User profile for user: PaulDBurgess
PaulDBurgess Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

HDMI stops video from working on Macbook Pro

When an HDMI cable is plugged in, my MacBook Pro can't play any video, whether it's streamed or saved to the hard drive. I've tried streaming on various browsers. I used QuickTime for the hard drive videos. None of them work.


But they all play fine when no HDMI cable is plugged in.


The HDMI cable and external screen are working fine. They show what's on the laptop, either mirrored or extended.


I've tried different HDMI cables. And I've tried them directly plugged into the HDMI port or via a USB-C adaptor.


I'm mystified. Can anyone help? Thanks!

When an HDMI cable is plugged in, my MacBook Pro can't play any video, whether it's streamed or saved to the hard drive. I have tried streaming on various browsers. I tried QuickTime for the hard drive videos. None work.


But they all play fine when no HDMI cable is plugged in.


The HDMI cable and external screen are working fine. They show what's on the laptop, either mirrored or extended.


I have tried different HDMI cables. And I've tried them directly plugged into the HDMI port or via a USB-C adaptor.


I'm mystified. Can anyone help? Thanks!


Apple MacBook Pro 14", Apple M2 Pro chip, running Sequoia 15.3.2

MacBook Pro 14″

Posted on Apr 13, 2025 2:03 PM

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User profile for user: TheLittles
TheLittles
User level: Level 10
199,780 points

Apr 13, 2025 2:36 PM in response to PaulDBurgess

HDMI Video Not Playing:

"HDMI stops video from working on Macbook Pro: [...]When an HDMI cable is plugged in, my MacBook Pro can't play any video, whether it's streamed or saved to the hard drive. I have tried streaming on various browsers. I tried QuickTime for the hard drive videos. None work.[...]"

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Media Not Playing or Streaming with HDMI Cable Plugged in:

A. Try Safe Mode:

In Safe Mode, login items do not run, and corrupt system files(i.e. caches) are intentionally reset as a way to fix issues

  1. Boot: in to Safe Mode: [Hold Down: shift key upon boot].
  2. Log in: as same user
  3. Wait: 30 seconds
  4. Restart; your Mac
  5. Log in: as same user
  6. Open: [the app]
  7. See fi the issue persists.


B. Single-Out this User:

Try a pre Administrator user, seeing if you do not get this occur while in it. If so, then it is an issue with the configuration of the current user. If not, then it is an issue with the entire Mac, in which case you should reinstall the macOS. See below...


C. Reinstall the macOS:

Nothing would be deleted. It's just that items that have become corrupted or deleted, would be replaced or reinstalled back to where they should be. Go Here: How to reinstall macOS from macOS Recovery - Apple Support. Important: Be certain to create a backup of your Mac prior to performing the reinstall. That way, you can have something to restore from the Mac from, should anything go wrong with the reinstall. Once reinstalled, try this once more, seeing if you still get this error.

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User profile for user: PaulDBurgess
PaulDBurgess Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

Apr 13, 2025 3:48 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Thanks for this. Interesting. I didn't even know that was a thing!


I should have added to my initial post that the same videos worked fine on the same external display when I plugged the HDMI cable into my iPad. So I'm pretty sure it's a laptop thing, not an external display. Anyway, Safe Mode seems to have solved it, but I'll be back if the problem recurs!

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HDMI stops video from working on Macbook Pro

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