OS wide graphical issues with latest MacOS update

[delameko]

Hi,

I updated VLC to the latest version a few weeks back, and it was working fine. However, I recently updated to the latest MacOS 10.14.6, and now there are graphical issues whenever a video is playing -- closing the video removes the graphical issues.

The first issue is that the menu's in all apps are broken (note, the grey horizontal bars are actually pink/purple, but grey when screenshotted:




The second issue is that right-clicking the mouse just shows the outline of the right-click menu, although the options are still clickable (note, I couldn't screenshot this).

The third issue is massive visual tearing across the screen when switching spaces, I couldn't screenshot this either.

My messages log:
https://www.pastiebin.com/5d44570e2e451

[delameko]

Things I've tried:

• disabling dark mode - no difference.

• disabling hardware decoding - no difference.

• build VLC from source - distortions are even worse.

[atchoo]

Hello,

I have exactly the same issues with macOS 10.14.6 and any VLC version. Totally unusable

Andreas

[pixelwarrior]

Same issue here. iMac on Mojave 10.14.6 with VLC 3.0.7.1 Whenever a video is playing, dropdown menus are completely unusable. They flash purple horizontal bands and don't allow me to access anything on them and the text on them is all messed up. Affects any other running app menus as well. If I close the video but keep the app running, the menus return to working normally. Have never had this happen with VLC before in all the years I've used it. I tried using a couple of older versions 3.0.6 & 3.0.4 but the same thing now happens with those as well. Have tried turning off Hardware Acceleration but it doesn't help. Screen shots don't capture what it actually looks like on screen. The purple bands end up looking like the original poster"s attachments.

[lestes]

Try creating a new user and see if the issue goes away.

[pixelwarrior]

Creating a new user solves the issue but it's a major pain to have to migrate everything over to the new user just for an issue with this one app. Not sure what is causing it to happen, perhaps a corrupt permission but who knows...thank you for the troubleshooting advice though. Restoring OS 10.14.6 did not fix the problem on the original user.

[lestes]

I agree, wish I knew what to do about the problem. In the meantime I am not using VLC until the problem gets resolved.

[cabwaylingo]

+1 on the above issues. Right-clicks, drop down menus etc. flicker pink and are unusable system wide when a VLC window is active on mac 10.14.6. With app open and nothing playing things are fine.

[ironiclast]

I just noticed this issue today (must have been the first time I've used VLC since I did the latest OS update) and turning automatic graphics switching back on in energy saver settings appears to have fixed the problem for me. Hopefully it keeps the problem from continuing.

[delameko]

Try creating a new user and see if the issue goes away.

Creating a new user solves the issue but it's a major pain to have to migrate everything over to the new user just for an issue with this one app. Not sure what is causing it to happen, perhaps a corrupt permission but who knows...thank you for the troubleshooting advice though. Restoring OS 10.14.6 did not fix the problem on the original user.

It's interesting that this works. I tried removing all vlc config files, even deleted vlc and downloaded a new one, but it had no effect. Is it some OS config somewhere that needs to be cleaned, maybe?

[Daargajedan]

Tried everything in this topic, doesnt work at all.

Looks like it has something to do with windows that refresh, if i have my terminal open the terminal information appears in VLC like osx doesnt know how to handle the pixels. This only happens when the videoplayer window is open and in screen or in background.

PLEASE HURRY with a solution, i missing working with a video player.

[ironiclast]

turning on automatic graphics switching worked for me until literally just now. opened vlc, started playing something, and it was back to glitches and purple stretched out menus. hope there's an update to fix this soon

edit: toggling graphic switching off and back on looks like it may have fixed the issue once again, but seeing as how that only lasted 4 days last time, it's not a long term fix i want to deal with

[texasbelch]

+1 I'm having the same issue. Early 2013 Macbook Pro Retina. Toggling the "Automatic Graphic Switching" didn't help me.

[iDirk]

+1 Having the same issue. Tried previous versions of vlc, but that didnt help, the problem stayed.
Thought my iMac videocard was dying... (iMac 27-inch, Late 2013 - MacOS Mojave 10.14.6)

[ePirat]

This is an issue in macOS, I've reported it to Apple. Feel free to do the same, you can submit reports like these on https://feedbackassistant.apple.com

There is no quick fix we could do for this in VLC as far as I know and without further information by Apple about what is triggering this issue.

[biff33]

The same thing happens using 5kplayer.

[valledeluz]

Hi to all the people, this solution is working fine for me:
On the System Preference, open Accessibility panel, then click on Screen icon on the left column. Be sure that Reduce Transparency setting BOX is not selected.

En Español: Despues de probar infinidad de opciones, he encontrado la solución a este problema:

Abrir el Preferencias del Sistema, luego hacer clic en el icono de Accesibilidad, despues , seleccionar Pantalla en la columna de la izquierda, y por fin, aseguraros que REDUCIR TRANSPARENCIA y todas las demás opciones, están desactivadas.

Me funciona en un iMac 21,5" del 2012, Mojave 10.14.6 con Complementario y VLC 3.0.8

Espero que os funcione esta solución

Saludos

[cabwaylingo]

That does work, actually.

[biff33]

Thank you, valledeluz!

[lestes]

Great, worked for me, but how do you get rid of the blue menu bar?

[ianrobertdouglas]

Anyone from the VLC dev team able to weigh in on this thread?
Turning off "Reduce Transparency" solved the issue for me, too. The issue seems wider than VLC, as 5kplayer was also doing the same.
Still, it would be great if this was addressed, and a fix found, because transparency in OSX is really ugly.

[truthglow]

I have same problem macos mojave 10.14.6
and 'reduce transparency' is not checked, yet the problem still exist.

[ePirat]

Anyone from the VLC dev team able to weigh in on this thread?

I already provided information in this thread, we are aware of the issue, ultimately it is a macOS bug. I am working on a workaround for it but this isn't a trivial thing to do so it takes some time.

[stonky]

On the System Preference, open Accessibility panel, then click on Screen icon on the left column. Be sure that Reduce Transparency setting BOX is not selected.

Muchisimas gracias valledeluz; that worked for me.

[tjkelman]

Incredible, worked like a charm! How in the hell did you figure that out??? Very grateful for you sharing this workaround...

Todd

Hi to all the people, this solution is working fine for me:
On the System Preference, open Accessibility panel, then click on Screen icon on the left column. Be sure that Reduce Transparency setting BOX is not selected.

En Español: Despues de probar infinidad de opciones, he encontrado la solución a este problema:

Abrir el Preferencias del Sistema, luego hacer clic en el icono de Accesibilidad, despues , seleccionar Pantalla en la columna de la izquierda, y por fin, aseguraros que REDUCIR TRANSPARENCIA y todas las demás opciones, están desactivadas.

Me funciona en un iMac 21,5" del 2012, Mojave 10.14.6 con Complementario y VLC 3.0.8

Espero que os funcione esta solución

Saludos