In an internal note this week, obtained by MacRumors, Apple informed service providers that it is aware and is investigating an issue that could lead to the appearance of “pink squares or pixels” on the displays connected to a Mac mini M1.
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This issue has been reported by users in Apple Support Communities, MacRumors and Reddit forums since the launch of the M1 Mac mini in November, but the exact cause is unclear. Based on the feedback from affected users, it seems that the issue may be more common when connecting displays via HDMI compared to Thunderbolt.
Apple did not provide a specific time frame for a fix. The memo was released on February 19, more than a week after the release of macOS Big Sur 11.2.1, which does not seem to address the issue. A solution may be ready in time for the launch of macOS Big Sur 11.3, which has been in beta testing since February 2nd.
Meanwhile, Apple has outlined the following troubleshooting steps:
- Bring your Mac mini to bed
- Wait two minutes and wake up your Mac mini
- Disconnect the display from the Mac mini, then reconnect it
- Adjust the display resolution in System Preferences> Views
If the problem occurs again after restarting the Mac mini, Apple tells you to repeat the above steps.
There have been various other external display issues with M1 Macs in recent months, ranging from USB-C connection issues to some resolutions that are not available when using an ultrawide or super-ultrawide display.