Macbook Air stopped detecting external displays

My MBA (Mid 2011) has stopped detecting ANY external display. Have tried different leads (MDP > HDMI and VGA) with no luch, My MBA (Mid 2011) has stopped detecting ANY external display. Have tried different leads (MDP > HDMI and VGA) with no luck. It seems to have happened since I have updated to Mountain Lion a few days ago.
Has anyone had similar problems?

You should also ask this in the MacBook Air forum. This is the forum for the white and black plastic MacBooks that were discontinued in 2010. You should also post this question there to increase your chances of getting an answer.
https://discussions.apple.com/community/notebooks/macbook_air
And the Mountain Lion Forum https://discussions.apple.com/community/mac_os/os_x_mountain_lion

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Hello Apple Fix the display issue. MAcbooks suddenly stop detecting external display!!!

Bought another new minidisplay to HDMI and suddenly stopped detecting external display! However, it works randomly with no rhyme or reason. I have tried everything.

No answer

Macbook will not detect external display

Was using a $7 aftermarket minidisplay port to HDMI cable with success for about 2 months with no problems detecting external display. Started having problems (it would randomly detect until it eventually would not at all) and tried all solutions I could find in discussion boards to no avail. I recently bought a $40 cable from the apple store and it worked fine for about a month and now it only recognizes my external display about 50% of the time (which is how the problem began the first time). Very frustrating! What is the deal here?

Did you have any luck resolving this? I have had exactly the same issue when updating the EFI Firmware to Version 2.8 (the latest for a Mid-2013 MacBook Air 6.2 model) - MBA61.0099.B12
I've tried flushing the NVRAM/PRAM and also resetting the SMC but no joy. I'm trying to drive an AOC Q2963 monitor using a display port connector. Annoyingly, I don't think there's a way to rollback to a previous firmware version.

I am having problems connecting my macbook air to an external display

I recently purchased a 2012 MacBook Air, and am currently running Mountain Lion.
When I try to connect an external VGA overhead projector, for use in a conference room, using the Thunderbolt to VGA adapter, my screen resolution changes, but nothing is projected from the overhead projector. I used to do this with my 2011 MacBook AIr and had no problems doing this.
What am I doing wrong? Is it Mountain Lion or a bug in the MacBook Air. I tried connecting to an overhead projector at my office and had no problems, but in my clients conference room I have no luck.
Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Unfortunately, I'm not finding success with this workaround. I'm running Mountain Lion on a MacBook Air, with the micro-DVI to VGA adapter, and the projector is not detecting the computer (regardless of repeatedly turning the two machines on and off, in various orders). I have been able to do this, prior to upgrading to Mountain Lion, with the same hardware configuration, so it seems that the problem is the software, not the hardware.
I do not see a Display icon in the menu bar, which is how I used to be able to switch. The Display setting in System Preferences does not offer a solution (though I have selected the "Show mirroring options in menu bar when available" option. I can't find a configuration of keys that will allow me to switch displays.
By the way, when I have both devices on, connect the VGA cable to the adapter, and then connect the adapter to the micro-DVI port, it shuts off my laptop. I'm pretty sure that's not supposed to happen.
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Macbook won't detect external display anymore - Random shutdown injury??

Hi,
my Macbook has the dreaded random shutdown thing happening, often it can't even get through the startup sequence. If I reset the PMU and PRAM and check the disk every week I can keep it running. Applecare are making not particularly helpful suggestions like "run it in safe mode" - hello people, random means it can take days to happen again... I use this computer for work so I need it at full capacity every day!!!
Anyway, enough angry ranting. The casualty of today's RS and subsequent PRAM PMU resetting is my external display (Viewsonic LCD). The macbook is no longer sending signals to it (display says "no signal"). When I ask the macbook to "detect displays" nothing happens. I have restarted the macbook several times and unplugged and replugged the display connection it doesn't help. Yes, I have the AC power cable plugged in on the Macbook (I know it doesn't like talking to the screen if I don't).
The display and macbook have always worked fine together in the past...
Does anyone have any suggestions on how to test for causes or fix this display related problem?
MacBook Mac OS X (10.4.8)
Powerbook G4 Mac OS X (10.4.2)

