Screen constantly goes black with M1 Mini

[surrealp]

Connected the unit via an HDMI 2.0 cable to my 82" Samsung TV and for 3+ weeks had no problems with it. Loved watching movies in 4k. Last week the screen simply went black and the sound cut out for a second while watching something. Problem persisted until it was happening around once a minute. Upgraded to a shorter higher quality cable, as well as upgraded to Big Sur 11.1 and the problem persists, it's actually getting worse. Changing the resolution doesn't make a difference, problem occurs no matter what. Any ideas?

 

[Janeilfen]

My (new) 2018 Intel mini has just started doing this as well. I have no idea why.

 

[lupinglade]

Try a different display to see if the problem is on the Mac or the display.

 

[Janeilfen]

Try a different display to see if the problem is on the Mac or the display.

I don’t believe it can be the display. Too many reports about this with different setups. Anyway, I for one don’t have another monitor to try. My problems started to exhibit itself shortly after installing BS. It has today become bl***y awful running BS 11.1

 

[jazz1]

I don’t believe it can be the display. Too many reports about this with different setups. Anyway, I for one don’t have another monitor to try. My problems started to exhibit itself shortly after installing BS. It has today become bl***y awful running BS 11.1

 

[jazz1]

Well I’ve reported before that my Dell USB-C monitor goes black and then back on after 3-4 seconds. I thought maybe BigSur 11.1 might fix it, but it didn’t.

I wasn’t having any issues with a second monitor that is a Dell monitor using HDMI. Today it would not wake from sleep several times. I have to turn the monitor on and off several times and it connects and wakes up. Note this one is running through a newly released OWC dock. I’ll try a direct connect to the MacMini tomorrow and see if I have any HDMI connection problems then.

Isn’t being on the bleeding edge of tech. FUN🙃

 

[eRondeau]

My M1 Mac Mini hasn't had this happen yet but it was exhibiting increasing "wonkiness" as time went on. Then I realized that it hasn't been unplugged (from power) since the moment I first brought it home. I pulled the plug for a minute or two and plugged it back in and it has been much more stable since. I believe this effectively resets its SMC and like anything electronic, sometimes an old-fashioned pull-the-plug restart does wonders. YMMV but it's worth a try.

 

[Dameatball]

Connected the unit via an HDMI 2.0 cable to my 82" Samsung TV and for 3+ weeks had no problems with it. Loved watching movies in 4k. Last week the screen simply went black and the sound cut out for a second while watching something. Problem persisted until it was happening around once a minute. Upgraded to a shorter higher quality cable, as well as upgraded to Big Sur 11.1 and the problem persists, it's actually getting worse. Changing the resolution doesn't make a difference, problem occurs no matter what. Any ideas?

I don’t think this is a hardware issue. I believe it’s the OS, as the black screen issue/complaints have been occurring since Catalina was introduced.

I have the 2018 and 2012 (both Intel) and both are running into the black screen over screen share.

Neither had them previously. If you Google it, the complaints are everywhere and we’ll before the M1.

 

[eRondeau]

It requires spending a little more $$$ but try an "active" HDMI cable. It's basically got a little signal amplifier built-in to the cable. I have about a 50' run between my head unit and my projector and with even an expensive "passive" HDMI cable the picture & sound cut-out constantly. Ordered an "active" cable from Monoprice and it's been working perfectly ever since. I don't claim to be an expert but research them and decide if it's worth a try. NOTE: Active HDMI cables have one end labelled for the source and the other end labelled for the TV/projector. They only work one way!

 

[DN2292]

Have had my MM i7 for 4 months now, just perfect...til yesterday(Friday) It goes black in an instant the entire system is downFigured out can reawaken it with space bar(the ext hdd) and it will kick the system awake for 3-10 seconds then dark again but that’s about it. Can’t do Jack!

oddly enough this happens even in safe mode, which took me FOREVER to get into.

Thought it was Big Sur but now thinking it’s hardware???? Just cuz of the safe mode oddness. (Nothing major added since macOS 11.1 a few weeks ago)

I want an M1 MM but not going this route, I don’t want my business taken hostage.

 

[Apple_Robert]

My M1 Mac Mini hasn't had this happen yet but it was exhibiting increasing "wonkiness" as time went on. Then I realized that it hasn't been unplugged (from power) since the moment I first brought it home. I pulled the plug for a minute or two and plugged it back in and it has been much more stable since. I believe this effectively resets its SMC and like anything electronic, sometimes an old-fashioned pull-the-plug restart does wonders. YMMV but it's worth a try.

The SMC is automatically reset on the M1 with a reboot.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Have had my MM i7 for 4 months now, just perfect...til yesterday(Friday) It goes black in an instant the entire system is downFigured out can reawaken it with space bar(the ext hdd) and it will kick the system awake for 3-10 seconds then dark again but that’s about it. Can’t do Jack!

oddly enough this happens even in safe mode, which took me FOREVER to get into.

Thought it was Big Sur but now thinking it’s hardware???? Just cuz of the safe mode oddness. (Nothing major added since macOS 11.1 a few weeks ago)

I want an M1 MM but not going this route, I don’t want my business taken hostage.

Do you have any external drives attached? If so try disconnecting all external devices and see if the Mac mini responds any better. If you didn't have any external devices attached and you haven't recently installed any new programs etc., try resetting the SMC etc. (if you can, given the situation).

Do you have a recent backup of your mini before this problem surfaced? If so, try restoring from that backup.

 

[DN2292]

Do you have any external drives attached? If so try disconnecting all external devices and see if the Mac mini responds any better. If you didn't have any external devices attached and you haven't recently installed any new programs etc., try resetting the SMC etc. (if you can, given the situation).

Do you have a recent backup of your mini before this problem surfaced? If so, try restoring from that backup.

It’s so unstable I can’t restore from backup, blacks out every few seconds.

I did reset SMC.

I have external hard drive and this enable the system to wake up(hdd reengaging)ext hdd when Disconnected the system does not wake back up, stays in sleep mode.(I actually thought the power was shutting down)
Just bonkers

If I can’t figure out today then tmrw I think I may have to take to Apple (a long drive) and temporarily buy replacement machine until they repair this.(use for work)

I appreciate the input folks, Truly!! 1st thread but long time lurker LoL

 

[Apple_Robert]

It’s so unstable I can’t restore from backup, blacks out every few seconds.

I did reset SMC.

I have external hard drive and this enable the system to wake up(hdd reengaging)ext hdd when Disconnected the system does not wake back up, stays in sleep mode.(I actually thought the power was shutting down)
Just bonkers

If I can’t figure out today then tmrw I think I may have to take to Apple (a long drive) and temporarily buy replacement machine until they repair this.(use for work)

I appreciate the input folks, Truly!! 1st thread but long time lurker LoL

Given the reply and overall situation, going to Apple is definitely what I would do. I hope they can get it up and going for you. While you are there, you might as well purchase the M1 MBA. Great machine.

* I was not paid for that endorsement by Apple.

 

[Artiste212]

Given the reply and overall situation, going to Apple is definitely what I would do. I hope they can get it up and going for you. While you are there, you might as well purchase the M1 MBA. Great machine.

* I was not paid for that endorsement by Apple.

It’s so unstable I can’t restore from backup, blacks out every few seconds.

I did reset SMC.

I have external hard drive and this enable the system to wake up(hdd reengaging)ext hdd when Disconnected the system does not wake back up, stays in sleep mode.(I actually thought the power was shutting down)
Just bonkers

If I can’t figure out today then tmrw I think I may have to take to Apple (a long drive) and temporarily buy replacement machine until they repair this.(use for work)

I appreciate the input folks, Truly!! 1st thread but long time lurker LoL

I had this issue, but I had 10 minutes between episodes of the screen going black. What worked for me was to delete all legacy screensavers. Aerial was the culprit in my case - I had an old version installed. The newer version causes the screen to go black (but I can see a white cursor) after many hours of run time. The workaround that helped was to set keyboard commands for sleep. I press these keys, then when I wake up the display, it's fine.

Removing Aerial completely (peding further updates) has resolved this issue for me.

