How to hook a macbook up to a monitor

With a second monitor, you can more easily multitask on your computer. You’ll be able to watch videos and work with big spreadsheets and compare documents right next to each other without having them side-by-side on the same screen. If you’re looking for a way to increase your productivity, adding a second monitor is the best option. With this article’s instructions on connecting a MacBook Pro to monitor yourself, there are no more excuses!

Check display support

You can connect one display or more external displays depending on your MacBook model. To discover out how many displays your MacBook supports, we will need to see what Mac model we have:

1. Choose the Apple menu, and click “About This Mac.’
2. Choose the “Support tab,” then click “Specifications.”

Look for Video Support/ Graphics and look at the number of displays your Mac supports.

If you happen to be using one of the M1 powered Apple silicon Macs, you can connect only one external display to your Mac utilizing one of the Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports. Just a heads up, Docks don’t expand the number of displays you can connect. However, on Apple silicon-powered Mac mini M1, you can connect a second display utilizing the HDMI port.

MacBook Display Ports

1. Verify ports on your Mac and Display to find out whether you need an adapter. Below are some of the standard adapters you might see. 
2. Connect your display to power
3. Connect your display to your Mac 

Connect an HDMI display or HDTV:

Connect a VGA display or projector:

Following you connect your display, you can decide to extend your desktop or mirror your displays. Extending your display would be having independent screens while mirroring are identical screens.

A MacBook has enough computing power to double as both a work and personal computer. However, there are some instances where the MacBook's limited screen size can hinder your productivity, such as when you need to scroll through a large spreadsheet. A large monitor will allow you to see an entire large spreadsheet or Web page without needing to navigate up and down the screen. You can connect a MacBook to an external display to increase its desktop real estate via its Mini DisplayPort.

1. 1.

   Turn on both the monitor and your MacBook.

2. 2.

   Connect one end of the monitor's connection cable to the adapter end of the right Mini DisplayPort adapter. For example, if the monitor has a VGA cable, use a Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter.

3. 3.

   Connect the other end of the Mini DisplayPort Adapter to the MacBook's Mini DisplayPort. The Macbook's desktop is automatically extended to the external monitor.

4. 4.

   Click the "System Preferences" icon in the dock on your MacBook to open the System Preferences window.

5. 5.

   Click the "Displays" icon in the "Hardware" section of the window. Click the "Arrangement" tab located near the top of the window.

6. 6.

   Select the "Mirror Displays" check box to mirror the MacBook's desktop to the external monitor. De-select the "Mirror Displays" check box to extend the desktop again.

   A second monitor can be handy if you wish to use multiple programs at the same time, leading to less clicking between windows and a better workflow. You may also want another screen for your work chats (e.g. in Slack), reference files or CAD blueprints. So how many monitors can you connect to your MacBook Pro? On the MacBook M1 Pro 16”, the Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) and HDMI ports allow you to connect up to two external monitors easily. If you have a MacBook Air 13”, you can set up one additional monitor through its native hardware—though there is a workaround to connect another (see below).

   How to connect a second monitor to the MacBook Pro

   Connecting external monitors for the MacBook Pro is simple: All you need to do is connect the monitor to its external power source, and then use an HDMI cable or Thunderbolt/USB-C cable to rig the monitor to the MacBook. The M1 Pro’s two external monitors are capable of displaying up to 6K resolution at 60Hz, making it perfect for video editing, CAD work and more. Just don’t forget to adjust the display settings for best results.

   Thunderbolt versus USB-C: what’s the difference?

   Using a USB port on the MacBook Pro for a second monitor is all about Thunderbolt 4. Known as “the port to end all ports”, Thunderbolt 4 is the fastest data transfer standard today, allowing for speeds of up to 40 GB/s, and has the power to run two 4K displays at the same time. By contrast, a standard USB-C port has only half the transfer and running power, making it a less impressive prospect. It is worth knowing that a Thunderbolt port will support a standard USB-C cable, so don’t worry if one of your external monitors comes with one.

   The right connection

   It is important to check the ports on your MacBook to determine whether you need an adapter – the MacBook M1 Pro 16” has a built-in Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) port, while the MacBook Air 13” has a Thunderbolt 3 port. This can present an issue if your external monitor only supports a USB-A cable. In this case, you will need to use an adapter, like the ThinkPad Universal Thunderbolt 4 Dock. Simply route the external monitor through the adapter and you’re good to go.

   A workaround for the MacBook Air

   Want to connect a second monitor for the MacBook Air? It’s possible with a dual HDMI adapter, which allows for one 4K display at 60 Hz and another 4K display at 30 Hz. This uses Silicon Motion’s InstantView technology, meaning you’ll have to grant it access to your privacy settings for your MacBook to recognise the adapter. Then simply connect the monitors as above—and enjoy your three screens.

   Can you connect a MacBook to a monitor via HDMI?

   Connecting external monitors for the MacBook Pro is simple: All you need to do is connect the monitor to its external power source, and then use an HDMI cable or Thunderbolt/USB-C cable to rig the monitor to the MacBook.

   Can I connect my MacBook Pro to a monitor?

   On MacBook Pro, you can connect up to four external displays to your Mac using the Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) and HDMI ports. On Mac Studio, you can connect up to five external displays to your Mac using the Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) and HDMI ports on the back of the computer.