There are a few changes you’ll want to take a look at in the settings though before considering the monitor completely set up. Once you’ve got all the right gear and your external monitor is actually connected to your Mac, your Mac desktop will automatically extend to your new monitor. Find an adapter that works for you and your setup - shopping for one is pretty straightforward with no hidden features so just look for a good deal. I’ve got a 2017 MacBook Pro that I connect to an external display using this USB adapter from Mokin. If you’re using a MacBook with only USB-C ports, you’ll need to purchase an appropriate adapter from Apple or a third-party retailer. If you’ve got an HDMI port, great - all you’ll need is an HDMI cord that probably came with your monitor.

You’re also going to want to take a look at your ports. Most models can support up to two external monitors, while newer Macs with the M1 Max chip can support up to four.

Click on the Mac Model that pops up and locate either the “Video Support” or “Graphics” subhead to read about how many displays your model supports.

Open up your browser of choice and go to Apple’s Tech Specs page and paste your serial number into the search bar.

Click on the Apple logo in the top left-hand corner of your screen and click “About This Mac.”.

The number of monitors your Mac model can display can be found easily: Almost all displays are compatible, but you’ll need to know what your ports look like, what adapters you’ll need, and how many extras displays your Mac device is built to mesh with. How to connect an external displayīefore you attempt to connect one or multiple external displays, it's important for you to understand what your Mac model can handle. The process itself is quick, but there are a few requirements and restrictions you should know about before jumping in.

Whether you need to need to add a bit more screen real estate to an iMac setup, want to turn your MacBook Pro into a faux desktop with new monitors, or just love the look of running dual screens, connecting an external monitor to any Mac is very simple.Ĭonnecting an external monitor is as easy as plugging it in and configuring the new display to your specific needs.

Imac switch to external monitor