How To Connect A Mac or MacBook To A Monitor

The more screen space you have the more efficiently you work apparently. So why not connect a second (or even a third) display to your Mac? In this article we help you identify which adapter you need to plug your Mac into an extra, external screen (or even more than one), and how to get everything set up.

While it’s generally easy to set up an additional screen, there are a few issues that might cause your display not to be detected by your Mac, so we will also offer solutions for these problems below.

In 2019, when it updated macOS to version 10.14 (aka Catalina), Apple added the ability to use some iPads as a second screen for some Macs. This may suit you if you don’t already own an external screen and would prefer to save your money. We look at how to use your iPad as a screen for your Mac in a separate article, along with which iPads and Macs support the feature.

How to connect an external monitor to a Mac

This is one of those things that should be easy, but because over the years Apple has changed the ports on Macs it can be difficult to know what connectors you actually need in order to connect a monitor to your Mac. That’s even before you have studied the ports on the back or the display to work out what connector is required there.

Luckily once you know what wire you need to connect your MacBook to your monitor it should be plain sailing.

The steps are relatively simple, but as you will see the first step is the hardest!

1. Identify which Apple adapter and cable you need to connect the Mac and the monitor by following the guidance below.
2. Plug it in.
3. Open System Preferences > Displays.
4. Click the Arrangement tab. 
5. Do not select the Mirror Displays tickbox (unless you want the second screen to show the same content as your original screen).
6. Drag the illustrated displays into the arrangement you require.
7. A white menu bar will be shown at the top of one of the screens. Drag this white bar to the screen you wish to be dominant.
8. If you want to mirror the display on both (or multiple) displays go to System Preferences > Displays > Arrangement and choose Mirror Displays.
9. You can also select ‘Show mirroring options in the menu bar when available’ and you will see a status menu in the menu bar making it easier to turn this off and on again.

The options are a little different if you are attaching your desktop Mac like a Mac mini to a monitor as it doesn’t have it’s own display. In that case you will see something like this:

As with the options for connecting a monitor to a MacBook, if you connect more than one monitor to a Mac mini you will notice the white block at the top of one of the displays. You can click on this and drag it onto the display you wish to be the main display.

You can also adjust the position of each display to reflect how they are positioned on your desk, so that when you drag your mouse from one screen to the other you know where it will appear.

If you have an Apple TV you can also use AirPlay to send a second screen output to your TV screen. Here’s how to do that: How to view your Mac screen on a TV.

If you are using your Mac with an external screen and want to close the lid on your MacBook here’s How to use MacBook with lid closed, stop closed Mac sleeping.

One of the easiest ways to connect a MacBook to a second or third screen is by using a dock – discover the best docking stations for MacBooks – which will also give you more ports, such as USB, Ethernet and card readers..

Which port has my Mac got?

As we said above, the hardest part of connecting a display to your Mac is working out what cable you need to plug into your Mac and the monitor.

The adapter you require depends on the model of Mac and the type of monitor. Apple has implemented quite a few different port types over the years, and your Mac desktop or MacBook might feature any of the following:

Mini DisplayPort

Mini DisplayPort was announced by Apple towards the end of 2008. With an adapter, the Mini DisplayPort can drive displays that feature VGA, DVI or HDMI interfaces. This is what Mini DisplayPort looks like.

HDMI

There are a few Macs that ship with an HDMI port – including the 14in and 16in MacBook Pro introduced in 2021 and the Mac mini with M1 chip from 2020. HDMI ports are often found on TVs, making those Macs a popular choice for those setting up a media centre PC.

Macs with an HDMI port include:

• Mac mini
• MacBook Pro (mid 2012 to 2015)
• 14in MacBook Pro (2021)
• 16in MacBook Pro (2021)

Thunderbolt 1 or 2

The Thunderbolt port, first introduced in 2011, looks the same as Mini DisplayPort (and is backwards-compatible). If you see a thunderbolt symbol besides what looks like a Mini DisplayPort, your Mac has a Thunderbolt port.

Thunderbolt has appeared on Macs since around 2011, so if your Mac is from after that year, chances are it offers Thunderbolt rather than Mini DisplayPort, although the two are compatible.

To connect a Thunderbolt 2 iMac to a recent Thunderbolt 3 MacBook Pro (2016 or later) or Air (2018 or later), use Apple’s bidirectional Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter.

You can use a Mini DisplayPort adapter in a Thunderbolt port but you can also use Apple’s Thunderbolt to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter or Thunderbolt to FireWire Adapter with it. A Thunderbolt-equipped Mac can connect a 4K Ultra HD TV via a direct HDMI connection, or via a Thunderbolt to high-speed HDMI adapter.

In 2013 Apple introduced Thunderbolt 2, which is faster than Thunderbolt 1, but the port is the same.

