Mac Mini display stops working

Software
#1

I have a Mac Mini (Late 2014 model bought in 2016) which has a problem that the display stops working regularly.

So the Mac Mini is largely a Media Server which means it mainly needs to transcode media. Sometimes when I try to wake the display, it doesn’t seem to respond, either to a wired keyboard, or Apple Trackpad.

But if I then access the Mac Mini via VNC the Mac Mini responds and works properly, just the screen doesn’t come on. So I have to reboot to get the screen to respond.

I’ve tried different monitors and connections to the monitor, and this makes no difference.

It’s not down to a timing issue( e.g. it regularly happens after 8 days) it’s not the hardware (i’ve Had the logic board replaced twice by Apple) it’s not a particular activity i’m taking as far as I can see.

I’ve tried to use a different login profile and it doesn’t happen, but then i’m not doing anything too strenuous on a different clean profile.

I’ve backed up, set to factory and restored from backup…

Has anyone got any ideas or tips please before I bite the bullet and have to spend a weekend reinstalling this thing from scratch?

#2

I might try this before I gave up entirely:

this tricks the Mac into thinking there is a monitor attached. For $10, it’s worth a shot.

1 Like
#3

When accessing via VNC (“screen sharing”) that dongle makes the Mac think it has a high-res display connected. Without it it defaults to VGA or some low-res amount. I’ve been using one here for years on my headless Mac mini. I don’t see how it would help getting a directly corrected display to work.

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#4

Oh, sorry, I misunderstood… I didn’t realize that the mini had a display attached usually. You’re right, it probably wouldn’t help.

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#5

Do you need to reboot, or does unplugging/replugging the display bring the display to life? That works for me on my 2014 mac mini (used as a regular desktop mac).

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#6

I’ll give that a try @funkydan2, but i’ve a vague recollection i’ve tried that before and it didn’t work.