NEWS ROOM

One of many greatest long-term benefits of the Mac has been the convenience of connecting exterior displays. The kind of connector hooked up, the resolutions supported, and the full quantity have various over time, however it’s a persistently straightforward activity.

Or at the very least it was! Within the final six years, Apple launched USB 3 over USB-C (12-inch MacBook, now discontinued), Thunderbolt 3, which makes use of USB-C (and helps many kinds of adapters), and the M-series processor fashions of apple silicone. . Some Macs even have or nonetheless embody video-specific connectors: Prior to now, that included DVI (a number of varieties), Mini DisplayPort, DisplayPort over Thunderbolt 2, and HDMI.

Extra just lately, HDMI 2.0 grew to become the one remaining video connector that is not USB-C. Apple has constructed HDMI into many Intel fashions, in addition to the M1 Mac mini, M1 Professional/Max MacBook Professional 14-inch and 16-inch, and Mac Studio.

Determining what number of displays could be plugged into which Mac has change into a guess for a lot of readers, in keeping with our mail folder.

(Do you will have a monitor that makes use of DVI, Mini DisplayPort, or Thunderbolt 2? See our 2020 information on figuring out what you will have and what kind of adapter you want. Wish to use an iMac as an exterior monitor? Solely iMacs launched from 2009 to mid-2009 2014. See “Troubleshooting suggestions for utilizing an older iMac as an exterior show for a Mac with Thunderbolt 3”).

Here is the combo of Macs from the previous couple of generations, beginning with the most recent, not together with the inner show for iMac and Mac laptops. Connections are by way of a USB-C connection, besides the place famous.

The resolutions, by reference, are:

• 4K UHD: 3840 × 2160 pixels
• 4K: 4096 large, with frequent variations together with 4096×2160 or 4096×2304 pixels
• 5K: 5120 × 2880 pixels
• 6K: 6016 × 3384 pixels

The very best supported decision is listed for every setting or possibility set, however you can too use a decrease decision monitor. For instance, the M1 Mac mini permits as much as 6K over USB-C, however you’ll be able to join a 4K UHD monitor to that port as an alternative.

Mac M-series monitor choices

Most M1 and M2 Macs mean you can add just one exterior monitor; the Mac mini permits two. Regardless of many questions from readers, there isn’t any adapter or trick you are able to do with Apple tools so as to add a further show past the extent Apple helps.* The video circuitry simply is not there.

Listed below are your choices grouped by show choices:

• MacBook Air M1 and M2, MacBook Professional 13-inch, iMac M1: An exterior show with a decision of as much as 6K
• Mac mini M1: One as much as 6K by way of USB-C and one as much as 4K by way of HDMI 2.0

(*You need to use {hardware} that makes use of DisplayLink expertise so as to add extra displays over USB 3. Requires putting in a kernel-level driver from the corporate. Learn our evaluate of the Mac-compatible StarTech USB 3.0 to HDMI adapter with DisplayLink.)

M1 Professional, Max and Extremely monitor choices

With the October 2021 introduction of the M1 Professional and M1 Extremely chips, adopted by the March 2022 announcement of the M1 Extremely, Apple dramatically expanded the show choices for the pro-level fashions:

• 14-inch or 16-inch MacBook Professional with M1 Professional: Two exterior shows as much as 6K by way of USB-C and one as much as 4K by way of HDMI 2.0
• 14-inch or 16-inch MacBook Professional with M1 Max: Three exterior shows as much as 6K by way of USB-C and one as much as 4K by way of HDMI 2.0
• Mac Studio with M1 Max or M1 Extremely: 4 shows at as much as 6K by way of USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 4 and one at as much as 4K by way of HDMI 2.0

The Mac Studio M1 Max configuration contains two entrance USB 3 USB-C ports that can not be used with DisplayPort adapters; the M1 Extremely mannequin upgrades them to Thunderbolt 4, which can be utilized with a regular USB-C DisplayPort adapter. This does not lower the variety of displays you’ll be able to join, however you might require an exterior Thunderbolt 4 dock to have sufficient free USB-C connectors for all of your functions.

Intel Mac with USB 3/Thunderbolt 3 monitor choices

Intel Macs with Thunderbolt 3 had a extra baroque number of attainable exterior monitor configurations. Listed below are the probabilities for the most recent shipped model of every Thunderbolt 3 mannequin and the 12-inch MacBook with USB 3 over USB-C:

• 21.5-inch Macs: One 5K display or two 4K UHD or 4K screens
• 27-inch iMac (customary video card), 13-inch MacBook Professional: One 5K or 6K display or two 4K UHD or 4K screens
• 27-inch iMac (AMD Radeon Professional 5700 or AMD Radeon Professional 5700 XT): As much as two 4K UHD, 4K, 5K, or 6K shows
• 16-inch MacBook Professional: As much as two 5K or 6K shows or as much as 4 4K UHD or 4K shows
• macmini: One 5K show over USB-C or as much as three 4K shows with a mix of USB-C and HDMI 2.0 ports
• Mac Professional: Relying on video card, ranges from one 5K or 6K show or as much as 4 4K shows to 4 5K or 6K shows or as much as eight 4K shows
• 12-inch MacBook: A 4K display

Ask Mac 911

We have compiled a listing of probably the most often requested questions together with solutions and hyperlinks to columns – learn our tremendous FAQs to see in case your query is roofed. If not, we’re all the time searching for new issues to resolve! E mail yours to [email protected], together with screenshots the place relevant, and if you need your full title used. Not all questions might be answered, we don’t reply to emails, and can’t present direct troubleshooting recommendation.