Thunderbolt 3 or USB C

From around the end of 2016 Apple started equipping its higher-end systems with Thunderbolt 3, which connects devices to your computer at up to 40Gbps.

Thunderbolt 3 is a supercharged version of USB-C, with a bandwidth of 40Gbps compared to USB-C’s 5 to 10GBps.

The Thunderbolt 3 connection looks and acts exactly the same as USB-C, and it supports USB-C, so you will be able to use any USB C-equipped monitor, or a Thunderbolt 3 monitor, with your Mac.

You’ll also be able to use any USB-C adapter with your monitor.

Thunderbolt 4 or USB 4

In some modern Macs Apple includes Thunderbolt 4/USB 4, which as with Thunderbolt 3 and USB C share the same port. The port looks identical to the Thunderbolt 4/USB C port (above) and is completely backwards compatible.

In fact, Thunderbolt 4 isn’t actually all that different to Thunderbolt 3. The main reason why there is even a Thunderbolt 4 is because some PC laptops lacked the ability to support the full 40Gbps bandwidth of Thunderbolt 3. 

There are a few benefits to Thunderbolt 4 that Mac users can enjoy though: every Thunderbolt 4 port can support two 4K displays or one 8K display – we say every, but unfortunately this doesn’t include the M1 MacBooks. Read: How to connect two or more external displays to Apple M1 Macs.

There isn’t a huge difference between USB 4 and Thunderbolt 4 either, and Thunderbolt 4 devices support USB 4. Thunderbolt 4 will always have a full 40Gbps bandwidth, while USB 4 starts at 20Gbps, but can also reach Thunderbolt 4’s 40Gbps. A USB 4 port can only support one display, while Thunderbolt 4 can support two 4K displays. Learn about Thunderbolt 4 and USB 4.

If you want to connect up to two 4K displays to your Thunderbolt 4 Mac you will need a compatible dock, of course. See Best USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 docking stations for MacBook, Pro and Air.

Which port does my display have?

Now that you’ve identified which port your Mac has you need to check the port on your display, it is likely to offer one of the following:

VGA

A VGA connector requires a three-row 15-pin DE-15 connector. VGA connectors transmit analogue signals.

Old CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) monitors were VGA but there are flat displays that use VGA – they just convert the VGA connector’s analog signal back to digital. This conversion from digital to analog and back again can cause degradation of video quality. VGA will carry HD video but only analogue audio.

Apple sells a number of VGA adapters, including a USB-C VGA Multiport Adapter (£75/$69), a Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter (£29/$29) and a Belkin USB-C to VGA Adapter (£29.95).

DVI

DVI offers a higher-quality signal than VGA because it’s a digital signal. You will see a marked difference when looking at HD video as compared to VGA.

A DVI connector has the potential for 24 pins, depending on whether it’s DVI-A, DVI-D or DVI-I, there are different connectors with a different number of pins in use. There is also a long pin which may be surrounded by four other pins (which are required for audio in older models).

Apple’s Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter has holes for all 24 pins but not the four pins that surround the long pin.

HDMI

The main difference between DVI and HDMI is that HDMI supports up to eight channels of audio, while DVI supports video only. HDMI 2.1 brings support for resolutions up to 8k and higher. HDMI is the most common connector you’ll find on the back of a TV.

As we said above, there are a couple of Macs that have shipped (or in the case of the Mac mini, still ship) with an HDMI port.

Here are Apple’s HDMI adapters.

Thunderbolt 1 or 2

If you purchased the Apple Thunderbolt display, which was discontinued in 2016, then your monitor has a Thunderbolt 2 port, as seen above.

Thunderbolt 3, USB-C or USB 3

As we said above, the Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C ports are identical, so if your Mac has one, you will be able to use any monitor equipped with either port.

More monitors are likely to be featuring USB C ports than Thunderbolt 3 ports, although Thunderbolt is faster and can take more power. USB-equipped displays are likely to be cheaper than Thunderbolt options, too. Sometimes you’ll find USB 3 or USB 3.1 port, which is the same port, but the predecessor to USB-C.

Thunderbolt 4 or USB 4

There are monitors, like the Lenovo ThinkVision P27u-20 that feature Thunderbolt 4 docking abilities. This port won’t look any different to the one discussed above.

Mini DisplayPort

If you have one of Apple’s LED Cinema Displays, introduced back in 1999 and replaced in 2011 by the Thunderbolt display, your display has a Mini DisplayPort connection, as seen above.

(For more information about ports, here’s a rundown of some of Apple’s different port types.)

What cable do I need to connect Mac to monitor?

Now that you have established which port your Mac and display have, you will need to find a cable to connect your Mac to the monitor. This cable doesn’t need to be from Apple, but it will need to have the right connections.

