New updates are being added at the bottom of this story…….
Original story (published on December 22, 2020) follows:
The macOS Big Sur update 11.1 was released on December 14, and right afterward, a slew of complaints emerged on the Apple forums about issues related to 4k monitor support.
It appears that macOS’ latest update virtually breaks external 4K monitor support, giving users a really hard time.
As apparent from the above complaints, 4K monitors seem to run at non-optimal resolutions like 1080p or even 720p when connected to devices like the MacBook. The refresh rate also takes a significant hit and may max out at just 30 FPS.
Others have lamented that their PC can’t detect the monitor at all. And even when it does, it fails to wake up from sleep mode.
And going by the vast majority of reports, the issue does seem limited to the previous year’s MacBook Pro 16” 2019.
However, the fact that there are a few scattered reports from other devices too like the MacBook Air and the Mac Mini M1 implies that the problem is more widespread than initially thought.
A couple of users have already tried their luck with the new macOS 11.2 beta to no avail, indicating that the issue is here to stay for a while.
But perhaps the worst part about the matter is that Apple is seemingly unaware of the problem and is yet to officially acknowledge it.
At the moment, your best bet could be trying out the list of workarounds given below.
- Restart monitor: If you haven’t already, try restarting the monitor after booting up your MacBook. This has done the job for some. Keep in mind though, that you may have to do this each time you boot up your laptop.
Workarounds for 4K monitor issues on macOS Big Sur 11.1
Try connecting to the monitor through other means: Several users have been able to work around the problem by using a different kind of cable for making the connection to their monitor.
Change display port:
Try keeping your MacBook’s lid open: If nothing else works for you, then simply keep your laptop’s lid open and use the monitor as an extended display until Apple actually does something about the issue.
A few users have reported that they do not encounter any monitor issues this way.
Hopefully, the above workarounds fixed the problem for you. Be sure to also check out our dedicated macOS Big Sur bugs/issues tracker for further coverage on matters like these, along with their resolutions, if any.
Update 1 (January 08, 2021)
04:29 pm (IST): Apparently, Apple is aware of the external monitor issues brought about by the Big Sur 11.1 update and is already working on a fix. There is no ETA for when it will be rolled out though.
Update 2 (January 28)
12:33 pm (IST): It’s almost been a month since Apple claimed that the issue is a known one and while a fix still hasn’t been rolled out, there’s now a new workaround available. Try it and let us know if it works.
Update 3 (February 04)
12:40 pm (IST): Sadly, as per a bunch of recent reports, the issue has persisted with the macOS Big Sur 11.2 update.
And as apparent from above, many users that weren’t facing any display issues as such are now bumping into them after updating to Big Sur 11.2. From this, it seems that the update only worsens the situation.
Update 4 (March 01)
07:26 pm (IST): Although not exactly clear, the latest stable Big Sur 11.2.2 update does seem to make a difference for the better when it comes to this issue.
There have been some behind-the-scenes optimizations that may be the cause. Hence, you might want to update your macOS device to the latest version.
Update 5 (April 27)
03:47 pm (IST): The macOS Big Sur 11.3 update just went live and it includes fixes for external 4K monitors not displaying in full resolution when connected over USB-C. Full details can be found here.
Update 6 (July 16)
01:20 pm (IST): The 4k monitor issues on macOS Big Sur seemed to have resurfaced following the 11.4 update, as per several reports.
However, there also are a few reports that suggest that Big Sur 11.4 actually fixed the issue for them. Bottom line is that the problem occurs randomly and can’t be tied to a single update.
Update 7 (October 11)
12:20 pm (IST): Months later and still, a section of MacOS Big Sur 11.1 continue to face issues with their external displays.
A new update notwithstanding (macOS 11.5.2), users still complain of issues with the system detecting their monitors with others noting that the experience deteriorates to 30Hz.
A workaround that seems to have yielded some relief for an affected user involves replacing the USB-C cable with one that is rated for 4K.
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