diff --git a/changelog-entries/683.md b/changelog-entries/683.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6c084d0c1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog-entries/683.md
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+- Fixed running without coupling and VTK output in macro-dumux [#683](https://github.com/precice/tutorials/pull/683)
diff --git a/two-scale-heat-conduction/macro-dumux/appl/main.cc b/two-scale-heat-conduction/macro-dumux/appl/main.cc
index 5932dd22e..5bbd1dd9c 100644
--- a/two-scale-heat-conduction/macro-dumux/appl/main.cc
+++ b/two-scale-heat-conduction/macro-dumux/appl/main.cc
@@ -108,8 +108,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
     // verify that dimensions match
     const int preciceDim = couplingParticipant.getMeshDimensions(meshName);
     const int dim        = int(leafGridView.dimension);
-    std::cout << "coupling Dims = " << dim << " , leafgrid dims = " << dim
-              << std::endl;
+    std::cout << "Coupling dims = " << preciceDim << " , leafgrid dims = " << dim << std::endl;
     if (preciceDim != dim)
       DUNE_THROW(Dune::InvalidStateException, "Dimensions do not match");
   }
@@ -135,11 +134,15 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
     }
   }
 
-  std::cout << "Number of Coupled Cells:" << coupledElementIdxs.size()
-            << std::endl;
+  std::cout << "Number of Coupled Cells:" << coupledElementIdxs.size() << std::endl;
+
+  int numberOfElements;
+  if (runWithCoupling) {
+    numberOfElements = coords.size() / couplingParticipant.getMeshDimensions(meshName);
+  } else {
+    numberOfElements = coupledElementIdxs.size();
+  }
 
-  auto numberOfElements =
-      coords.size() / couplingParticipant.getMeshDimensions(meshName);
   if (runWithCoupling) {
     couplingParticipant.setMesh(meshName, coords);
 
@@ -228,14 +231,15 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
   }
 
   // time loop parameters
-  const auto tEnd      = getParam<Scalar>("TimeLoop.TEnd");
-  double     preciceDt = couplingParticipant.getMaxTimeStepSize();
+  const auto tEnd = getParam<Scalar>("TimeLoop.TEnd");
+  double     preciceDt;
   double     solverDt;
   double     dt;
 
   if (runWithCoupling) {
-    solverDt = getParam<Scalar>("TimeLoop.InitialDt");
-    dt       = std::min(preciceDt, solverDt);
+    preciceDt = couplingParticipant.getMaxTimeStepSize();
+    solverDt  = getParam<Scalar>("TimeLoop.InitialDt");
+    dt        = std::min(preciceDt, solverDt);
   } else {
     dt = getParam<Scalar>("TimeLoop.InitialDt");
   }
@@ -266,7 +270,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
   NewtonSolver nonLinearSolver(assembler, linearSolver);
 
   // time loop
-  int n = 0; // counts timesteps for the output interval
+  int n_out = 0; // counts timesteps for the output interval
   std::cout << "Time Loop starts" << std::endl;
   timeLoop->start();
   do {
@@ -305,7 +309,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
     // set new dt as suggested by the Newton solver or by preCICE
     timeLoop->setTimeStepSize(dt);
 
-    std::cout << "Solver starts with target dt: " << dt << std::endl;
+    std::cout << "nonLinearSolver starts with target dt: " << dt << std::endl;
 
     // linearize & solve
     nonLinearSolver.solve(x, *timeLoop);
@@ -319,15 +323,6 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
     timeLoop->reportTimeStep();
     xOld = x;
 
-    // Vtk output
-    // TODO: output interval does not work seamlessly when subcycling
-    n += 1;
-    if (n == vtkOutputInterval) {
-      problem->updateVtkOutput(x);
-      vtkWriter.write(timeLoop->time());
-      n = 0;
-    }
-
     if (runWithCoupling) {
       int solIdx = 0;
       for (const auto &element : elements(leafGridView, Dune::Partitions::interior)) {
@@ -363,6 +358,25 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
       }
     }
 
+    if (runWithCoupling) {
+      // if coupling, write VTK output only when time window is complete
+      if (couplingParticipant.isTimeWindowComplete()) {
+        n_out += 1;
+        if (n_out == vtkOutputInterval) {
+          problem->updateVtkOutput(x);
+          vtkWriter.write(timeLoop->time());
+          n_out = 0;
+        }
+      }
+    } else {
+      n_out += 1;
+      if (n_out == vtkOutputInterval) {
+        problem->updateVtkOutput(x);
+        vtkWriter.write(timeLoop->time());
+        n_out = 0;
+      }
+    }
+
     std::cout << "Time: " << timeLoop->time() << std::endl;
 
   } while (!timeLoop->finished());