The more screen space you accept the more efficiently you work plainly. And so why not connect a 2nd (or even a 3rd) display to your Mac? In this article nosotros help y'all place which adapter you need to plug your Mac into an extra, external screen (or even more ane), and how to become everything set.

While it's more often than not piece of cake to gear up an additional screen, in that location are a few problems that might cause your brandish not to be detected past your Mac, then nosotros will as well offer solutions for these problems below.

In 2019, when information technology updated macOS to version 10.fourteen (aka Catalina), Apple added the power to use some iPads as a second screen for some Macs. This may accommodate you if you lot don't already own an external screen and would prefer to save your coin. We await at how to use your iPad as a screen for your Mac in a dissever article, forth with which iPads and Macs support the characteristic.

How to connect an external monitor to a Mac

This is 1 of those things that should exist easy, but because over the years Apple tree has changed the ports on Macs it can be difficult to know what connectors you really need in order to connect a monitor to your Mac. That's even before you lot accept studied the ports on the back or the display to work out what connector is required at that place.

Luckily in one case you know what wire you need to connect your MacBook to your monitor it should be plain sailing.

The steps are relatively unproblematic, but equally you will see the commencement stride is the hardest!

  1. Identify which Apple adapter and cablevision you need to connect the Mac and the monitor by following the guidance below.
  2. Plug information technology in.
  3. Open System Preferences > Displays.
  4. Click the Organisation tab.
  5. Do not select the Mirror Displays tickbox (unless you desire the second screen to show the aforementioned content equally your original screen).
  6. Elevate the illustrated displays into the arrangement yous crave.
  7. A white bill of fare bar will be shown at the top of one of the screens. Drag this white bar to the screen y'all wish to exist dominant.Connect MacBook to Monitor
  8. If you lot desire to mirror the display on both (or multiple) displays get to System Preferences > Displays > System and choose Mirror Displays.
  9. Yous tin can also select 'Prove mirroring options in the carte bar when available' and you volition see a status menu in the menu bar making it easier to turn this off and on again.

The options are a fiddling different if you are attaching your desktop Mac similar a Mac mini to a monitor as information technology doesn't take it'south own display. In that case yous volition encounter something similar this:

Mac mini display

As with the options for connecting a monitor to a MacBook, if you lot connect more i monitor to a Mac mini you will notice the white block at the top of one of the displays. You can click on this and drag information technology onto the brandish you wish to exist the main display.

Yous can too adjust the position of each brandish to reverberate how they are positioned on your desk, and so that when y'all drag your mouse from i screen to the other you know where it volition appear.

If you lot take an Apple Tv y'all tin besides employ AirPlay to send a 2nd screen output to your Television set screen. Hither's how to do that: How to view your Mac screen on a TV.

If you are using your Mac with an external screen and want to shut the hat on your MacBook hither'due south How to use MacBook with hat closed, end closed Mac sleeping.

One of the easiest ways to connect a MacBook to a second or tertiary screen is by using a dock - discover the best docking stations for MacBooks - which will too give you more ports, such as USB, Ethernet and carte readers..

Which port has my Mac got?

As nosotros said above, the hardest part of connecting a display to your Mac is working out what cable you need to plug into your Mac and the monitor.

The adapter you lot require depends on the model of Mac and the blazon of monitor. Apple tree has implemented quite a few different port types over the years, and your Mac desktop or MacBook might characteristic whatsoever of the following:

Mini DisplayPort

How to use a second screen with a Mac: Mini DisplayPort

Mini DisplayPort was announced by Apple towards the cease of 2008. With an adapter, the Mini DisplayPort can bulldoze displays that characteristic VGA, DVI or HDMI interfaces. This is what Mini DisplayPort looks similar.

HDMI

HDMI

There are a few Macs that ship with an HDMI port - including the 14in and 16in MacBook Pro introduced in 2021 and the Mac mini with M1 chip from 2020. HDMI ports are oft found on TVs, making those Macs a pop choice for those setting up a media heart PC.