You don't mention ever having brought the problem to Apple's attention, or what resulted from your request for Apple's help with it. This isn't a universal or widespread problem. It may be a hardware fault in your own equipment that needs to be resolved with a repair, or it may be a software problem (corrupt file, incompatible software conflict, update needed, etc., etc.). You seem to think Apple should have fixed it for you without your lifting a finger, and you're eager to complain about Apple's lack of support. But you've offered nothing to indicate that Apple even knows you need support. You do have to ask for it. Have you done so?
We have no idea what steps you've taken to try to narrow down the possibilities, e.g., making sure the monitor is turned on; trying a different video cable as iVmichael has suggested; testing the monitor with the same cable on a different computer; testing a different monitor with the same cable and then with a diferent cable on your computer; substituting a different cable adapter, if you are using one; applying all applicable system software updates and then Repairing Permissions and Repairing Disk; starting in Safe Mode and seeing whether the monitor is recognized and activated then; seeing whether the monitor is detected in System Profiler; and so on. You may have done some of these things, but you haven't told us about them or about the results.

MacBook no longer detects external display

When I hook my computer up in my home office I connect an external display using the Apple VGA dongle.
Previously, when I inserted the dongle the display would blank out for a moment while detecting the display, then reappear with the VGA output enabled. This is no longer the case. When I insert the dongle, my screen doesn't blank out, and the VGA output will not enable. Its like it doesn't even know I'm inserting the dongle.
I have inspected the dongle for broken pins and dirt, but it appears to be making a good connection.
Is there something wrong with my Mac, or is it the dongle? Is it worth taking this to a genius bar in hopes they can try a different dongle, or shed some light on the situation? Thanks in advance.

Try plugging the display in and then going to System Preferences>Displays and clicking the "Detect Displays" button.

MacBook Air 2008 detects external monitor while not connected to one

When I put my MBA to sleep and wake it up, it detects and displays an external monitor. I checked the Display section in About this Mac, it shows that I'm connect to an external monitor when I'm not, and that I'm operating on Desktop 2. This is quite an issue due to a noticeable drop in performance and battery life. Has this happened to any one else? If so how did you fix it?

You wanted Extended Desktop, instructions on how to configure that are outlined in this article -
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5019

Macbook air stopped detecting Buffalo Ministation

I bought a Buffalo Ministation HD-PZ and start using it with my Macbook Air, and it was working fine.
Months after that, my macbook air doesn't recognise the Buffalo HDD anymore.
I plugged the same Buffalo hard drive to another mac (snow leopard) and it was working fine - the files are visible.
I plugged a Hitachi hard drive to my Macbook Air and it is working fine.
Can anybody help why my macbook air can't recognize my Buffalo HDD? I'm a tad confused.
Greatly appreciate it!

Its likely the buffalo HD (the HD inside is made by Western Digital) power on the SATA card is going bad.
Recently Buffalo has been using WD 'green' hard drives, notoriously a bit unreliable.
Buffalo external HD are a tad infamous for having power issues.
Thats why your other Mac is powering it fine, but your AIr isnt. Ive seen this often on many external HD, works fine on one mac, but not another.
If there is just enough power drain overage as the spindle wears a bit and is drawing more power, the SATA card causes the drive to not appear in a Mac, but with enough power in a powered HD dock, or another Mac it works fine. Seems a tad odd, but is perfectly logical.
backup all data from that HD to another HD. HD are cheap these days, a quality 1TB Toshiba / Hitachi USB is only $65
Steer away from WD drives for your Mac

HDCP error on MacBook Air (NOT using external display)

I just downloaded a HD (720p) movie through iTunes, and cannot play it on my Mac becuase of a HDCP non-compliance error. I am running it directly on my MBA, not through an external display... I would have thought the MBA integrated display would be HDCP compliant! Is this an error or am I wrong in assuming my MBA could play legally purchased HD movies?

