Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

External Displays Swapping - Arrangement Not Remembered!

JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
B

Brenzo

macrumors regular
Original poster
May 1, 2011
134
29
Chicago
I am running 14" MBP with two external displays and the monitors will not keep their position to the left/right every time I wake from sleep or plug back in. The monitors are arranged above my MacBook Pro (see below), with the monitor on the left connected via a USB-C dock and hte monitor on the right via HDMI.

1635425922891.png


After waking the computer, the monitor on my left will be on the right and vice versa so I have to go into the display settings and drag-and-drop them back into place.

The only thing I can think of is that each monitor is the same brand/model and perhaps that is causing an issue. I'm not sure if this is an OS Monterey or hardware issue. I've tried ensuring I plug-in the computer in the same order or make different monitors (including the MBP display) as the 'primary' monitor, but nothing seems to work. I have not tested using a different USB C dock solution or ocnnected directly to the left monitor via a USB-C-to-HDMI adapter in case the dock is causing the issue, but that doesn't really make sense to me.

Is there a way to perhaps adjust the names or behavior of the displays to trick the OS into remembering one should always be on the left?

1635426132842.png

My exteneral displays - same model.

I appreciate any insight or help!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Basic75, Tracyf, enojo12 and 2 others
B

Brenzo

macrumors regular
Original poster
May 1, 2011
134
29
Chicago
Bumping this because it is still happening. I am not sure if anyone else is experiencing it, can't determine if related to new hardware (14" MBP) or an OS Monterey issue.

I'll drag-and-drop in the Display settings or even flip-flop the connections and it keeps thinking my (1) display is on the right and my (2) is on the left (until I drag back into the correct place)

1635868726601.png

After swapping into the correct order.
 
  • Like
Reactions: EssentialGadget, enojo12, 70orbits and 1 other person
7

70orbits

macrumors newbie
Oct 18, 2021
24
42
Thank you for posting this! I am having the EXACT same issue with my 14". Using 2 Asus 27in 1440p monitors same model. I've tried multiple cables, HDMI on one display port to usb c on the other, and vice versa. It may stick correctly on one reboot, then it falls asleep then wakes on the other monitor switching the whole arrangement, including the primary display, over and over again.

I also share inputs from my Dell work laptop running Windows 10 and never misses a beat with the arrangement no matter what. This is supposed to be a "pro" machine, and can't even utilize the given ports/monitors that we are given correctly. I had dealt with a similar issue before when I had a M1 Mac mini and that one had problems waking from sleep on one monitor.

I don't know if I should return it before the 14 days or wait for Apple to fix another unfinished product.
 
  • Like
Reactions: EssentialGadget
DesertNomad

DesertNomad

macrumors 6502a
Jun 25, 2008
605
1,161
Nevada
Brenzo said:
Bumping this because it is still happening. I am not sure if anyone else is experiencing it, can't determine if related to new hardware (14" MBP) or an OS Monterey issue.

I'll drag-and-drop in the Display settings or even flip-flop the connections and it keeps thinking my (1) display is on the right and my (2) is on the left (until I drag back into the correct place)

View attachment 1900615
After swapping into the correct order.
Click to expand...

Did you get my private message to you? Our software can display identifying info about each screen and I suspect it can't tell the difference between the two external units. We have run into this before with a few systems.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Basic75
D

decaf0

macrumors newbie
Nov 4, 2021
2
2
I made an account just to watch this thread. I've had this issue for years now and I, too, suspect it's because I use identical monitors. Would love to know a way around the issue since it's an annoyance to have to rearrange everything whenever I plug my computer in.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Basic75
-griffy-

-griffy-

macrumors member
Jun 15, 2011
49
108
I experienced it this morning. 16" M1 Max in clamshell, hooked up to two different models of Dell monitor. Last night the arrangement was as I wanted it, and before bed I logged out of the system and powered the two monitors down. This morning when I woke the laptop and powered the monitors on they had swapped completely, not only left/right but also swapping which monitor was the main monitor.

My main 27" monitor is plugged directly into the HDMI port, and the second 24" monitor is hooked up using a USB-C to HDMI adapter.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 70orbits
V

vantablk34

macrumors newbie
Oct 26, 2021
7
3
I’ve experienced this same exact issue on the 16 inch M1 Max, where I have a 4K display hooked up with a USB C to USB C cable and a 1440p monitor connected to a USB C hub’s HDMI port that’s then connected to the Mac.

What solved the issue for me was buying an HDMI to USB C cable for the 1440p monitor. After I hooked it up, I stopped getting those issues after waking up the Mac.
 
M

mastercheif91

macrumors regular
Oct 7, 2011
203
149
This is driving me insane. Whenever I connect my 16" M1 Max to my three monitors it's a guessing game as to how the monitors will arrange themselves.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Basic75
V

vwguy60

macrumors newbie
May 7, 2006
13
10
Southern California
I never post anything, but had to subscribe to this one. I have the 14" M1 Max 10/32 and suffer from the same issue. I have two identical 27" 1440p Viewsonic monitors and it is connected with two Apple thunderbolt dongles (the one with a USBC, USBA, and HDMI).

I love the computer but this drives me insane. The monitors are also connected (the monitor have two HDMI inputs) to my upgraded 2012 12-core Mac Pro with a RX580 video card and it works flawlessly. I wonder if it is a Monterey thing that will be fixed with an update?
 
L

loveurdj

macrumors newbie
Dec 10, 2021
1
0
I am having the same issue, please post any updates to this very annoying issue. Mac M1 Pro 16 inch, 2021 running MacOS Monterey , dual Sceptre E248-W-19203R Monitors I never had this issue with my old MacBook Pro 2012 Model that I just upgraded.
 