Macs with an HDMI port include:

  • Mac mini
  • MacBook Pro (mid 2012 to 2015)
  • 14in MacBook Pro (2021)
  • 16in MacBook Pro (2021)

Thunderbolt 1 or two

The Thunderbolt port, get-go introduced in 2011, looks the same as Mini DisplayPort (and is backwards-compatible). If you see a thunderbolt symbol besides what looks like a Mini DisplayPort, your Mac has a Thunderbolt port.

Thunderbolt has appeared on Macs since around 2011, then if your Mac is from later that twelvemonth, chances are it offers Thunderbolt rather than Mini DisplayPort, although the 2 are uniform.

To connect a Thunderbolt ii iMac to a recent Thunderbolt 3 MacBook Pro (2016 or afterward) or Air (2018 or later), use Apple tree's bidirectional Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter.

You can utilise a Mini DisplayPort adapter in a Thunderbolt port only you lot can also use Apple tree'due south Thunderbolt to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter or Thunderbolt to FireWire Adapter with it. A Thunderbolt-equipped Mac tin connect a 4K Ultra HD Boob tube via a direct HDMI connection, or via a Thunderbolt to loftier-speed HDMI adapter.

In 2013 Apple introduced Thunderbolt 2, which is faster than Thunderbolt one, simply the port is the same.

Thunderbolt iii or USB C

From effectually the end of 2016 Apple started equipping its higher-end systems with Thunderbolt 3, which connects devices to your reckoner at upward to 40Gbps.

Thunderbolt 3 is a supercharged version of USB-C, with a bandwidth of 40Gbps compared to USB-C's 5 to 10GBps.

The Thunderbolt 3 connection looks and acts exactly the same as USB-C, and it supports USB-C, so yous will be able to use any USB C-equipped monitor, or a Thunderbolt 3 monitor, with your Mac.

How to use a second screen with a Mac: MacBook Pro 2016

You'll also be able to use any USB-C adapter with your monitor.

Thunderbolt iv or USB 4

In some modern Macs Apple includes Thunderbolt iv/USB iv, which as with Thunderbolt three and USB C share the same port. The port looks identical to the Thunderbolt 4/USB C port (above) and is completely backwards compatible.

In fact, Thunderbolt four isn't actually all that different to Thunderbolt three. The principal reason why at that place is even a Thunderbolt 4 is because some PC laptops lacked the ability to support the full 40Gbps bandwidth of Thunderbolt three.

There are a few benefits to Thunderbolt four that Mac users can relish though: every Thunderbolt iv port tin back up two 4K displays or ane 8K display - we say every, but unfortunately this doesn't include the M1 MacBooks. Read: How to connect two or more external displays to Apple tree M1 Macs.

There isn't a huge difference between USB 4 and Thunderbolt iv either, and Thunderbolt 4 devices support USB 4. Thunderbolt 4 will always have a full 40Gbps bandwidth, while USB four starts at 20Gbps, but can also reach Thunderbolt 4'south 40Gbps. A USB four port can just back up one display, while Thunderbolt 4 can back up two 4K displays. Learn about Thunderbolt 4 and USB iv.

If you want to connect upwards to ii 4K displays to your Thunderbolt 4 Mac you will need a compatible dock, of course. See Best USB-C and Thunderbolt three docking stations for MacBook, Pro and Air.

Which port does my display have?

At present that yous've identified which port your Mac has you need to check the port on your display, information technology is likely to offer one of the post-obit:

VGA

A VGA connector requires a three-row 15-pivot DE-15 connector. VGA connectors transmit analogue signals.

Old CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) monitors were VGA but there are apartment displays that employ VGA - they only convert the VGA connector's analog betoken dorsum to digital. This conversion from digital to analog and back again can cause degradation of video quality. VGA will carry Hd video simply only analogue audio.

Apple sells a number of VGA adapters, including a USB-C VGA Multiport Adapter (£75/$69), a Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter (£29/$29) and a Belkin USB-C to VGA Adapter (£29.95).

How to use a second screen with a Mac: VGA

DVI

DVI offers a higher-quality signal than VGA because it's a digital signal. You volition meet a marked departure when looking at Hard disk video as compared to VGA.

A DVI connector has the potential for 24 pins, depending on whether it's DVI-A, DVI-D or DVI-I, there are different connectors with a dissimilar number of pins in use. There is also a long pin which may be surrounded by four other pins (which are required for audio in older models).