Try a System Management Control reset (SMC)
Whilst the machine is plugged into power, Hold down the left side shift control and option buttons at the same time as the power on button.
Hold these down for 4 seconds and relese all at the same time.
If this fails then you may need to clear the caches folder for your user too.

Macbook can't detect external display via DVI cable

I just bought Samsung PX2370 monitor and attempt to connect it with my Macbook Aluminum (late 2008). I have mini display port to DVI adapter and DVI cable. When I hook up my Mac, nothing comes up. The screen on macbook goes blue briefly and then back to normal, but nothing has been detected. I've manually set the source of signal to DVI, and tried to use Detect Display but nothing happens. Even I try to detect the monitor by using Windows 7 (via bootcamp), the display remains idle.
I had tested the monitor using DSLR although by HDMI, it work.
Any help would be much appreciated.

Hey hparekh and welcome to the forum -
It looks like you have the correct hardware. You should check your connections... make sure your using the Mini DisplayPort and not the Ethernet port (common mistake) and all of the connections are plugged completely. Make all of your connections with your MacBook on and then turn your Dell on. You might need to go through your Dell's setup to make sure that it's recognizing a DVI input rather then HDMI.
Might be a bad DVI cable or a defective monitor or maybe a bad Mini DisplayPort to DVI adapter. Are they all new products?