D

decaf0

macrumors newbie
Nov 4, 2021
2
2
Funnily enough, this issue seems to have resolved itself for me. I'm not sure why. I plugged a couple things into on of the monitors' usb hub so maybe that was enough to get Mac OS to differentiate them?
 
  • Like
Reactions: IncreasinglyFrustrated
I

Inferno121

macrumors newbie
Dec 14, 2021
1
0
Same problems here. When I connect two of the same screens to my Dell D6000 dock, the Macbook Air M1 only sees one. And on both screens shows the same image (a copy of each other). Anyone who has a solution? If I connect two different monitors it works fine.
 
Last edited:
E

eye4ni

macrumors member
Apr 18, 2011
44
9
I use my MBP 16 in clamshell mode everyday connected to two 27" Benq monitors, each plugged in via USB dongle into each of the USB C ports on one side of the laptop. I also had these issues with the monitors swapping positions all the time but I found that if I open the screen and let it turn on before plugging in my monitors, and I plug them in the same order each time, they maintain their relative positions and I never have to reassign them. This works without fail 99% of the time but I have found that plugging in the monitors without the laptop screen opened before going into clamshell things get wonky and if a connection is broken and then reconnected things can also get skewed. If this happens, I just repeat the whole process from the beginning of reconnecting both monitors in the original order and all is restored.
 
S

serra

macrumors newbie
May 23, 2019
12
4
I have the same issue here. Screen position is often not remembered and I have to rearrange them manually.
Plus, sometimes the system crashes and reboots due to the screens (according to the error log).
I'm running a MBP 14" with OSX 12.1 and two external monitors Benq GW2470
 

MrGunnyPT

macrumors 65816
Mar 23, 2017
1,313
804
Brenzo said:
Bumping this because it is still happening. I am not sure if anyone else is experiencing it, can't determine if related to new hardware (14" MBP) or an OS Monterey issue.

I'll drag-and-drop in the Display settings or even flip-flop the connections and it keeps thinking my (1) display is on the right and my (2) is on the left (until I drag back into the correct place)

View attachment 1900615
After swapping into the correct order.
Click to expand...

Having the same exact issue. However I'm running double Huawei Mateview..

1640854914806.png


1640854965367.png
 

hurin

macrumors newbie
Jan 3, 2022
1
2
Same issue. Following. I have Macbook Pro 16-inch 2021 model. One HDMI port to one monitor and an Apple dongle (USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter) with an HDMI cord to the other monitor. Both monitors are of the same brand and size. One difference for me is one of the monitors is landscape and the other portrait (rotated in display settings). The same issue is when the mac sleeps and I wake it later the two externals are swapped. I fix it by unplugging the USB-c and HDMI and plugging back in (vs some that just change the setting back). I use all three screens (vs clamshell).
 
  • Like
Reactions: Basic75 and enojo12
N

nismo95tt

macrumors newbie
Apr 30, 2011
1
1
Same issue here, following this thread. I'm running a 2021 14" MBP M1 Pro with two external Dell displays. 4021QW is directly connected to Mac using Dell provided TB4 cable, and P2415Q is connected to CalDigit TS3 Plus Thunderbolt 3 Dock with a Display Port to USB-C cable.

If I "dock" my Mac by connecting the two cables, and then from the shutdown state, power on my Mac, the display arrangement, orientation, and scaling is reverted and I have to go to system preferences -> display and set them up again. The scaling is reverted back to default and the orientation of my portrait monitor is reset to landscape, and I have to rotate it 90 degrees, again.

I have found one workaround- if I power on my Mac without any peripherals connected, AND THEN dock it by connecting the two cables, the arrangement, orientation, and scaling are all correct.

This is an annoying problem that Apple should fix.

Edit: This setup* worked perfectly with my 2019 16" MBP Intel. The arrangement, orientation, and scaling were correct each time I booted up the intel Mac with the cables already connected. *I should mention I had a different primary montior then (Dell 3415UW), but I don't think my new monitor is the issue here...
 
  • Like
Reactions: bc1980

fooyork

macrumors regular
Oct 21, 2009
157
306
Yep. Hello. Same here.

14 inch MBP M1 Pro, 2 x HUAWEI MateView 28.2 4K Displays, both connected over USB-C. Often swap arrangement on their own from left to right, and have to be manually put back in order. HDR toggles on and off on its own. Sometimes the wallpaper changes.

V annoying.

Come on Apple, sort this out.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Basic75

Mart225

macrumors newbie
Jun 14, 2016
15
5
Burgas, Bulgaria
Similar issue here - MacBook Pro 16" M1 Max 32 GB, connected via USB-C to DP cables (swapped 4) to x2 AOC Q27G2U's
Every time I reboot/sleep the refresh rate changes to the default Adaptive Sync, which causes both of the monitors to flicker like crazy!
Even after sleep and wake up cycle of the MacBook the settings reset, monitors flicker like crazy, until I go in and change to 144 Hz Only...

The arrangement of the monitors is saved however...

Had none such issues with the same setup on my Intel 2017 MacBook Pro running the same version of Monterey.

Hope Apple or Someone else finds a workaround this madness...
 

Attachments

  • Screen Shot.png
    Screen Shot.png
    333.6 KB · Views: 247
S

skidney

macrumors newbie
Jan 19, 2022
1
2
I'm having the same issue with the external monitors swapping when I wake the macbook from sleep. Two identical Samsung monitors connected via USB-C with new 16" macbook on Monterey. Does look like it can't keep track of two identical monitors? Mine swap Monitor name(1) and Monitor name(2)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Basic75 and gt77
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom