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Before adding an extra monitor to your MacBook, check the type of connection cable needed. You can use MacTracker to view detailed information about your device model. For MacBook or MacBook Pro manufactured after 2015, use a USB-C (Thunderbolt 3) cable to connect with VGA, DVI, and HDMI monitors. The choice of monitor depends on your preference. If possible, you should use HDMI or DVI monitors because VGA monitors are outdated. For MacBook models produced before 2015, use Thunderbolt 1, 2, or Mini DisplayPort cables. These three types of cables do not have much difference.
Guide: Connecting Dual Monitors on MacBook
How to Connect Dual Monitors on MacBook, Utilizing Multiple Screens with Mac
Firstly, you need to set up to effectively use the secondary monitor.
Step 1: Go to System Preferences =>
If the MacBook doesn't recognize the additional monitor, make sure you've securely plugged the cable between the two devices. If not, you need to select the signal source on the secondary monitor by going to the Source section and adjusting until there's a signal (similar to selecting input on a TV).
Alternatively, you can hold down the Option key and select Gather Windows to have the MacBook recognize the secondary monitor. After successful connection, you'll see 2 information panels, one from the MacBook, one from the additional monitor.
If you don't see both panels, the other panel is definitely on the secondary monitor. Press Gather Windows to display both panels on the current screen.
Step 2: In the Display section, you can adjust the resolution for the monitor. It's recommended to use the options at the top for the best display.
Step 3: Next, you'll set up the position of the secondary monitor and the MacBook screen in the Arrangement section. This is crucial to determine the mouse pointer's path between the two monitors.
If the secondary monitor is on the left but in settings it's on the right, the edges of the monitors won't align seamlessly. You'll have to move the mouse to the top right of the MacBook to reach the secondary monitor on the left, which is extremely inconvenient. Therefore, you need to drag and drop to determine the correct position of the 2 monitors (the larger icon is the secondary monitor).
You can also choose the position of the Apple menu bar by dragging the white horizontal bar onto one of the 2 monitor icons.
In the Arrangement section, there will be an additional option Mirror your displays. When you check this box, both monitors will display the same content. You can choose a common resolution based on the MacBook screen or the secondary monitor. Or let the system customize the best settings. This mirror feature is very suitable for meetings, presentations... Once the work is done, you can switch back to the usual dual monitor mode.
Step 4: In the settings of the secondary monitor, there will be 2 tabs: Display and Color. In the Display section, you won't be able to adjust the brightness of this monitor like with the MacBook screen, nor will there be an AirPlay option. You can only rotate the screen (rotation).
In the Color section, you can adjust the settings to make the screen colors more true-to-life.
Completing the steps above means you've finished the necessary setup for adding an additional monitor to your MacBook.
In the steps above, all you need is to find the right cable suitable for both your MacBook and the additional monitor, then you can immediately use two screens on your MacBook. The remaining steps, macOS has almost set up for you, and you just need to adjust some options to better suit your needs. Using two screens on a MacBook is highly suitable for tasks like graphic design, video editing... or for your presentations.
Furthermore, if you're exploring how to take screenshots on a MacBook to capture information or images displayed on the screen, or how to capture a MacBook screen, you can refer to the guide in the article below and follow the steps.
- Explore more: How to Capture Screenshots on MacBook
On the other hand, if you're using the Windows operating system, connecting your laptop or desktop computer to a TV can typically be done through HDMI, VGA ports, and even if your laptop supports Miracast technology, you may not need to use the HDMI port to connect your laptop to the TV.
Currently, when connecting a laptop to a TV, users commonly use an HDMI connection to mirror the laptop screen on the TV. For more advanced devices, some prefer using a DVI port for better quality. So, what are the differences between HDMI and DVI? Follow the article below to distinguish between HDMI and DVI and find your answer.
