Slightly broken MacBook Pro won’t display or connect to the HDMi

The cable requirements for Mac HDMI are far stricter than the cables you "find" behind your TV set. At a minimum, you will need a certified cable sold as PREMIUM. If approaching 4K resolutions, the cable requirement changes again to required certified ULTRA cables (which are backward compatible).

estanaomi wrote:

Thank you. The cables I have been using for years are certified premium. The MacBook to hdmi connection stopped working the moment the screen got slightly cracked

Given the failed external graphics and the failed internal display, the damage is extensive.

You’re headed for repair or replacement of that Mac.

estanaomi wrote:

I believe you did not read my latest update

Apple Support undoubtedly encouraged repair or replacement of this apparently-seriously-damaged Mac.

I expect Apple support also indicated other problems could arise, and encouraged backups while somewhat functional. I’d certainly encourage attempting to get recent backups here, whether directly or via target disk mode.

I’m mildly surprised Apple Support even suggested an upgrade of macOS, given the hardware damage. I’d expect caveats around that suggestion from Apple Support, too.

As for your most recent update on this seriously-damaged Mac:

“Update : the hdmi to MacBook connection is working again! Unfortunately none of the applications are responsive (tried to open and nothing) which is frustrating because this was the initial reason I contacted apple support and was told to install sonoma which is now done”

A lack of pointer response might be caused by hardware problems with the touchpad, and one good testing option there is connecting an external mouse or trackpad. Another option is enabling mouse keys.

If the particular damage pattern involves the batteries, battery swelling can occur, and can cause the trackpad and keyboard to fail. This on the way to complete failure.

We cannot see what you do, do not know what you do, and cannot evaluate the condition of this Mac except by what you tell us. Based on what you are reporting, “slightly broken” seems rather optimistic, though.

The Mac does not rely on windows-like side-loaded "Drivers" which are actually packages of resolutions and settings for a specific display. Instead, it goes straight to the immutable source -- it asks the display itself.

To get a Mac display to become active, you need the Mac to query the display, and the display to answer with its name and capabilities. Otherwise, the display will not be shown as present, and no data will be sent to the display. "No signal detected" is generated by the DISPLAY, not by the Mac.

This query is only sent at certain times:

• at startup

• at wake from sleep — so momentarily sleeping and waking your Mac may work

• at insertion of the Mac-end of the display-cable, provided everything on that cable is ready-to-go

• hold the Option key while you click on the (Detect Display) button that will appear in Displays preferences (from another display)

so try doing some of those things and see if the display comes alive.

Modern Displays with multiple ports are sometimes busy scanning the other ports, looking for an input, and miss the query from the Mac. They need to pay attention to the port you are actually using, or they will miss the query.

Some displays have On-Screen Display settings that can be used to tell the display a computer is attached on a certain port, or a certain port should be highest priority. Changing those may make your display more responsive.

My TV won't pay any attention to anything except the cable box unless/until you pick up its remote controls and assign the TV input it to the computer-connected port.

<< tried to open and nothing >>

you originally said the pointer was not working. do you have a pointer now?

what does that mean, EXACTLY?

<< not being responsive >.

the first half hour to an hour of 'awake but not too busy' time will be dedicated to creating a Spotlight index of every word in every file. Once completed, your Mac will be more responsive.

will not launch?

bounce in the dock?

once launched, ignore inputs?

do not respond the choices off their menus?

do not répond to clicks?

just really slow?

if your left and right are correct, that sounds like looking Through the screen from the back.

try an external pointing device, such as any USB mouse.

what changed from your previously reported desperate situation?