip might

stop responding and need to be revived or restored by another Mac."

whoami24601 Said:

"M2 MacBook Air wakes up with blank screen: The problem I'm experiencing is not during startup. It's during ‘wake up’ from sleep.”

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Viewing Wake Process:

A few Things…

Will reply back, looking into this potential Terminal command code that should potentially reveal all of this in a file to the Desktop. It seems I need to find something that can print this about getting out of sleep mode.

What about mirror to or from the external monitor? Did that work? If so, I’d say it’s a hardware error.

My 2017 Mac’s screen failed, and I had to send it in for service 11 times. This all occurred furring COVID while all Apple Stores were essentially closed. Turned out the connector between the screen and LogicBoard became loose. Having been so patient of a customer, I was granted a free $2,500 equivalent USD value towards a new Mac. All I paid for was the coverage.

I have this issue after waking the macbook air m2 sometimes. When I try to mirror the built-in display to an external display, the image on the external display freezes with whatever last image it had, the whole thing feels as if it is frozen and moving the mouse does not update the image on screen. When I press cmd+dim-display it undoes the mirror and the external display image becomes responsive again, but the macbook air's built in display stays black.

The only way to fix it is to reboot, in my case, so far.

I have same issue, I am going to Genius Bar to repair my Macbook Air M2 2022.

This thread can help us: (Display & Lid Angle Sensor issue)

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/m2-air-display-sometimes-stays-black-after-waking.2389035/page-2

So then, to be sure that you've tried any or all possibilities

that can work included in the Support article's instructions

at what point in each of those did your attempts fail?

Part of those include where the Mac may appear to be off

but really is on; and even that might force Mac to action.

Read and follow all of the steps; and then think again.

These are variable instructions; notice meaning in punctuation?

I've used these before; more than a few attempts might

be required to make a semi-comatose Mac start to work.

[.And even attempts to startup in 'Safe mode' may help.]

Genius Bar Reservation •and• Apple Support Options - Apple

//www.apple.com/retail/geniusbar/

Part of these also include seeking help w/ an appointment

at an Apple authorized service provider, or a retail service.

Hardware (&/or) Software Help, & options by appointment.