How to Fix Remote Desktop Flickering and Black Screen on macOS Big Sur
Question details
The user is encountering severe display issues including rapid screen flickering, focus loss, and a black screen when using Microsoft Remote Desktop after upgrading to macOS Big Sur.
- Product
- Microsoft Remote Desktop
- Device & OS
- macOS Big Sur (macOS 11)
- Scenario
- Establishing a remote connection to a PC using the Microsoft Remote Desktop Client after a recent macOS system upgrade.
- Observed behavior
- The connection successfully initiates, but the Remote Desktop window quickly starts to flicker, loses application focus, and displays a completely black screen, forcing the user to forcefully quit the application.
Before troubleshooting the application, ensure that you have your remote connection credentials saved, and verify if the issue persists when connecting to a different remote PC to rule out server-side display driver conflicts.
Update the Microsoft Remote Desktop Client
Installing the latest version of the Remote Desktop app resolves known compatibility bugs with macOS Big Sur.
Microsoft Remote Desktop Client version 10.4.1 and earlier were released prior to macOS Big Sur, leading to known display glitches such as rapid flickering and unexpected black screens. Updating to the newest available release patches these OS-specific rendering issues.
Launch the App Store from your Mac's Dock or Launchpad.
Click on 'Updates' in the left-hand sidebar to prompt the App Store to search for available application updates.
Locate 'Microsoft Remote Desktop' in the list of available updates and click the 'Update' button to install the latest version (such as 10.5.0 or newer).
Once the installation is complete, open the Remote Desktop app and reconnect to your remote PC to verify that the flickering issue has been resolved.
Disable Hardware Acceleration
Turning off hardware acceleration can act as a temporary workaround for display rendering conflicts.
Work Seamlessly on Mac with WPS Office
If you frequently use Remote Desktop solely to access Windows-based Office applications, consider running your productivity suite natively on your Mac. WPS Office is a robust, free alternative to Microsoft Office that runs perfectly on macOS Big Sur and later, eliminating the need for remote connections.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my Remote Desktop screen go black on macOS Big Sur?
The black screen is typically caused by rendering compatibility issues between the macOS Big Sur operating system and older versions of the Microsoft Remote Desktop client (such as version 10.4.1). Updating the application from the Mac App Store usually patches these conflicts.
Does turning off hardware acceleration fix Mac RDP flickering?
For some Mac users, disabling hardware acceleration in the Remote Desktop Preferences helps stabilize the connection by forcing software rendering. However, if the issue stems primarily from an outdated client version, applying an app update is a much more effective and permanent solution.
How do I force quit Remote Desktop if the screen freezes black?
If the Remote Desktop client becomes unresponsive and traps you on a black screen, you can force quit the application by pressing the 'Command + Option + Escape' keys simultaneously. Select 'Microsoft Remote Desktop' from the list of running applications and click the 'Force Quit' button.
