When waking the from sleep, sometimes the screen blacksout.

[SiegfredRodriguez]

Machine: Mac Mini M2 Pro Sequoia 15.4.2

Better Display Version 3.5.5 Build 40681

Replication (not consistent)

1. Lock mac screen.
2. Lower brightness to second to lowest.
3. Let mac sleep for some time. (30 mins?)
4. Wake via keyboard.

Notably the lock screen shows up for a second then blacks out, my work around is to restart the monitor.

[waydabber]

Does this happen if you exit BetterDisplay before letting the display sleep? So is this a BetterDisplay induced issue or just the display having wake problems? I assume that since simply turning the display off/on fixes the issue, it might be the latter?

[SiegfredRodriguez]

Hello @waydabber, No, tried for a week without BetterDisplay, i did not run into the issue.

[waydabber]

I see, thanks for the update!

• Can you give a bit more detail on the setup (display, connection, app features used etc)?
• How often does this issue happen?
• Does it happen when the brightness is not "second to lowest"?
• What control options are used for the display (combined brightness: DDC and software dimming)?
• What happens if you disable either DDC or software brightness control? Does that affect the issue?

[evie-lau]

I have a similar issue, where after waking my Mac, the display goes black as it seems BetterDisplay is reinitializing some stuff. My scenario is a bit different though, and does not include changing brightness.

Setup

Macbook Air M3 (clamshell mode), with usb-C monitor with PD.

• MacOS Sequoia 15.5
• BetterDisplay Version 3.5.6 Build 40870

I unplug my Macbook when not in use, but occasionally leave it plugged in and wake via keyboard similar to the original scenario with the Mac Mini.

Scenario + Hypothesis

When I connect the usb-c monitor cable, or wake up after a long sleep - the display connects initially. I usually unlock my Mac pretty quickly (either Apple watch auto-unlock or type in password). I believe at this point, maybe BetterDisplay is identifying the monitor and maybe doing its own reinitialization, then the monitor blacks out.

I can re-wake the Mac via keyboard or quickly unplug/replug the usb-c cable, and the Mac is locked again either way. I think at this point BetterDisplay immediately recognizes the display, so there is no reinitialization and blackout. From here I can continue using my Mac as usual.

This happens every time I use my Macbook with my display after the Macbook been asleep for a while.

[waydabber]

Hi @evie-lau

• does this happen without the app?
• do you use any config protection feature (like color mode etc) or reinitialize on wake?

Use this command to start the app with logging from Terminal and then try sleep/wake:

/Applications/BetterDisplay.app/Contents/MacOS/BetterDisplay -v

Based on the log we may have a bit more insight on what is happening.

[evie-lau]

• It doesn't happen without BetterDisplay running.
• I don't think I'm using any config protection features.

I'll start the logging and report back later

[waydabber]

Thank you @evie-lau! Hopefully the logs will provide an explanation.

[evie-lau]

Funny enough, the issue still hasn't happened yet ever since starting the app with logging. Will keep it running with logging in case it happens eventually.

[waydabber]

Maybe the logging fixes it! ;)