Apple'southward Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter has holes for all 24 pins but not the four pins that environment the long pin.

How to use a second screen with a Mac: DVI

HDMI

The main difference between DVI and HDMI is that HDMI supports upwardly to eight channels of sound, while DVI supports video simply. HDMI 2.1 brings support for resolutions upwardly to 8k and higher. HDMI is the virtually mutual connector you'll find on the back of a TV.

Every bit we said above, there are a couple of Macs that have shipped (or in the case of the Mac mini, still ship) with an HDMI port.

Here are Apple tree'south HDMI adapters.

How to use a second screen with a Mac: HDMI

Thunderbolt 1 or 2

If y'all purchased the Apple Thunderbolt display, which was discontinued in 2016, then your monitor has a Thunderbolt ii port, as seen above.

Thunderbolt three, USB-C or USB 3

As nosotros said above, the Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C ports are identical, so if your Mac has 1, y'all will be able to use whatsoever monitor equipped with either port.

More monitors are likely to exist featuring USB C ports than Thunderbolt 3 ports, although Thunderbolt is faster and can take more ability. USB-equipped displays are likely to be cheaper than Thunderbolt options, too. Sometimes you'll find USB 3 or USB three.1 port, which is the aforementioned port, merely the predecessor to USB-C.

Thunderbolt four or USB iv

At that place are monitors, like the Lenovo ThinkVision P27u-20 that feature Thunderbolt 4 docking abilities. This port won't expect any dissimilar to the 1 discussed above.

Mini DisplayPort

If you take one of Apple's LED Picture palace Displays, introduced dorsum in 1999 and replaced in 2011 by the Thunderbolt display, your display has a Mini DisplayPort connection, as seen higher up.

(For more information most ports, hither's a rundown of some of Apple's different port types.)

What cablevision practice I need to connect Mac to monitor?

At present that y'all have established which port your Mac and display accept, you lot will demand to discover a cable to connect your Mac to the monitor. This cable doesn't need to be from Apple, simply it will need to take the right connections.

If your Mac and display have an HDMI port, which is less rare than information technology used to be at present that the 14in and 16in MacBook Pro have 1 forth with the Mac mini. You lot'll merely be able to apply an HDMI cable to connect your display to your Mac, such as this Belkin UltraHD Loftier Speed 4K HDMI cablevision that costs £29.95/$29.95.

Similarly with a USB-C equipped Mac and monitor, y'all will be able to utilise a USB-C or Thunderbolt cable. Apple sells a Thunderbolt iii/USB-C cable here for £39/$39.

However, information technology's likely you will crave an adapter if you want to connect to a display that uses VGA or DVI, merely before we become onto adapters there's 1 other thing you will need to consider when buying a cable or an adapter:

Is the port male or female person?

Y'all demand to check whether the connectedness on the back of your display has female or male endpoints. The Apple adapters are female, and so if the port on the back of your monitor is as well female (in other words has holes not spikes) you will demand a male person to female person adapter. Our NEC MyltiSync E243WMI has a female connection.

How long does the cable need to exist?

It'south no good trying to hook up your Mac to a monitor if the cablevision or adapter is to brusque. Remember you lot will need plenty cablevision to go from the dorsum of the display to your port on the Mac.

Which adapter do I need to connect Mac and brandish?

You lot can buy adapters from a number of third parties, and they may well exist cheaper than Apple tree'due south offerings.

USB-C to HDMI

Among other things, the Apple USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter (£75/$69) lets you connect a Thunderbolt 3-equipped Mac to an HDMI display. Y'all will still need a split up HDMI-to-HDMI cable (such every bit this one from Belkin) to do then.

USB-C to VGA

Apple's USB-C VGA Multiport Adapter lets you connect to a VGA display or projector. This is an analogue connectedness so it will non support HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection) content. This would include the HD movies found on the iTunes Store.

The USB-C VGA Multiport Adapter costs £75/$69 and is bachelor here.

USB-C to DVI

Apple doesn't sell ane, but you'll be able to find a USB-C to DVI adapter on Amazon, such every bit this ane, which has an RRP of £13.99 but will inevitably toll less than that. Nosotros can't confirm whether it works, but information technology says it's for the MacBook, so nosotros assume information technology does.

