Black Video with Extended Display

Question

Black Video with Extended Display

I just purchased a Mac mini 4 with 512 GB and 24 MB. I also have a iMac M1. I have the iMac as an extended display for the Mac mini. I also have an external display (extended) for the Mac mini but I don't feel it is relevant for this concern since I have it turned off. I have the iMac connected wirelessly as an extended display. When I try and watch a video (Netflix and others) the video is black. There is audio. It doesn't matter if I am using Safari or Google. HERE IS THE CONCERN, the video is black with BOTH computers. If I turn off the iMac as the extended display the video is just fine on the Mac mini. If you are wondering, the external monitor display and primary display works fine for playing videos as long as the iMac isn't connected. I haven't connected a cable to connect both computers being I don't feel it should matter since the Mac mini computer is also affected. I also have Parallels (virtual Win 11) installed on the Mac mini if that matters but I also turned that off when the problem occurs. I am using the HDMI connection to the monitor on the Mac mini. If both computers are just linked to share keyboard and mouse, the video is fine with the Mac mini. I haven't tried reversing the connection by using the iMac as the source.

Mac mini, macOS 15.2

Posted on Jan 24, 2025 07:57 AM

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Answer 1

Jan 25, 2025 03:33 PM in response to milesfromtorrance

I just connected my MacBook to my iMac as the extended display and it is the same. I also used a cable connection and it is the same. This kinda reminds me of a screen capture of a video that is blacked out. I have a feeling this was done on purpose. I am saying this because virtual Win 11 works fine with streaming a video. And what is kinda amazing is I can stream to the extended display WIRELESSLY where the video looks perfectly normal.

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Answer 2

Jan 26, 2025 02:41 AM in response to milesfromtorrance

It sounds like you are using AirPlay to Mac to use one Mac as an AirPlay display for another.

It also sounds like you are playing DRM-infested video from commercial streaming services. Some of those have things set up so that if they cannot "secure" the connection to the display against you, they refuse to play video. "Black screen but with audio still working" sounds very familiar …

Or in other words, welcome to the "wonderful" world of Digital Restrictions Management.

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Answer 3

Jan 26, 2025 07:51 AM in response to Servant of Cats

Thanks, I kinda suspected something like that but why corrupt the source also? That, said I am glad to be put through this since I discovered a way to work around it until someone ends it. And, discovered that a cable connection wasn't necessary for my usage. One of my primary reasons for the Mac mini was to be able to use Microsoft Access and Excel. Both run just as well as my Windows computers. Plus I got the bonus of being able to use my old iMac as an extension for both display and computer. I am even using my iMac keyboard and mouse for the Mac mini and extended(1 keyboard and mouse for 2 computers) to the iMac. This Mac mini setup exceeded my expectations.

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Answer 4

Jan 24, 2025 08:06 AM in response to milesfromtorrance

An update: I just tried reversing the connection by using the iMac as the primary and the video is also black when using the Mac mini as an extended display.

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Black Video with Extended Display

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