If your Mac and display have an HDMI port, which is less rare than it used to be now that the 14in and 16in MacBook Pro have one along with the Mac mini. You’ll just be able to use an HDMI cable to connect your display to your Mac, such as this Belkin UltraHD High Speed 4K HDMI cable that costs £29.95/$29.95.

Similarly with a USB-C equipped Mac and monitor, you will be able to use a USB-C or Thunderbolt cable. Apple sells a Thunderbolt 3/USB-C cable here for £39/$39.

However, it’s likely you will require an adapter if you want to connect to a display that uses VGA or DVI, but before we get onto adapters there’s one other thing you will need to consider when buying a cable or an adapter:

Is the port male or female?

You need to check whether the connection on the back of your display has female or male endpoints. The Apple adapters are female, so if the port on the back of your monitor is also female (in other words has holes not spikes) you will need a male to female adapter. Our NEC MyltiSync E243WMI has a female connection.

How long does the cable need to be?

It’s no good trying to hook up your Mac to a monitor if the cable or adapter is to short. Remember you will need enough cable to go from the back of the display to your port on the Mac. 

Which adapter do I need to connect Mac and display?

You can buy adapters from a number of third parties, and they may well be cheaper than Apple’s offerings. 

USB-C to HDMI

Among other things, the Apple USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter (£75/$69) lets you connect a Thunderbolt 3-equipped Mac to an HDMI display. You will still need a separate HDMI-to-HDMI cable (such as this one from Belkin) to do so.

USB-C to VGA

Apple’s USB-C VGA Multiport Adapter lets you connect to a VGA display or projector. This is an analogue connection so it will not support HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection) content. This would include the HD movies found on the iTunes Store.

The USB-C VGA Multiport Adapter costs £75/$69 and is available here.

USB-C to DVI

Apple doesn’t sell one, but you’ll be able to find a USB-C to DVI adapter on Amazon, such as this one, which has an RRP of £13.99 but will inevitably cost less than that. We can’t confirm whether it works, but it says it’s for the MacBook, so we assume it does.

USB-C to Mini DisplayPort

Apple doesn’t make a USB-C to Mini DisplayPort adapter, so you won’t be able to connect a 2016 or later MacBook Pro to the old Apple Cinema Display, or any other monitor that uses a Mini Display Port. However, you may be able to find a cable or adapter on Amazon.

Mini DisplayPort to VGA

Apple’s Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter can be used to connect a Mac with Mini DisplayPort or Thunderbolt ports to a external display or projector that uses VGA. It costs £29/$29 and can be purchased here.

Mini DisplayPort to DVI

Apple’s Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter can be used to connect a Mac with Mini DisplayPort or Thunderbolt ports to an external display or projector that uses DVI.

Mini DisplayPort features on most Macs and is used to connect to an external display. Using an adapter you will be able to use it to connect your Mac to a DVI or VGA display.

This is for displays that do not support Dual-link DVI resolutions (DVI displays with a resolution of 1920 x 1200 or lower). DVI will support HDCP content.

It costs £29/$29 and can be purchased here.

Wondering what the difference is between single-link DVI and dual-link DVI? Dual-link is for DVI displays with resolutions above 1920 x 1200. When you use the Apple Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI adapter (£99/$99), your Mac will need a free USB port.

If your display operates at 1920 x 1200 or lower you should use the Apple Mini DisplayPort to DVI adapter instead. It costs £29/$29 from Apple and you can purchase it here.

Mini DisplayPort to HDMI

Apple does not manufacture a Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapter, but it is possible to find a Mini DisplayPort to HDMI cable on Amazon, we can’t confirm whether it will work with the Mac though.

HDMI to DVI Adapter

Apple sells an HDMI to DVI Adapter for £29/$29 here.

Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter

Apple’s Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter can be used to connect to a Thunderbolt display to a new Mac. It costs £49/$49 and can be purchased here.

Use a docking station

Today’s MacBooks don’t come with display or video ports, but instead rely on Thunderbolt 3 connectors, with either one or two on each side. The older 12in MacBook had just one USB-C port for charging and adding other devices.

A Thunderbolt 3 docking station lets you connect your MacBook via one cable to the dock that will have multiple ports, including one or more HDMI, DisplayPort or VGA ports. It will also boast extra USB ports, and maybe a Gigabit Ethernet port for wired Internet access and other useful connectors.

Thunderbolt 3 laptops can also use slower but often cheaper USB-C docks, but not the other way round unless the dock uses a Titan Ridge chipset. For more details see our list of the Best USB C and Thunderbolt 3 docks, as well as the best USB-C hubs.

Troubleshooting problems

There are a number of issues you may experience with your display setup. Here we address some of them. Let us know of any further solutions or problems.

Mac not detecting the monitor

When you connect your display and your Mac the display should automatically be detected. But what should you do if it isn’t?

