The latest Big Sur update does not run smoothly everywhere: Users of external monitors complain of sometimes considerable impairments after installing macOS 11.1. 4K screens from different manufacturers from LG to Dell to BenQ can suddenly only be operated in 1080 p on the Mac, including the HDR Support could be lost, as readers report.

Problem with Macs with USB-C The problem seems to occur primarily on newer models when the display is controlled via a USB-C port on the Mac. Especially users of Apple’s 16 “MacBook Pro complain about the disruptions in the operation of external displays, but there the proportion of owners of external screens is likely to be particularly high

The restrictions are also discussed in various forums, including Apple’s own support forum. Owners of other Mac models also occasionally report there, who also have the same problem, including Mac mini and 11 “MacBook Pro – new models with Apple’s M1 chip also appear to be affected. The LG UltraFine 5K sold by Apple works under macOS Big Sur 11. 1 continues to be normal, users report.

The workaround is to switch the monitor from DisplayPort 1.4 to 1.2 or 1.1 using your own settings and reconnect it to the Mac, then let it be in 4K again 60 operate Hertz – but then you have to do without HDR. Switching to a connection via HDMI or connecting the monitor to a docking station also seems to help in part. It can be assumed that Apple is delivering a fix here – the first beta of macOS already available for testers 11. 2 appears but not yet to provide a remedy.

System settings cannot be unlocked On newer Intel Macs with Apple’s T2 chip is it in macOS 11. 1 It may no longer be possible to unlock protected system settings and thus no longer change them as Apple acknowledges in an updated support document. Unlocking by fingerprint (Touch ID) as well as by entering the password seems to fail here. After resetting the System Management Controller (SMC), the password entry should be accepted again.

On managed Macs (MDM), a problem can also occur that prevents the update from being applied to macOS 11. 1 prevents how Ars Technica reports, the update is displayed briefly, but then disappears from the software update. The Macs would incorrectly retrieve macOS . 0.1 from Apple’s servers instead of macOS 11.1. One possible way out is – if possible – the temporary removal of the MDM profile.

(lbe)