Easy Solutions To Resolve Mac External Display Not Working Problem

Mac external display not working is a general problem that most of the users face while using the external display. When an external screen is connected to a Mac device, it usually gets recognized automatically and starts the work immediately. This problem appears when the Detect Display feature is turned off. Sometimes, it also happens when you have not updated the OS that you are using for quite a long period of time. Moreover, an outdated version of firmware can also cause this issue. If you are also facing the same issue, then read this article carefully. In this article, we have provided several solutions to get rid of this problem. After performing all the steps you can easily eliminate the risk.

Effective Solutions to Troubleshoot Mac External Display Not Working Issue

Sometimes, restarting the system can resolve most of the problems that you might encounter on a daily basis. So firstly, restart the Mac device and then, check whether the Mac external display not working problem is fixed or not. If not, then you can follow the solutions which are mentioned below:

Solution 1 – Reset the NVRAM

By resetting the NVRAM you can resolve the Mac not detecting display problem on your system. To do so, follow the instructions mentioned below:

1. Shut down the Mac system.
2. From your keyboard locate the P, R, Option and Command Keys.
3. Then, press the Power button to turn on the Mac system.
4. Next, hold and press the four keys: P, R, Option and Command immediately. You will hear the startup chime sound, and hold the keys until the sound plays for a second time, then release all four keys together.  

Solution 2 – Reset the Resolution

Each monitor has a selective position of screen resolutions that are compatible with it. If your MacBook tries to display an incompatible resolution on an external monitor, it can cause detection issues. So, you need to reset the resolution on your system. Follow the steps given below:

1. Restart the MacBook in Safe Mode.
2. After restarting this, click on the “Apple” icon to open the list.
3. Select the “System Preferences” option.
4. Click on the “Displays” from the View menu and choose a resolution with which your monitor is compatible.
5. Then, click on the Apply option to change the settings.
6. Restart the system.

Solution 3 – Update the Software

An alternative method that can help you to resolve this problem is by updating the software. Follow the steps which are mentioned below:

1. Click on the Apple icon to open the list.
2. Select the ‘Software Update’ option from that list.
3. If the update is there, then click on the Update option.
4. Once it is done, restart the system.

Solution 4 – Turn On the Detect Display Feature

When you face this problem, then you need to check whether the Detect Display Feature is turned on or off. If it is off, then you may face this issue. Follow the steps cited below:

1. Open the Apple menu list
2. Select the ‘System Preferences’ from that menu list.
3. When the ‘System Preferences’ window opens, click on the Displays option.
4. In the ‘Display Preferences’ window, hold the Option key to see the Detect Display option and then, click on the ‘Detect Display Feature’ to enable it.
5. After doing this, check if the Mac external display works properly.

Solution 5 – Check the Current Resolution

After performing the above-mentioned solutions if the problem is still there, then you can try this solution to resolve the Mac external display not working problem. To complete this solution follow the under mentioned steps:

1. Launch the Apple menu list.
2. Go to the ‘System Preferences’ section.
3. In the System Preferences tab, click on the Display, and then, check the display resolution drop-down menu. Choose the highest resolution and select it.

Solution 6 – Verify the Setup

If you have not done the setup process accurately for the external display, then you can see this problem. So, firstly check the setup for connection. To use an external monitor with your MacBook, settings must be configured in a certain way. Reviewing this configuration is often the easiest way to fix problems associated with the monitor. Make sure your MacBook is connected to a power outlet. You cannot use an external monitor when the laptop is battery powered. Make sure the external monitor is connected to the correct port. Most external monitors use a USB cable.

Solution 7 – Verify Peripherals

If you try to use the laptop in Closed-screen mode, which means you can only use an external monitor, you must connect an external keyboard and mouse to the computer. The MacBook is compatible with USB and Bluetooth keyboards and mouse. If you use USB peripherals, make sure it is properly connected to the USB port on the MacBook. If you use Bluetooth peripherals, connect to the MacBook, then check if is done through the standard installation process.

We hope the above-mentioned solutions will be enough to help you overcome the Mac external display not working problem. Follow the steps carefully and do these steps one-by-one to fix this problem. After doing this, if the problem is still there, then you can take professional help.