Macbook Pro m1 2021 Display turns on randomly

[obwohl]

When listening to music / podcasts I normally turn the brightness down until it's off. With my new mbp m1 2021 it randomly turns on (to minimal brigtness).
Fun fact: When I touch the trackpad or press any key, it turns off again.
This isn't normal - at least It wasn't with my old mbp 2013.
What can cause this?

 

[Sanpete]

Are you sure it's random? My 2016 15" (and others I've read of) turn on the to minimum brightness when it's time for the screen to go to sleep. After ten or fifteen seconds it turns back off as the screen goes to sleep. Touching the trackpad or pressing a key during those few seconds will wake it up again, so it will resume the brightness you have it turned to, i.e. off.

 

[AmazingTechGeek]

I discovered two causes:

1. Disable Hey Siri when screen is locked. Unlike iPhone/iPad, Siri can still listen for commands when music is playing. if you say “Hey!” without saying “Siri”, the black display with a cursor appears.

2. Do not have cursor on selectable item when locking screen. The trackpad technically can still track the cursor when the display is locked, so OS will eventually wake up if you eat cursor highlighted on say…“the play button”.

Also, the cursor screen will always appear periodically every couple hours to check for internet related functions.

Performing solution 1 minimized the black screen with cursor, while solution 2 combined with solution 1 is a habit that essentially prevents the issue you described.

 

[AmazingTechGeek]

Also, instead of turning down brightness, just press the Touch ID button (or Comm+Ctrl+Q) to make the display lock/turn off. This is different from having the computer go to sleep.

You can also use the Apple in the top left menu bar to tell the display to lock.

Your music will still play.