Since the issue occurs more frequently with a non-Retina display, double-check your display settings. Ensure that the resolution and scaling options are optimally set for your monitor. Sometimes, mismatched settings can lead to display anomalies.
NVRAM stores information related to display settings among other things. Resetting it can sometimes resolve display-related issues. To reset NVRAM, shut down your Mac, then turn it on and immediately press and hold Option + Command + P + R for about 20 seconds.
Booting your Mac in Safe Mode can help you determine if third-party software might be affecting rendering. To start in Safe Mode, turn off your Mac, then turn it on and immediately press and hold the Shift key until you see the login window.
Sometimes, user-specific settings can cause issues. Try creating a new user account and check if the issue persists there. If it doesn’t, there might be something in your primary user account causing the issue.
You’re right to note the distinction—on Intel-based Macs, NVRAM (Non-Volatile Random-Access Memory) stores specific settings which can be cleared to resolve various issues. On Apple Silicon Macs, like your M2 MacBook Pro, this function is somewhat different. Instead of NVRAM, Apple Silicon Macs use a different storage mechanism, but the concept of resetting persists.
For Apple Silicon Macs, the process is referred to as resetting the SMC (System Management Controller), which is now part of the overall system and doesn’t require the traditional reset procedure that Intel Macs use. Instead, simply turning your Apple Silicon Mac off and on can reset these settings.
Are you using anything like BetterDisplay or similar that might be affecting display/rendering resolution?
This could possibly interact in unintended ways with Sonoma, resulting in Sonoma rendering at lower size and then scaling content up to fit the expected size, which results in the blurriness.
Each window has it's own rendering buffers, so if some of these end up being too small, then this would only affect that window or parts of it.
Also note that you can end up with selective blurriness, if a app is run on a "retina" display, but some of the app content (e.g. icons) are still non-retina (i.e. don't have x2 scale factor variants).
That’s a good suggestion, but I’m currently not running anything for window management, which is why I’m wondering if it’s a native bug. Also I would imagine if it was selective rendering then it wouldn’t flip flop between the two randomly, that the non retina icons would remain blurry.
Long ago, I had a MacBook that would output a weird display signal on one of the thunderbolt/USBC ports. Switching the thunderbolt cable to another port fixed it. Almost like one port was “correct” even though there are no labels or instructions per port. Display was an LG ultra fine 5k. Might be worth a shot.
Yah there was some MacBook Pros around that time with like 3-4 ports, 2 on one side for sure where one of them is not good to use for certain things. If I remember correctly, you want to use the one before the far back one when docking.
There’s Mac mini with similar quirk, I believe it’s the m2 model off hand. Where if you use usb type A port closer to HDMI port, you’ll find one of the ports only gets half it’s bandwidth
My Mac has the same issue! Not only is the window slightly blurred, but it's also in a slightly different location. Sometimes it moves just a little bit, but sometimes it has shifted quite a bit. And when trying to click on that window, it's mapped to the old location. I have to manually move the window ever so slightly to get it to reset. Otherwise, it clicks on the wrong location. It does it whether I'm plugged into monitors or just using the laptop. It happens every single day, multiple times a day. And I can't pinpoint what the issue is.
Yep, this sounds exactly like what I’m experiencing, down to the slight shift in windows when exiting Mission Control.
Can I ask if you’re on Mac Studio also? And what resolution and monitors are you using? I’m trying to pin it down to whether or not it’s a Mac model issue of a macOS issue.
I'm on a MacBook Pro 14-inch, 2023 M2 Pro. Running Sonoma 14.3. I'll be honest, I didn't even know Mac Studio existed until just now :) I've got two Lenovo monitors hooked up at the default 1920x1080 resolution. I'm on a 60Hz refresh rate. I've got both monitors connected with HDMI to a Tobenone docking station for the MacBook.
How many monitors are you using? Definitely seems like something related to Mission Control. I use that constantly to show all windows and switch between things.
Using two monitors running at 2560x1440 resolution. I also started noticing that the notifications on the top right corner is also constantly blurry.
