How do I disable clam shell mode and still use 2 monitors?

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Level 1

4 points

How do I disable clam shell mode and still use 2 monitors?

My job sent me a new computer and I need to hook it up to two different monitors. It works but it's in clam shell mode? So I have to close my laptop in order to use both monitors. If I open the laptop, only 1 monitor works. I have to be able to use my laptop because I need video but I also really need 2 monitors.

How do I disable clam shell mode so I can use all 3 - laptop + 2 monitors?

MacBook Air 15-inch, M3, 2024

MacBook Air 15″, macOS 15.5

Posted on Jul 28, 2025 12:37 PM

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Answer 1

KiltedTim

Level 10

220,398 points

Jul 28, 2025 12:41 PM in response to sdoust0709

You don't.

The M3 based MacBook Air supports the internal display + one external display or 2 external displays when in clamshell mode.

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Answer 2

Jul 28, 2025 05:52 PM in response to sdoust0709

You don't.

A plain M3 chip only supports two displays, total. To drive a second external display, the M3 MacBook Air must take hardware resources that would normally support the built-in screen and use them to support an external one. This is an improvement over the abilities of the M1 and M2 MacBook Airs, which only supported a single external display – period – regardless of whether their lids were open or closed.

Use dual monitors with your MacBook Air and MacBook Pro with M3 chip - Apple Support

The M4 MacBook Air supports using two external displays with the lid open, and is the first M-series MacBook Air to do so. But that involved the addition of hardware to the plain M4 chip.

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