USB-C to Mini DisplayPort

Apple doesn't brand a USB-C to Mini DisplayPort adapter, so yous won't be able to connect a 2016 or later on MacBook Pro to the old Apple Cinema Display, or any other monitor that uses a Mini Display Port. However, you may be able to notice a cable or adapter on Amazon.

Mini DisplayPort to VGA

Apple's Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter can be used to connect a Mac with Mini DisplayPort or Thunderbolt ports to a external display or projector that uses VGA. It costs £29/$29 and can exist purchased hither.

Mini DisplayPort to DVI

Apple tree's Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter can be used to connect a Mac with Mini DisplayPort or Thunderbolt ports to an external display or projector that uses DVI.

Mini DisplayPort features on almost Macs and is used to connect to an external display. Using an adapter you will be able to apply it to connect your Mac to a DVI or VGA display.

This is for displays that do not support Dual-link DVI resolutions (DVI displays with a resolution of 1920 ten 1200 or lower). DVI volition support HDCP content.

It costs £29/$29 and tin can be purchased hither.

Wondering what the difference is between single-link DVI and dual-link DVI? Dual-link is for DVI displays with resolutions to a higher place 1920 x 1200. When you use the Apple Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI adapter (£99/$99), your Mac will need a gratis USB port.

If your display operates at 1920 ten 1200 or lower you lot should use the Apple tree Mini DisplayPort to DVI adapter instead. It costs £29/$29 from Apple and yous can purchase it here.

Mini DisplayPort to HDMI

Apple tree does not industry a Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapter, but it is possible to find a Mini DisplayPort to HDMI cablevision on Amazon, we can't confirm whether it will work with the Mac though.

HDMI to DVI Adapter

Apple sells an HDMI to DVI Adapter for £29/$29 here.

Thunderbolt three (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter

Apple tree's Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter can exist used to connect to a Thunderbolt display to a new Mac. It costs £49/$49 and can be purchased here.

Connect second screen using a docking station

Utilize a docking station

Today'southward MacBooks don't come with display or video ports, simply instead rely on Thunderbolt 3 connectors, with either one or 2 on each side. The older 12in MacBook had just one USB-C port for charging and adding other devices.

A Thunderbolt 3 docking station lets you connect your MacBook via one cable to the dock that will have multiple ports, including one or more HDMI, DisplayPort or VGA ports. Information technology will also boast extra USB ports, and maybe a Gigabit Ethernet port for wired Net access and other useful connectors.

Thunderbolt 3 laptops tin too use slower merely frequently cheaper USB-C docks, but not the other way circular unless the dock uses a Titan Ridge chipset. For more details see our listing of the Best USB C and Thunderbolt iii docks, too as the all-time USB-C hubs.

Troubleshooting bug

There are a number of problems yous may experience with your display setup. Here nosotros address some of them. Let u.s.a. know of whatever further solutions or problems.

Mac not detecting the monitor

When you connect your display and your Mac the display should automatically be detected. Simply what should you do if it isn't?

If your Mac isn't working with your monitor there are a few things to try:

  1. Check the cable - make sure information technology is properly connected.
  2. Brand certain the monitor is plugged in.
  3. Make certain your software is upward to engagement.

If the in a higher place don't work, try these steps:

  1. Connect your monitor and Mac and open Arrangement Preferences > Displays.
  2. Printing the Alt/option key. This should brand the Detect Displays push button appear.
  3. Click on Detect Displays. This should cause your Mac to see the external monitor.

Still not having any luck? There is 1 other reason that could terminate your Mac working with an external brandish: In the by Apple has made changes to macOS that have stopped some 3rd-party adapters working with actress displays. For example, when Apple tree introduced macOS Sierra in September 2016 many had issues getting a second brandish to piece of work with sure adapters. On that notation, if your display won't work with your Mac then the first thing to check is your adapter.

External display is not working with a Mini DisplayPort adapter

If your adapter is not fabricated by Apple, that might just be the event here. Prior to macOS Sierra it was possible to apply a third-political party Mini DisplayPort to DVI adapter with a Mac, but since Sierra launched in 2016 Mac users who were reliant on that setup have institute their monitors have stopped working with their Mac.

