Full screen video via HDMI port using screen mirroring: if I interact with the computer, it freezes entirely (except sound)

I have the issue when I play content from VLC. I have a M1 and an external monitor. Once I got a call and when I picked up it froze and I had to force restart. Audio kept playing. When I use the trackpad instead of the mouse I almost certainly will get a frozen screen.

what model-year MacBook Pro 13-in?

what make&model display exactly, or a link to its specs?

exactly what cables, adapters and docks are being used to complete the connection to the display? please mention every item.

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" --OR--

"Ultra High Speed HDMI cable" or that + "48G"

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.

More recent versions of MacOS appear to be enforcing 'no transmission errors' policy for Mac displays. If a transmission error is detected, the display may go blank, stop updating, or be reduced in resolution.

But with the two displays 'mirrored' together, you may be invoking complex code that has not been extensively checked fo proper operation when errors occur.

renemgb wrote:

I have the issue when I play content from VLC. I have a M1 and an external monitor. Once I got a call and when I picked up it froze and I had to force restart. Audio kept playing. When I use the trackpad instead of the mouse I almost certainly will get a frozen screen.

Please start a NEW discussion, so that your distinct issues can get the attention they deserve. Be sure to choose a Title that will attract the readers you think can help.

Be sure to include your model-year MacBook Pro, what MacOS version you are running, what make&model displays, and how you have connected them.

I've been struggling with this and here I am — 3 months after this original post — with the same issue continuing exactly as stated above. Using VLC player to mirror my Mac mini M1 2020 to Samsung TV via HDMI cable. As long as I leave the movie in "fit to screen" all is good — If I put it into "fullscreen" I can use the VLR remote app on my iPhone to control things, but if I touch the mouse everything freezes — the audio continues. I have to force shut down and reboot.

Mac book pro mid2012 with Catalina 10.15.7. Laptop freezes when I stream Motogp to Samsung TV in full screen via thunderbolt 2 and HDMI.

Will play for about 10 seconds, image freezes and sound continues briefly before lap top shuts down.

Works fine with smaller screen.

Works fine in full screen when streaming you tube.

HDMI cable and thundebolt2 works fine with you tube streaming.

Condition occurs with wi-fi or when internet is hardwired.

This seems to be a very common issue with M1 MacBook models and Sonoma when playing full screen video on a mirrored external monitor. If the second monitor is used as a separate display rather than a mirror that resolves the issue for me.

I had it happen consistently on both an M1 MacBook Air and an M1 Pro MacBook Pro.

"Full Screen" is a feature reverse ported form the iPhone, land of tiny screens and one-at-time processing.

[in my opinion] it has never worked without a few issues on a Mac. Adding the complexity of Mirroring the display at the same time is not recommended.

You may find that if you can simplify this setup, it will either no longer be a problem, for the underlying issues will become perfectly clear.