How to connect multiple external displays to my 2020 MacBook Pro

Question

How to connect multiple external displays to my 2020 MacBook Pro

I just got a new-to-me 2020 Macbook Pro 13-inch w/ the 4 thunderbolt ports and trying to figure out what I need to do to hook up external monitors. According to Apple, it says this model can “connect up to two external 4K displays with 4096-by-2304 resolution at 60Hz at millions of colors.” My question is, can I use my existing docking station with one Thunderbolt connection or do I need direct connections for each monitor? And if it’s the latter, does it matter which of the 4 ports I use?

Posted on Oct 30, 2025 6:26 AM

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Answer 1

Phil0124

Level 10

216,008 points

Oct 30, 2025 9:38 AM in response to Erik J Lundeen

The dock needs to be able to expose both displays to the Mac to get separate streams.

If it's not doing that, the Mac will only send one stream to it and the dock will just mirror it.

Mac's unlike Windows PCs, query the displays first and then issue the appropriate video stream. If the Mac only get's one display info, it will only send one stream.

You'll likely have to plug the second display into a second thunderbolt port.

and no, USB-C and thunderbolt, while using the same port type, aren't the same, signal-wise.

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Answer 2

Phil0124

Level 10

216,008 points

Oct 30, 2025 9:11 AM in response to Erik J Lundeen

Erik J Lundeen wrote:

I just got a new-to-me 2020 Macbook Pro 13-inch w/ the 4 thunderbolt ports and trying to figure out what I need to do to hook up external monitors. According to Apple, it says this model can “connect up to two external 4K displays with 4096-by-2304 resolution at 60Hz at millions of colors.” My question is, can I use my existing docking station with one Thunderbolt connection or do I need direct connections for each monitor? And if it’s the latter, does it matter which of the 4 ports I use?

That will be down to the dock you are using. If it supports 2 video streams, you can plug both displays into it.

Otherwise, you may need to plug at least one display into a different thunderbolt port.

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Answer 3

Oct 30, 2025 9:31 AM in response to Phil0124

Ok. I’m using an HP dock that has two displays running to it, and one USB-C cable coming from that which is also the charger/power source. I previously had an HP laptop that would run both monitors as extended displays (and I could use my laptop screen as a 3rd display). I assumed that USB-C was the same as Thunderbolt and everything would work the same. However, when I connect the MacBook to the dock, both external displays turn on but they mirror each other. In the display settings, it only shows the laptop and one external display. It doesn’t recognize there are two display “feeds” coming through the one cable and port.

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Answer 4

Oct 30, 2025 9:33 AM in response to Phil0124

Ok. I’m using an HP dock that has two displays running to it, and one USB-C cable coming from that which is also the charger/power source. I previously had an HP laptop that would run both monitors as extended displays (and I could use my laptop screen as a 3rd display). I assumed that USB-C was the same as Thunderbolt and everything would work the same. However, when I connect the MacBook to the dock, both external displays turn on but they mirror each other. In the display settings, it only shows the laptop and one external display. It doesn’t recognize there are two display “feeds” coming through the one cable and port.

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Answer 5

Oct 30, 2025 9:54 AM in response to Phil0124

Ok. Good to know. Thank you! If I just order 2 HDMI to Thunderbolt cables and run each display directly into the MacBook, will that work?

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