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Apple Investigating Issue With 'Pink Squares' Appearing on Displays Connected to M1 Mac Mini

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In an internal memo this week, obtained by MacRumors, Apple informed service providers that it is aware of and investigating an issue that may result in "pink squares or pixels" appearing on displays connected to an M1 Mac mini.

pink squares macos

Image via Twitter user @FatihVidyograf

This issue has been reported by users across the Apple Support Communities, MacRumors Forums, and Reddit since the M1 Mac mini launched in November, but the exact cause is unclear. Based on comments from affected users, it appears that the issue may be more common when connecting displays via HDMI compared to Thunderbolt.

Apple did not provide a specific timeframe for a fix. The memo was issued on February 19, over a week after the release of macOS Big Sur 11.2.1, which does not appear to address the issue. It is possible that a fix could be readied in time for the release of macOS Big Sur 11.3, which has been in beta testing since February 2.

In the meantime, Apple outlined the following troubleshooting steps:

  • Put the Mac mini to sleep
  • Wait two minutes and wake the Mac mini
  • Unplug the display from the Mac mini, and then plug the display back in
  • Adjust the display's resolution in System Preferences > Displays

If the issue reoccurs after restarting the Mac mini, Apple says to repeat the steps above.

There have been various other external display issues with M1 Macs in recent months, ranging from USB-C connection issues to some resolutions being unavailable when using an ultrawide or super-ultrawide display.

Related Roundup: Mac mini
Tags: Apple Authorized Service Providers, M1 Guide
Buyer's Guide: Mac Mini (Caution)
Related Forum: Mac mini

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Top Rated Comments

cmaier Avatar
cmaier
70 months ago

Maybe Apple isn't as good a GPU designer as they think they are... Intel, AMD & nVidia have been doing it a long time, and have the compatibility with external devices figured out.
It’s certainly a software, not a hardware, issue, so GPU design has nothing to do with it.

And you think nobody ever has problems with Intel, AMD or nVidia? Seriously?
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Apple_Robert Avatar
Apple_Robert
70 months ago
I think Pink looks pretty good. There has been about 3 times when I had to force shutdown my M1 and the screen went Pink right before it turned off to reboot. I am not sure it is a flaw.

Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
D.T. Avatar
D.T.
70 months ago
Pink squares? Blue diamonds? Green clovers?

I blame Apple's lead graphics engineer:



Attachment Image
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
S
Saberon2014
70 months ago
This is a miracle, I posted nearly 3 months ago about this and it's been silence from Apple since. I've long since returned my Mini and bought something else instead which is too bad.


https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/display-issues-with-m1-mini.2270088/
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
xbjllb Avatar
xbjllb
70 months ago

See, if Apple just made their own affordable monitor that played nicely with their laptops...
Affordable... that's funny.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ProfessionalFan Avatar
ProfessionalFan
70 months ago

Maybe Apple isn't as good a GPU designer as they think they are... Intel, AMD & nVidia have been doing it a long time, and have the compatibility with external devices figured out.
I had similar issues in recent years with those companies mentioned so your comment is incorrect.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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