HDMI port on your MacBook Pro not working: causes and fix

Does the HDMI port of your MacBook Pro no longer give a picture on your monitor or TV? That is not always the port itself. Often it is the cable, the TV input or a setting. This article explains step by step how to find out where the problem is, and what to do if the HDMI port really is broken. The steps also help if you use an HDMI adapter.

Blue Apple repairs MacBooks in Amsterdam, ports included. An HDMI port that is loose or gives no picture is mostly seen on MacBooks that are often connected to a screen with a cable.

Which MacBooks have HDMI?

• 14 and 16-inch MacBook Pro from 2021 have an HDMI port on the right side.
• MacBook Pro from 2012 to 2015 also had HDMI.
• Other MacBooks (Air, 13-inch Pro from 2016) have no HDMI; there you use a USB-C to HDMI adapter or a hub.

Step 1: test the cable and the screen

1. Try another HDMI cable. Cables break more often than you think, especially at the plug.
2. Choose the right input on the TV or monitor (HDMI 1, HDMI 2 and so on).
3. Connect another device to the same cable and input, for example a games console. If that does not work either, the TV or cable is the problem.

Step 2: test another route

Connect the screen via a USB-C to HDMI adapter instead of the HDMI port. If you get a picture then, the problem is in the MacBook's HDMI port. If you still get no picture, look at the settings or the software.

Step 3: check the settings

• Open System Settings, Displays. If the external screen is listed but black, try a lower resolution or refresh rate.
• Hold Option in the Displays window; sometimes a button to detect displays appears.
• Disconnect the cable, restart the MacBook and only reconnect it after you have logged in.
• Install the latest macOS update. Problems with certain monitors are regularly fixed in updates.

The picture flickers or drops out

If the picture keeps dropping out briefly, the cable is often not suited to the resolution and refresh rate. For 4K at 60 Hz you need a cable that handles HDMI 2.0; for higher rates an HDMI 2.1 ("Ultra High Speed") cable. If the picture flickers when you touch the plug, the port or the plug makes poor contact.

Signs that the port itself is broken

• The plug is loose or wobbles in the port.
• You see bent or discoloured pins in the port.
• Picture only works when you hold the plug at a certain angle.
• There has been liquid near the port.
• Over USB-C you get a picture, over HDMI never.

Do not force it, and do not try to straighten the pins with a paperclip or needle. That easily causes a short circuit.

What we do at Blue Apple in Amsterdam

We test with different screens and cables whether the signal leaves the MacBook, and measure the port. If the HDMI port is damaged we replace it; if the cause is deeper on the logic board, you hear that beforehand. More on our page about MacBook port repair. Also read dock, hub or adapter for your MacBook.

Frequently asked questions

My MacBook sees the TV, but the screen stays black.

Try a lower resolution or refresh rate in Displays, and another cable.

Can I connect two screens via HDMI?

One via the HDMI port, and more via the Thunderbolt ports, depending on your MacBook Pro's chip.

Does the sound come over HDMI too?

Yes. If no sound comes from the TV, choose the TV as output in System Settings, Sound.