Connecting Dual Monitors to a Macbook pro

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Connecting Dual Monitors to a Macbook pro

I recently purchased two HP monitors with HP cords for my home office. I am trying to connect them to my Macbook pro, but I am having a lot of difficulties finding the correct adaptor to use for them. My mac only recognizes one of the monitors when I connect them. Any suggestions would be great.

I have used a few different adaptors that have not worked, but I will list them.

j5create- USB-C to Dual HDMI Multi-Monitopr Adaptor - this one connected but only recognized the one monitor
Insignia USB-C to HDMI adaptor - I purchased two to connect them in the ports individually, and it still only recognized one monitor.
Mokin docking station for dual monitors - I could connect both but only recognized one.

MacBook Pro

Posted on Jan 13, 2023 07:21 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

WheelieNick

Level 8

45,425 points

Jan 13, 2023 07:28 AM in response to wilso664

IS your mac supporting dual monitors? Some macs can only use one external display.

Check this first, for an intel mac, follow these instructions

Choose Apple menu  > About This Mac, double-click your serial number, then press Command-C to copy it.
Go to the Tech Specs page, click the Search Tech Specs bar, press Command-V to enter your computer's serial number, then click Search.
Click the specs page for your Mac. The number of displays your Mac supports appears under Video Support or Graphics.

For macs with apple silicon see

f you're using a Mac with M1 Max:

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.

If you're using a Mac with M1 Pro:

You can connect up to two external displays to your Mac using the Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) and HDMI ports.

If you're using a Mac with the M1 or M2 chip:

On MacBook Air, 13-inch MacBook Pro, iMac, and Mac mini, you can connect one external display using either of the Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports. On iMac, connect your display to either of the ports with the Thunderbolt symbol .
On Mac mini, you can connect a second display to the HDMI port.
Using docks or daisy-chaining devices doesn't increase the number of displays you can connect.

I have both an M1 iMac and an M1 MacBook Pro so I could only use one external display. But I connected an Apple TV to my second external display and I use that one now as an airplay display, so I can use 2 displays with my mac.

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Answer 2

Jan 16, 2023 09:53 AM in response to wilso664

provided your Mac supports multiple displays, (which you have not affirmed as I start writing) by providing model information:

The Mac supports up to two displays on one cable ONLY when that cable is an appropriately rated short (under 0.8 meters) genuine Thunderbolt cable, connected to a genuine Thunderbolt device (dock or display) as the first device.

Two displays on a USB-C cable is not supported.

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