The merely solution if this is the case is to purchase an Apple tree adapter like one of those listed in a higher place.

If you accept an Apple adapter and your external display isn't working, attempt the following:

  1. Disconnect your adapter for a few seconds.
  2. Reconnect it and run across if the upshot persists.
  3. Disconnect the adapter once more and power off the monitor.
  4. If information technology's still non working, connect the cable again and ability off the brandish.
  5. If when you turn the brandish back on it'southward still non working, click on the Apple logo and choose Sleep.
  6. Wait a few minutes and then motility your mouse or tap your keyboard to wake your Mac.
  7. If that doesn't work, restart the computer.
  8. Try adjusting the brandish's brightness or contrast merely in case it's turned down.
  9. Get to Arrangement Preferences > Display and endeavor selecting a different resolution.
  10. If that notwithstanding doesn't piece of work, try restarting your Mac in safe fashion and so reset the display resolution to defaults.
  11. Some other option is to reset the Mac's NVRAM and SMC.

DVI adapter doesn't fit in the connexion

In that location are a few possible reasons why the Apple Mini DisplayPort to DVI adapter might not be uniform with your monitor.

There is more than than one kind of DVI adapter and the likelihood is the one you lot have is different to the adapter y'all are using. For example, you may require space for four analog ports around the flat blade.

If your trouble is that you lot have 2 female or two male person connections then the solution is to purchase a male-to-female adapter.

Cable as well modest betwixt the ii devices? Y'all should be able to hook up your adapter to the screen via a tertiary-political party cable. Merely make sure it has the correct port blazon.

iPad won't piece of work as second brandish

Thought you'd use an iPad as a 2nd display with yoru Mac having installed macOS Catalina and establish it doesn't work? This is almost likely because your iPad or Mac don't support the Sidecar feature.

iPads that work with Sidecar include:

12.9-inch iPad Pro
eleven-inch iPad Pro
10.5-inch iPad Pro
9.seven-inch iPad Pro
iPad (6th generation)
iPad (5th generation)
iPad mini (5th generation)
iPad mini iv
iPad Air (third generation)
iPad Air 2

Macs that work with Sidecar include:

MacBook Pro (2016 or later on)
MacBook (2016 or later)
MacBook Air (2018 or later)
iMac (2016 or subsequently, as well as iMac 5K, 27-inch, late 2015)
iMac Pro
Mac mini (2018 or afterwards)
Mac Pro (2019)

We take more information virtually using an iPad equally a second screen for your Mac hither. Plus, we run through What Universal Command is and how Universal Control works separately.

If y'all are wanting to use a 2d display with your Mac and not accept your Mac's screen on read: How to plow a Mac'due south screen off.

How to connect a third monitor to a Mac

Theoretically you shouldn't exist able to attach a monitor to a USB port, only a few companies have treated this equally a technical claiming. The Matrox DualHead2Go and TripleHead2Go allow you connect up to two or three external displays respectively. They do this by augmenting the standard DVI/HDMI video output of a Mac or PC with information provided via a USB 2.0/three.0 connection.

To learn if your Mac is compatible, check out Matrox's Mac compatibility listing, where you'll also learn the maximum possible output resolutions - it's unlikely you'll exist able to run all three displays at 1080p, for case.

Diamond MultiMedia'due south BVU range lets you run a separate external brandish via nothing more than than a USB ii.0 port. By connecting ane to a MacBook Pro, as i example, you could utilise up to three displays: i built in, ane via the existing DVI/HDMI/DisplayPort, and one more than via USB.

There are also some no-brand devices on eBay and Amazon that offer the aforementioned functions equally the Diamond production, and are cheaper to boot - although be certain to check for Mac compatibility. Just search for something like USB to DVI HDMI.

All the to a higher place solutions are somewhat hacky. We oasis't tested any but we're certain performance won't be as practiced as with a monitor fastened directly. 3D gaming is definitely out of the question and video playback in anything other than standard definition will probably be choppy. Still, to put your email or Twitter app on a divide screen, equally one example, they should suffice.