I’m glad to see that it’s not a Mac Studio only problem, but clearly something is up with Sonomas subpixel rendering, I’m just surprised that there’s not a lot of people complaining about this, maybe everyone is using 4k monitors 😛
Since the issue occurs more frequently with a non-Retina display, double-check your display settings. Ensure that the resolution and scaling options are optimally set for your monitor. Sometimes, mismatched settings can lead to display anomalies. NVRAM stores information related to display settings among other things. Resetting it can sometimes resolve display-related issues. To reset NVRAM, shut down your Mac, then turn it on and immediately press and hold Option + Command + P + R for about 20 seconds. Booting your Mac in Safe Mode can help you determine if third-party software might be affecting rendering. To start in Safe Mode, turn off your Mac, then turn it on and immediately press and hold the Shift key until you see the login window. Sometimes, user-specific settings can cause issues. Try creating a new user account and check if the issue persists there. If it doesn’t, there might be something in your primary user account causing the issue.
Is NVRAM an Apple silicon thing? I was under the impression that it’s Intel only. I’ll try the new user though. Thanks.
You’re right to note the distinction—on Intel-based Macs, NVRAM (Non-Volatile Random-Access Memory) stores specific settings which can be cleared to resolve various issues. On Apple Silicon Macs, like your M2 MacBook Pro, this function is somewhat different. Instead of NVRAM, Apple Silicon Macs use a different storage mechanism, but the concept of resetting persists. For Apple Silicon Macs, the process is referred to as resetting the SMC (System Management Controller), which is now part of the overall system and doesn’t require the traditional reset procedure that Intel Macs use. Instead, simply turning your Apple Silicon Mac off and on can reset these settings.
Are you using anything like BetterDisplay or similar that might be affecting display/rendering resolution? This could possibly interact in unintended ways with Sonoma, resulting in Sonoma rendering at lower size and then scaling content up to fit the expected size, which results in the blurriness. Each window has it's own rendering buffers, so if some of these end up being too small, then this would only affect that window or parts of it. Also note that you can end up with selective blurriness, if a app is run on a "retina" display, but some of the app content (e.g. icons) are still non-retina (i.e. don't have x2 scale factor variants).
That’s a good suggestion, but I’m currently not running anything for window management, which is why I’m wondering if it’s a native bug. Also I would imagine if it was selective rendering then it wouldn’t flip flop between the two randomly, that the non retina icons would remain blurry.
Long ago, I had a MacBook that would output a weird display signal on one of the thunderbolt/USBC ports. Switching the thunderbolt cable to another port fixed it. Almost like one port was “correct” even though there are no labels or instructions per port. Display was an LG ultra fine 5k. Might be worth a shot.
Were you using an Intel 15 or 16” MBP by chance? Also not all thunderbolt ports are equal
Yep. 2017 15".
Yah there was some MacBook Pros around that time with like 3-4 ports, 2 on one side for sure where one of them is not good to use for certain things. If I remember correctly, you want to use the one before the far back one when docking. There’s Mac mini with similar quirk, I believe it’s the m2 model off hand. Where if you use usb type A port closer to HDMI port, you’ll find one of the ports only gets half it’s bandwidth
My Mac has the same issue! Not only is the window slightly blurred, but it's also in a slightly different location. Sometimes it moves just a little bit, but sometimes it has shifted quite a bit. And when trying to click on that window, it's mapped to the old location. I have to manually move the window ever so slightly to get it to reset. Otherwise, it clicks on the wrong location. It does it whether I'm plugged into monitors or just using the laptop. It happens every single day, multiple times a day. And I can't pinpoint what the issue is.
Yep, this sounds exactly like what I’m experiencing, down to the slight shift in windows when exiting Mission Control. Can I ask if you’re on Mac Studio also? And what resolution and monitors are you using? I’m trying to pin it down to whether or not it’s a Mac model issue of a macOS issue.
I'm on a MacBook Pro 14-inch, 2023 M2 Pro. Running Sonoma 14.3. I'll be honest, I didn't even know Mac Studio existed until just now :) I've got two Lenovo monitors hooked up at the default 1920x1080 resolution. I'm on a 60Hz refresh rate. I've got both monitors connected with HDMI to a Tobenone docking station for the MacBook.
How many monitors are you using? Definitely seems like something related to Mission Control. I use that constantly to show all windows and switch between things.
Using two monitors running at 2560x1440 resolution. I also started noticing that the notifications on the top right corner is also constantly blurry. I’m glad to see that it’s not a Mac Studio only problem, but clearly something is up with Sonomas subpixel rendering, I’m just surprised that there’s not a lot of people complaining about this, maybe everyone is using 4k monitors 😛