 

[DN2292]

I am happy to report back to everyone that this post is from my MM I HAVE THE POWER TO HEAL!!! it was the HDMI!! dag nab it!!
most of afternoon I read many threads on here about monitor problems and could not shake the thought.....
BAM found another cable ALLLL smiles
Lesson learned!!
sad note.... no play time for me and an M1

Thanks again to everyone!!(including the people that told me exactly what it was and I did not pay attention)
and my apologies to OP for hijacking

 

[jpdemersPatries]

M1 Mini here, with two 32" monitors. Setup has been working fine for several months. The second monitor just this morning started blacking out (for 3-4 seconds) then coming back on; this is happening every 20 minutes or so. Simple USB4-HDMI cable; replaced it with an HDMI/HDMI cable and dongle but the problem persists. Didn't install or update anything!

 

[NYR99]

M1 Mini here, with two 32" monitors. Setup has been working fine for several months. The second monitor just this morning started blacking out (for 3-4 seconds) then coming back on; this is happening every 20 minutes or so. Simple USB4-HDMI cable; replaced it with an HDMI/HDMI cable and dongle but the problem persists. Didn't install or update anything!

Literally the same thing just started happening to me today. Weird. Two 27" 4K monitors. The one on HDMI started going for a couple seconds then going back on.

 

[Fishrrman]

Janeilfen wrote in #4 above:
"My problems started to exhibit itself shortly after installing BS. It has today become bl***y awful running BS 11.1"

Then it would seem to me you have two choices to try:
- Either "go back" to whatever you were using before Big Sur,
or
- Go "forward" to Monterey and try that instead.

 

[fouriesajollygoodfella]

Check whether the "Refresh Rate" on your "Displays" setting matches the refresh rate of the monitor you're using. The refresh rate setting on my Mac Mini was set at 60Hz while my monitor's refresh rate was 50Hz. The constant blackouts stopped once I set the refresh rate on the display settings to 50Hz.

 

[harriska2]

my 2018 mini on Mojave has had the black screen issue since the get go. I'm now on Monterey and it still does it.

 

[jpdemersPatries]

Update on my M1 Mini with the blackout issue: It happens even in safe mode, and even in the middle of updating the OS from 12.0.1 to 12.1, i.e., when the OS isn't even fully running. In my case, the issue is with the TB/USB ports, as the monitor on the HDMI port works just fine.
I took the Mini to a local authorized repair shop, where it passed every diagnostic test they had available. Using their cable, their monitor, and no external devices (other than keyboard and mouse), it was still blacking out.
They have a replacement logic board on order, which I think is certain to solve the problem. (I mean, what else is inside an M1 Mini?) Seems to me that replacing the computer would be the easier solution, but I'll take whatever works. (The machine was bought 9 months ago, so still under warranty.)
Bottom line, however, is that it's a hardware problem - which is bad news if you aren't under warranty or AppleCare. If your monitor has a variable refresh rate, you can try slowing it down, although that didn't help in my case.

 

[amdee]

im facing the same problem.

 

[Fishrrman]

jp wrote in 22 above:
"They have a replacement logic board on order, which I think is certain to solve the problem."

My prediction is, that it will not.

You said you had a connection scheme that worked (via HDMI).
If so, why don't you just use "what works"...?

 

[jpdemersPatries]

jp wrote in 22 above:
"They have a replacement logic board on order, which I think is certain to solve the problem."

My prediction is, that it will not.

You said you had a connection scheme that worked (via HDMI).
If so, why don't you just use "what works"...?

The M1 Mini only has one HDMI port; the second monitor can only go to a USB4 port, so "what works" is limited to one monitor. Either monitor is fine via HDMI, and either blacks out when on either of the USB4 ports.
A replacement board did not solve the problem... in fact it was defective, and lost all video out after less than a day in use. So I got a second replacement board - and the original blackout issue on the USB4 ports remains unsolved. (Now running Monterey 12.2.1, for what that's worth.)
Hard to know what to make of this ... everything worked fine for about 9 months, so it's tempting to blame a change in the OS that has yet to be remedied.