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dylanfromden-haag
User level: Level 1 (9 points)

MacBook Air M4 not waking MSI MD272UPH monitors over USB-C

MacBook Air M4 won't wake two MSI MD272UPH monitors over USB-C. They show as online in macOS, but the screens stay black until I press the monitor's power button.


Setup

  • MacBook Air M4 (Mac16,13), now on macOS 27.0.
  • Two MSI Modern MD272UPH 4K monitors, each connected to the Air with a USB-C cable.
  • The problem has been there since I first got these monitors, when the Air was on macOS 26.5. It has never worked correctly, and updating macOS didn't change it.
  • The same monitors, with the same cables and ports, wake automatically on my MacBook Pro M3 Max.


Problem

When I connect or replug a monitor, it stays black in standby. If I manually press its power button, it comes on and stays on. I have to do this every time. On the M3 Max the screens turn on by themselves.


What macOS reports while the screens are black

  • System Settings → Displays and system_profiler SPDisplaysDataType list both MSI monitors as Online at 3840×2160 @ 60Hz, not mirrored.
  • The display's DDC channel is available, and DDC communication is supported (checked in BetterDisplay).
  • Each monitor also appears to the Mac over USB as a small "Optix Driver" volume. So the monitor's controller is awake and talking to the Mac.
  • So the link is up and the monitor is reachable, but the panel stays off.


What I've tried, with no change

  • Setting the monitor input manually in the OSD, and turning off Auto Scan, Deep Sleep and ECO
  • Charging the Air, and swapping between its two USB-C ports
  • Replugging the cable
  • pmset displaysleepnow, then waking
  • caffeinate -u -t 2 to declare user activity
  • Sending DDC power-on (VCP D6) through BetterDisplay. The command fails
  • Reinitializing the display connection through BetterDisplay
  • Checking MSI for firmware. I found no firmware for this model, only a Windows driver



Questions

  • Is there a known issue with MacBook Air M4 and USB-C monitors that stay in standby after a replug or display sleep?
  • Is there a way to make macOS send a proper wake signal to a monitor that is online but dark?
  • Has anyone seen this with MSI monitors, or fixed it with a particular cable or adapter?


Thanks for any help.

Posted on Oct 4, 2026 9:35 AM

1 reply

kaz-k
User level: Level 9 (53,902 points)

Oct 4, 2026 12:02 PM in response to dylanfromden-haag

Hi,

Following setup to connect monitor to your MacBook Air M4 should work:


Connection Steps

  • Plug one end of a USB-C cable (supporting video data transfer, not just power) into the USB-C/Type-C port on the first MSI MD272UPH monitor.
  • Plug the other end into one of the Thunderbolt/USB-C ports on your M4 MacBook Air.
  • Repeat the process with a second USB-C cable for the second monitor and plug it into the remaining USB-C port on your MacBook Air.
  • Turn on both monitors and switch their input source settings to USB-C using the monitor's OSD/nav button if they do not display automatically.
  • Go to System Settings > Displays on your Mac to arrange the dual screens or adjust resolution and mirror settings

I think you should use high-end data transfer cables, rather than cheap cables which comes with monitor or something.


Originally posted at discussions.apple.com/thread/256370335