If your Mac isn’t working with your monitor there are a few things to try: 

1. Check the cable – make sure it is properly connected.
2. Make sure the monitor is plugged in.
3. Make sure your software is up to date.

If the above don’t work, try these steps:

1. Connect your monitor and Mac and open System Preferences > Displays.
2. Press the Alt/option key. This should make the Detect Displays button appear.
3. Click on Detect Displays. This should cause your Mac to see the external monitor.

Still not having any luck? There is one other reason that could stop your Mac working with an external display: In the past Apple has made changes to macOS that have stopped some third-party adapters working with extra displays. For example, when Apple introduced macOS Sierra in October 2016 many had issues getting a second display to work with certain adapters. On that note, if your display won’t work with your Mac then the first thing to check is your adapter.

External display is not working with a Mini DisplayPort adapter

If your adapter is not made by Apple, that might just be the issue here. Prior to macOS Sierra it was possible to use a third-party Mini DisplayPort to DVI adapter with a Mac, but since Sierra launched in 2016 Mac users who were reliant on that setup have found their monitors have stopped working with their Mac.

The only solution if this is the case is to purchase an Apple adapter like one of those listed above.

If you have an Apple adapter and your external display isn’t working, try the following:

1. Disconnect your adapter for a few seconds.
2. Reconnect it and see if the issue persists.
3. Disconnect the adapter again and power off the monitor.
4. If it’s still not working, connect the cable again and power off the display.
5. If when you turn the display back on it’s still not working, click on the Apple logo and choose Sleep.
6. Wait a few minutes and then move your mouse or tap your keyboard to wake your Mac.
7. If that doesn’t work, restart the computer.
8. Try adjusting the display’s brightness or contrast just in case it’s turned down.
9. Go to System Preferences > Display and try selecting a different resolution.
10. If that still doesn’t work, try restarting your Mac in safe mode and then reset the display resolution to defaults.
11. Another option is to reset the Mac’s NVRAM and SMC.

DVI adapter doesn’t fit in the connection

There are a few possible reasons why the Apple Mini DisplayPort to DVI adapter might not be compatible with your monitor.

There is more than one kind of DVI adapter and the likelihood is the one you have is different to the adapter you are using. For example, you may require space for four analog ports around the flat blade.

If your problem is that you have two female or two male connections then the solution is to buy a male-to-female adapter.

Cable too small between the two devices? You should be able to hook up your adapter to the screen via a third-party cable. Just make sure it has the correct port type.

iPad won’t work as second display

Thought you’d use an iPad as a second display with yoru Mac having installed macOS Catalina and found it doesn’t work? This is most likely because your iPad or Mac don’t support the Sidecar feature.

iPads that work with Sidecar include:

12.9-inch iPad Pro
11-inch iPad Pro
10.5-inch iPad Pro
9.7-inch iPad Pro
iPad (6th generation)
iPad (5th generation)
iPad mini (5th generation)
iPad mini 4
iPad Air (3rd generation)
iPad Air 2

Macs that work with Sidecar include:

MacBook Pro (2016 or later)
MacBook (2016 or later)
MacBook Air (2018 or later)
iMac (2016 or later, as well as iMac 5K, 27-inch, late 2015)
iMac Pro
Mac mini (2018 or later)
Mac Pro (2019)

We have more information about using an iPad as a second screen for your Mac here.

If you are wanting to use a second display with your Mac and not have your Mac’s screen on read: How to turn a Mac’s screen off.

How to connect a third monitor to a Mac

Theoretically you shouldn’t be able to attach a monitor to a USB port, but a few companies have treated this as a technical challenge. The Matrox DualHead2Go and TripleHead2Go let you connect up to two or three external displays respectively. They do this by augmenting the standard DVI/HDMI video output of a Mac or PC with data provided via a USB 2.0/3.0 connection.

To learn if your Mac is compatible, check out Matrox’s Mac compatibility listing, where you’ll also learn the maximum possible output resolutions – it’s unlikely you’ll be able to run all three displays at 1080p, for example.

Diamond MultiMedia’s BVU range lets you run a separate external display via nothing more than a USB 2.0 port. By connecting one to a MacBook Pro, as one example, you could utilise up to three displays: one built in, one via the existing DVI/HDMI/DisplayPort, and one more via USB.

There are also some no-brand devices on eBay and Amazon that offer the same functions as the Diamond product, and are cheaper to boot – although be sure to check for Mac compatibility. Just search for something like USB to DVI HDMI.

All the above solutions are somewhat hacky. We haven’t tested any but we’re certain performance won’t be as good as with a monitor attached directly. 3D gaming is definitely out of the question and video playback in anything other than standard definition will probably be choppy. Still, to put your email or Twitter app on a separate screen, as one example, they should suffice.