How to connect your Mac to a monitor

Apple Lossless Audio CODEC (ALAC), MacBook is perfect for working in a variety of locations.You can take them to a coffee shop or to a different room in your home to continue working.

If you don't need to move, there is no iMac, then working on just one screen can be cumbersome, especially if you work with many large windows and tabs.

Fortunately, you can connect your Mac to an external monitor to get a second screen.Here, we'll tell you how to do that, and what to look for when buying a monitor for your Mac.

Check the ports on your monitor and Mac

To connect a monitor to your Mac, you need to know which port you're using.Most modern Macs have USB-C ports for connecting accessories and peripherals such as monitors.

Higher-end MacBooks (such as the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models) and desktop Macs (such as the Mac mini, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro) also come with HDMI ports, which are worth considering when you're trying to connect a monitor.

As far as monitors go, most modern monitors come with HDMI ports for video input.Some monitors may come with DisplayPort and USB-C ports, but this is less common than HDMI.Older monitors may use DVI or VGA ports.

If you don't already have a monitor, we recommend purchasing one that has the same ports as your Mac, as this simplifies the process and reduces the number of cables and adapters required.

Buy the right cables and adapters

Once you know which ports you want to use, you have to purchase video cables that fit those ports.In some cases, just purchasing a cable is enough.In other cases, you may also want to invest in an adapter that lets you plug one cable into two different ports.

If your Mac doesn't have an HDMI port, you'll most likely need an adapter.Thankfully, HDMI to USB-C adapters are fairly common and you can buy them from the Apple Store or third-party retailers.

Always consider the length of the cable before purchasing.Generally speaking, it’s better to buy a longer one so you can move things around the table more easily.You can also rearrange things when needed.

Covering or tucking away a long cable is also less of a headache than a too-short cable connecting two machines.Shorter cables may come off on their own, longer cables may not!

Plug in all your devices and adjust settings

Now that you know the ports and have the appropriate cables ready, the next step is to plug in the cables and start using your Mac monitor.

First, make sure the monitor's power cord is plugged in and turned on.Then, plug the cable from your Mac into the monitor.

On a desktop Mac without a built-in monitor, you just plug in the cable (or one with an adapter).At this point, your screen will flash black for one second, and then the monitor screen will turn on.

If it's a MacBook or iMac, you'll see a continuation of the built-in display.Depending on where your monitor is relative to your laptop—right, left, even above or below—you'll need to adjust the way the screen works to simulate what happens in real life.

If your MacBook thinks the display is on the right when it's actually on the left, you'll still need to move your cursor all the way to the right to see the display.This can be disorienting and will definitely affect your workflow if you're constantly moving between monitors.

To fix or avoid this, go to System Settings > Display.You'll see your Mac's built-in monitor and external monitor listed as two tabs in the window.You can click on them individually to adjust the brightness and color profiles.

You can also set the resolution, rotation, and refresh rate of the external monitor, and adjust the overall text size displayed on the built-in monitor.

To change the arrangement of your Mac's built-in display and external monitor, click the Arrange button below the display preview.Then, click and drag the two boxes representing your Mac's display and external monitor so that their positions match their real-life neighbors.

Once the window is in the correct position, click Finish.In the Arrange Displays window, you may notice that one screen has a white bar at the top and the other does not.This bar determines which screen is the "main" display, which is the screen that displays the Dock and notifications when you use your Mac.

To change which screen is the primary display, click and drag the white bar over the display box you want.

You can also change the main display in the Display window.Under the "Built-in Display" tab, click the drop-down menu next to "Use as" and select "Main Display" or "Extended Display."

You can also select Mirror [external monitor name] from the drop-down menu, but this will prevent the external monitor from acting as a continuation of your Mac's built-in display.Instead, it displays an exact copy of your Mac's screen.

However, if you're going to plug your MacBook into a TV or projector display and give a presentation, mirroring your main display is perfect.However, when it comes to computer monitors, it's better to opt for a primary or extended display and use the larger workspace the monitor creates for you.

Repair external Mac monitor

If your external monitor keeps going black or says "No connection detected" when plugged into your Mac, make sure the cable is fully inserted into the port.If so, try unplugging and plugging it back in.If you have several identical cables on both devices, you may want to plug them into other ports.

Still can't connect?Try using a new cable to connect your Mac to the external monitor.You can also try straightening the original cable to prevent the bend from causing problems.

If your Mac says a monitor is connected but the monitor is still dark, press the monitor's power button to see if that's the problem.Also, try pressing any button on your monitor that increases the brightness.

Although it's simple, unplugging the monitor's power cord and plugging it back in will also solve the problem.It would also be nice if you could test the monitor with another laptop or PC to make sure it's working properly.

Easily use your display with your Mac

Macs (and monitors) have different types of ports depending on the model.Once you know this and have the appropriate cables and adapters, you can simply plug them into each other and use both screens at the same time.

You can also connect two monitors at the same time, or even more.But even just an extra screen can make working and playing so much better, so we hope you get yourself a monitor to get more out of your Mac.