Need to connect 3 Monitors to M4 Mac Mini (non-Pro)

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Need to connect 3 Monitors to M4 Mac Mini (non-Pro)

Device: M4 (Non-Pro) Mac Mini

Objective: After Working, Connect 3 monitors (which have HDMI ports) to M4 Mac mini

Here's my current set-up:

While working, my Dell Latitude work laptop is connected to a Dell D6000 Universal Docking Station where the 3 monitors are connected - 2 Display Ports and 1 HDMI. The docking station is connected to the laptop via Type C port (with lightning icon).

After working, I want to be able to connect the M4 Mac Mini to the 3 monitors using the same docking station. I connected the Type C cable from the Dell docking station to one of the Thunderbolt 4 ports on the back of the Mac Mini and no picture on the monitors - just black screen...Yes, the monitors are On. I was able to set-up my M4 Mac Mini by temporarily plugging one of the monitor using HDMI to HDMI connection.

Questions:

Is there a workaround you can suggest?
Do I use a HUB instead of a docking station to be able to use the three monitors? If so, what feature(s) should I be looking for in a HUB? Any recommendations?
Is there a specific docking station that works with both Windows and Mac? Any recommendations?

I just want to be able to connect the 3 monitors to my M4 Mac Mini after I'm done using my Dell laptop.

Thank you all in advance!

Mac mini (M4)

Posted on Dec 13, 2024 08:09 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

PLPNO Author

Level 1

9 points

Dec 16, 2024 09:13 AM in response to Servant of Cats

I truly appreciate your feedback and suggestion!

I downloaded the Display Manager software and was able to use my three monitors.

Here’s my workaround:

One monitor connected via HDMI.

The other 2 monitors are connected to the Dell D6000 Docking Station. I connected the USB C cable from the docking station to one of the Thunderbolt ports on the Mini. Then I opened the Display Manager software and waited a couple of seconds for the Mini to open the software and voila!

I will have to keep doing the workaround above every time I want to use the Mini.

I did order a Hub that has 3 HDMI ports. Maybe the Hub will help eliminate my workaround. I hope the Hub works so I just unplug and plug one USB C cable from my work laptop then plug to the Mini (vice versa).

I will update when the Hub arrives and after I try the connections.

Crossing my fingers!

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Answer 2

Dec 13, 2024 09:59 PM in response to PLPNO

Macs only support connecting one display via USB-C( DisplayPort ); up to two (depending on resolution using Thunderbolt). They do not support DisplayPort MST in the same way that Windows PCs do.

I looked at the manual for that Dell docking station, and ir definitely is not a Thunderbolt one. It looked like it might be driving one display using hardware video output (DisplayPort Alt Mode), and others using the DisplayLink workaround, as there is mention of DisplayLink and of having to install drivers on a Windows PC.

The Synaptics site has DisplayLink drivers for Macs, and indstslling those might let you drive three displays using this Dell dock. However, using the DisplayLink workaround instead of your Mac’s hatdware video output may come with strong compromises.

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Need to connect 3 Monitors to M4 Mac Mini (non-Pro)

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