User profile for user: Julien Desbois
Julien Desbois Author
User level: Level 1
19 points

macOS Sonoma "Open File" menu results a "pink or purple screen of death" using mirror screen

Hi! I found a big concern about Sonoma (all versions):


Bug with "File > Open" menu in every app, the window becoming a purple screen when using mirror screen mode


Follow these steps to reproduce:

  • set two screens in mirror mode and connected by wires to the Mac
  • open an app installed on a macOS 14 Sonoma (I used Preview app for exemple)
  • use the "file" menu to reach the "Open File" menu
  • the window of the "Open File" menu results in a entire pink or purple screen on the screen who got the duplicated status. The other screen is normal.


So it's impossible for a teacher to show this "Open File" window on a classroom with a videoprojector.


The latest version update of Sonoma (14.7.5) did not solve the problem.


Others systems like macOS 12 Monterey, 13 Ventura or 15 Sequoia systems aren't affected.

We must use at least Sonoma cos' some apps / pro drivers aren't reliable to Sequoia yet.


So basically, the bug affects Sonoma system in screen mirroring mode.


I don't have a solution at the moment, so if you got any ideas ;)

Topics on internet shows it is a known Sonoma problem.



Posted on Apr 16, 2025 3:23 AM

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User profile for user: Luis Sequeira1
Luis Sequeira1
User level: Level 9
71,082 points

May 19, 2025 3:50 AM in response to Julien Desbois

Julien Desbois wrote:

Hi & thanks for this idea,

But sadly we ain't got AirPlay projectors here so it can't solve this Sonoma problem.

And I can't test if mirrored screens by AirPlay ain't got this pink screen too 😅


While you may not have AirPlay projectors, you can test if mirrored screens by AirPlay have this pink screen or not - most if not all macs that run Sonoma support the "AirPlay Receiver" feature: basically just Airplay from one mac to another. I agree it won't solve the problem, but will provide some more information.

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User profile for user: Julien Desbois
Julien Desbois Author
User level: Level 1
19 points

May 14, 2025 8:47 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Thanks Luis for being in touch,


Here's my EtreCheckPro report on my iMac used for tests ;)

EtreCheckPro: 6.8.10 (68077) 2025-05-14 Report


I don't believe it's local cos' you can find same bug report on internet like:

Reddit post Github Report Threads.com


I use French language but internet shows it's there too with English.


So I strongly believe it's builtin on every macOS Sonoma releases since 14.7.X to actual 14.7.6.

And we might not have "me too" on this topic cos' most of people don't do a mirror screen. They just extend.

And lots of Sonoma users might have upgraded to 15 Sequoia. But I can't actually.


All of our Mac on Sonoma with a videoprojector connexion, no matter which model is in use, are affected.

It's the only macOS affected I know.

No problem with Ventura or Sequoia but we must stay on Sonoma for some pro drivers & plugins purposes until editors moves.

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User profile for user: Luis Sequeira1
Luis Sequeira1
User level: Level 9
71,082 points

Apr 19, 2025 10:02 AM in response to Julien Desbois

I do not currently have a Mac running Sonoma, but I did run it for a full year, and I never came across this problem.


Try these two tests:


1) Do the File->Open thing while running in Safe Mode


2) Do the File->Open thing while booted normally, but logged in to a new user account


Let us know whether the problem is present in either of these two tests.

This will helps determine where the issue may be.


I fully expect the problem will NOT occur in case 1), and probably also in case 2).

Please test and let us know.

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User profile for user: Julien Desbois
Julien Desbois Author
User level: Level 1
19 points

Apr 23, 2025 2:42 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Hi Luis & thanks for the reply,


Same behavior in Safe Mode.


And I could add we use Belkin USB-C to HDMI and also Startech USB-C to DVI adapters... both does the same thing.


Maybe the "Open File" menu problem appeared since Sonoma 14.7.2 and it stills in the latest 14.7.5.

Only macOS Sonoma is affected.

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User profile for user: Luis Sequeira1
Luis Sequeira1
User level: Level 9
71,082 points

May 14, 2025 9:52 AM in response to Julien Desbois

Thank you for these links. I can see that this affects many more users than I was aware of.


Apparently when mirroring the problem occurs only on one of the two displays, so, while still very annoying, you could change which of the two displays is the "main", so that the problem does not show in the projector. Not a solution, of course, but a workaround that prevents showing the pink screen to the students.


I will have a look at the Etrecheck report, although I am not very hopeful, given the accumulated evidence suggesting it is a bug in Sonoma.

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User profile for user: Julien Desbois
Julien Desbois Author
User level: Level 1
19 points

May 15, 2025 1:17 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Exactly Luis, when you switch the main screen and set mirror screen again, the pink screen moves to the other screen.

But still very annoying as you said cos' the presenter has to look at the projector when trying to click the right menu he wants to show 😅


That's pretty what we do since this problem was found.

We choose to disable mirror screen then the presenter moves the app he wants to show on the projector.

But it's not satisfying for us and I hope no one will have neck pain haha !


Thanks for your help.

Hope I will have a feedback from my Apple bug report but it's still not today 😅🤞🏼

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User profile for user: Luis Sequeira1
Luis Sequeira1
User level: Level 9
71,082 points

May 15, 2025 2:08 AM in response to Julien Desbois

I am sorry we can't get a better solution.

It is still possible that it may get fixed in a subsequent update, but given that it's fixed in Sequoia, and Sonoma is basically getting security fixes only, I would not hold my breath. :-(


As to feedback from Apple, usually they don't respond unless they need additional information, so I would not hold my breath either...

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User profile for user: Julien Desbois
Julien Desbois Author
User level: Level 1
19 points

May 15, 2025 8:28 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

I got news: the pink mirror screen bug started with macOS Sonoma 14.7.3.


A Mac Studio used for testing masters before deploying Sonoma in classrooms was still on 14.7.2 systems and ain't got problems.

There's two 14.7.2 systems on this Mac. They're all out of trouble.

After updating one system to 14.7.3 (sadly the older Sonoma installer I got), the pink screen bug appears.


So this bug is present from Sonoma 14.7.3 to the actual 14.7.6 only.


Apple doesn't sign Sonoma 14.7.2 version anymore so it's now impossible to use a SoftwareUpdate command to find a 14.7.2 installer and make a bootable installer disk with that.

The oldest Sonoma signed version is actually 14.7.3... it's a shame 😓

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macOS Sonoma "Open File" menu results a "pink or purple screen of death" using mirror screen

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