Macbook Pro not detecting external display

I can't seem to make this work. I'm using a MiniDP-DVI cable which is plugged into an DVI cable plugged into an external monitor. I know it works because I have tried it on other computers and it has worked on the Macbook (erratically).
I've reset the PRAM several times and it has not fixed the problem. I did it in this order:
1. Remove adapter from computer
2. Shutdown
3. Press Option Command P R until the second chime is heard.
4. Log on as usual
5. Reconnect adapter to MBP
This is what the system log states when I plug the adapter in:
Oct 27 20:47:01 SMBP.local WindowServer[80]: Received display connect changed for display 0x42732c0
Oct 27 20:47:01 SMBP.local WindowServer[80]: Created shield window 0x66 for display 0x042732c0
Oct 27 20:47:01 SMBP.local WindowServer[80]: handle_will_sleep_auth_and_shield_windows: no action for lock state 1
Oct 27 20:47:01 SMBP.local WindowServer[80]: Received display connect changed for display 0x3f003d
Oct 27 20:47:01 SMBP.local WindowServer[80]: Received display connect changed for display 0x3f003e
Oct 27 20:47:01 SMBP.local WindowServer[80]: Received display connect changed for display 0x3f003f
Oct 27 20:47:02 SMBP.local WindowServer[80]: Display 0x042732c0: GL mask 0x1; bounds (0, 0)[1280 x 800], 9 modes available
          Main, Active, on-line, enabled, built-in, boot, OpenGL-accel, Vendor 610, Model 9ccb, S/N 0, Unit 0, Rotation 0
          UUID 0x0000061000009ccb00000000042732c0, ColorProfile { 3, "Color LCD Calibrated 2012-06-28"}
Oct 27 20:47:02 SMBP.local WindowServer[80]: GLCompositor: GL renderer id 0x01024301, GL mask 0x0000000f, accelerator 0x00004333, unit 0, caps QEX|QGL|MIPMAP, vram 451 MB
          texture units 8, texture max 8192, viewport max {8192, 8192}, extensions FPRG|NPOT|GLSL|FLOAT
Oct 27 20:47:02 SMBP.local WindowServer[80]: Display 0x003f003f: GL mask 0x8; bounds (2304, 0)[1 x 1], 1 modes available
          off-line, enabled, Vendor ffffffff, Model ffffffff, S/N ffffffff, Unit 3, Rotation 0
          UUID 0xffffffffffffffffffffffff003f003f
Oct 27 20:47:02 SMBP.local WindowServer[80]: Display 0x003f003e: GL mask 0x4; bounds (2305, 0)[1 x 1], 1 modes available
          off-line, enabled, Vendor ffffffff, Model ffffffff, S/N ffffffff, Unit 2, Rotation 0
          UUID 0xffffffffffffffffffffffff003f003e
Oct 27 20:47:02 SMBP.local WindowServer[80]: Display 0x003f003d: GL mask 0x2; bounds (2306, 0)[1 x 1], 1 modes available
          off-line, enabled, Vendor ffffffff, Model ffffffff, S/N ffffffff, Unit 1, Rotation 0
          UUID 0xffffffffffffffffffffffff003f003d
Oct 27 20:47:02 SMBP.local WindowServer[80]: Created shield window 0x68 for display 0x042732c0
Oct 27 20:47:02 SMBP.local WindowServer[80]: Created shield window 0x69 for display 0x003f003f
Oct 27 20:47:02 SMBP.local WindowServer[80]: Created shield window 0x6a for display 0x003f003e
Oct 27 20:47:02 SMBP.local WindowServer[80]: Created shield window 0x6b for display 0x003f003d
Oct 27 20:47:02 SMBP.local WindowServer[80]: Display 0x042732c0: MappedDisplay Unit 0: Startup Mode 1280 x 800, CGSThirtytwoBitColor, Resolution 1, IOMode 0x80000000, IODepth 0x0, IOReturn 0x0
Oct 27 20:47:02 SMBP.local WindowServer[80]: Display added
Oct 27 20:47:02 SMBP.local WindowServer[80]: Display removed
Oct 27 20:47:02 SMBP.local WindowServer[80]: Display 0x042732c0: GL mask 0x1; bounds (0, 0)[1280 x 800], 9 modes available
          Main, Active, on-line, enabled, built-in, boot, OpenGL-accel, Vendor 610, Model 9ccb, S/N 0, Unit 0, Rotation 0
          UUID 0x0000061000009ccb00000000042732c0, ColorProfile { 3, "Color LCD Calibrated 2012-06-28"}
Oct 27 20:47:02 SMBP.local WindowServer[80]: GLCompositor: GL renderer id 0x01024301, GL mask 0x0000000f, accelerator 0x00004333, unit 0, caps QEX|QGL|MIPMAP, vram 451 MB
          texture units 8, texture max 8192, viewport max {8192, 8192}, extensions FPRG|NPOT|GLSL|FLOAT
Oct 27 20:47:02 SMBP.local WindowServer[80]: Display 0x003f003f: GL mask 0x8; bounds (2304, 0)[1 x 1], 1 modes available
          off-line, enabled, Vendor ffffffff, Model ffffffff, S/N ffffffff, Unit 3, Rotation 0
          UUID 0xffffffffffffffffffffffff003f003f
Oct 27 20:47:02 SMBP.local WindowServer[80]: Display 0x003f003e: GL mask 0x4; bounds (2305, 0)[1 x 1], 1 modes available
          off-line, enabled, Vendor ffffffff, Model ffffffff, S/N ffffffff, Unit 2, Rotation 0
          UUID 0xffffffffffffffffffffffff003f003e
Oct 27 20:47:02 SMBP.local WindowServer[80]: Display 0x003f003d: GL mask 0x2; bounds (2306, 0)[1 x 1], 1 modes available
          off-line, enabled, Vendor ffffffff, Model ffffffff, S/N ffffffff, Unit 1, Rotation 0
          UUID 0xffffffffffffffffffffffff003f003d
Oct 27 20:47:03 SMBP.local WindowServer[80]: **DMPROXY** (2) Found `/System/Library/CoreServices/DMProxy'.
Oct 27 20:47:03 SMBP.local WindowServer[80]: Display 0x042732c0: MappedDisplay Unit 0; ColorProfile { 3, "Color LCD Calibrated 2012-06-28"}; TransferTable (256, 3)
Oct 27 20:47:04 --- last message repeated 1 time ---
Oct 27 20:47:04 SMBP.local WindowServer[80]: **DMPROXY** (2) Found `/System/Library/CoreServices/DMProxy'.
Oct 27 20:47:04 SMBP.local WindowServer[80]: Display 0x042732c0: MappedDisplay Unit 0; ColorProfile { 3, "Color LCD Calibrated 2012-06-28"}; TransferTable (256, 3)

I had the exact same behavior and log and I solved the issue by replacing the MiniDP-DVI adapter. I tried the "broken" adapter on another set of laptop+display and it was working there, so that made me think the adapter was ok, when apparently it was not.

