Discover what’s causing a high-pitched buzzing sound coming out of your Apple Studio Display and explore troubleshooting solutions to fix the issue.
Some Studio Display owners have complained about a high-pitched buzzing or humming sound coming from the back of their $1599 monitor when in use. This annoying noise can intensify with a Mac notebook plugged into the monitor.
Based on reports from Reddit and Apple’s discussion forums, we’ve identified five potential causes behind the Studio Display buzzing sound.
1. The fans
When a MacBook Pro is plugged into the Studio Display, the Thunderbolt connection also delivers power. This may cause the monitor’s built-in fans to start spinning, in turn generating the buzzing sound. This can happen regardless of the MacBook’s battery charge.
Putting the notebook to sleep or shutting it down doesn’t silence the noise. Rather, the fans only stop spinning after unplugging the notebook from the display. One remedy here would be to use a Thunderbolt dock to both charge your MacBook and connect your Studio Display.
2. Software problems
We read suggestions that updating your Mac to the latest version of macOS and updating your Apple Studio Display firmware may fix this use. The buzzing sound isn’t the only issue Studio Display owners have had to contend with.
For instance, early adopters faced several teething problems with the webcam and intermittent speaker issues, and Apple addressed them in software. You’re advised to check Apple’s support page detailing all Studio Display firmware updates and changes they bring.
3. Faulty units
Though unlikely, there’s a remote possibility that folks complaining about the buzzing sound may have a faulty Studio Display. If you suspect you’e in the same boat, contact Apple’s support team to get their insight on the issue.
If you’ve recently purchased your Studio Display, try requesting a replacement but keep in mind that others who did that reported that the buzzing persisted. Another option is to send feedback to apple.com/feedback and note that the fans only activate when the internals heat up.
4. The coil whine
Some people say the humming sound is coming from the monitor’s left side where the internal power unit is located, suggesting the electrical coil whine could be causing the high-pitched sound.
5. Good ol’ electrical interference
Positioning any electronic device like Studio Display too close to another device is bound to cause some electrical interference. If your Studio Display is picking up interference from home power circuits, light dimmers, air conditioners, electric car chargers, and the like, that could be the culprit.
Try connect the device causing the buzzing to a different circuit. For those asking, electrical power filters don’t seem to resolve the issue. It’s also possible that the Studio Display has inadequate electrical shielding, causing it to pick up and amplify electrical interference around it.
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