HT5167 after I updated to 10.7.4 my macbook pro 2011 doesn't detect external display anymore what should I do?

after I updated to 10.7.4 my macbook pro 2011 doesn't detect external display anymore what should I do?

after I updated to 10.7.4 my macbook pro 2011 doesn't detect external display anymore what should I do?

MacBook Air w/ 4 External Monitors

I have a MacBook Air with 4 External Monitors:
Dell UltraSharp 30"
2 x Dell UltraSharp 20" - Rotated 90 degrees
Samsung Sync Master Commercial Display 55" Mounted on the Wall
This is the main monitor setup w/o the Samsung:
http://www.digitaltigers.com/ultraflex-powertrio30.asp
The 30" is connect to the air using a MiniDP to DP connector and the other monitors are using Sewell DisplayLink USB to DVI connectors:
http://sewelldirect.com/Sewell-Minideck-USB-to-DVI-Display-Adapter.asp
Everything seems to be working smoothly EXCEPT there are times when I bring the MacBook Air to the office and connect it and all the display settings do not seem to be saved. The arrangement and monitor rotation is not the way it was when I left. I have even tired shutting the computer down, restarting it correcting the configuration and then saving and restarting again. When it boots back up the rotation is correct (somtimes) but other settings such as arrangement or background may not be correct.
Any thoughts?
I love the Air and I would hate to go back to my ThinkPad but if this won't work then I will need to.

Quick update, I downloaded the mostt recent drivers for the Sewell adapter and that seemed to work. Which is strange because I thought i had done this previously.
None the less it looks like we are good to go now.

Thinkpad Edge S430 - Windows does not detect external display connected via HDMI

On a Thinkpad S430 with HD4000 integrated graphics, an external display connected via a HDMI cable is not detected at all when using Windows. The system is fully updated as of the time of posting this message, both via the Lenovo Update tool as well as Windows update.
The Intel driver version is 8.15.10.2696. It appears that this is the latest version, since it does not offer an update when I try to auto-update it via Device Manager.
NB: I am running Ubuntu 12.04 with kernel 3.4.0 on the same machine, and the external display works perfectly fine with this software configuration.
Hence I think that it's very likely that this is a Windows-specific driver issue.
Would Lenovo happen to have a driver update in the works? Alternatively, I will be thankful for any suggestions about possible resolution of this problem.

skn2011 wrote:
My Macbook Pro notbook 13.3" does not detect external display throught it's mini display port to HDMI connector when connected to Sony Bravia 32" LCD TV.Can anyone help me get the answer as i tried reading everywhere on internet and none does not seems to work.Please help me out guys.
Are you using the Apple adaptor or a 3rd party

How to charge mid 2011 macbook air battery using Thunderbolt display

While trying to organize all my computer miscellaneous (cords, adapters & so on), I came across an adapter on a little card with the comment, "For use with your Thunderbolt Display and Mac with MagSafe 2 port." Appears to be for charging my mid 2011 MacBook Air via the Thunderbolt Display -- what might be the advantages/disadvantages in doing so? I found the info. in the product manuals to be pretty skimpy about this.
Thanks,
Linda

So, I guess the adapter came with the display just in case I had a compatible Mac. I should have noted that on the card. Now, about the rest of the stuff in my Apple mystery box...that's for another day.
Thanks, seb101, for your quick reply!

Macbook Air stopped detecting external displays

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