Check display support
You can connect one or more external displays depending on your Mac model. To find out how many external displays your Mac supports, check its technical specifications:
- Choose Apple menu > About This Mac.
- Click the Support tab.
- Click Specifications.
- On the webpage that appears, the number of displays your Mac supports appears under Video Support or Graphics.
If your MacBook or MacBook Pro was manufactured after 2015, then you will need a USB-C (Thunderbolt 3) cable that goes to VGA, DVI, or HDMI. The other end will be determined by your monitor–so double check its available ports to see which it offers. If you have a choice, HDMI and DVI are preferable to VGA, which is an older analog standard. 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.
If you're using a Mac with Apple silicon, you can connect a single external display to your Mac using one of the Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports. Docks don't increase the number of displays you can connect as an extended desktop. On Mac mini (M1, 2020), you can connect a second display to the HDMI port.
Select the 'Apple' logo in your Mac's menu bar. Navigate to 'System Preferences - Display.' You can now look for any unusual or extreme settings or experiment by dragging the various sliders inside the 'Display' menu. The latest version of USB Display Installer is 1.6 on Mac Informer. It is a perfect match for the General category. The app is developed by Epson. Luna gives you the flexibility to work wherever you want, however you want. Whether it's extending your Mac or iPad into a second display, or making your iPad the main display for your Mac mini, the choice is yours. Create your ultimate setup with Luna Display.
Connect your display
Connect your display to power, then connect your display to your Mac. Check the ports on your Mac to find out whether you need an adapter.
Change display options
After you connect your display, you can choose to extend your desktop or mirror your displays. Windows 10 mac os high sierra.
Use extended desktop mode
- Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Displays.
- Click the Arrangement tab.
- Make sure that the Mirror Displays checkbox isn't selected.
- Arrange your displays to match the setup on your desk. To change the position of a display, drag it to the desired position. A red border appears around the display as it's moved.
- To set a different display as the primary display, drag the menu bar to the other display. The primary display is where your desktop icons and app windows first appear.
Mirror your displays
- Make sure that your external display is turned on and connected to your Mac.
- Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click Displays, then click the Arrangement tab.
- Make sure that the Mirror Displays checkbox is selected.
Use AirPlay
With Apple TV, you can use your TV as a separate display for your Mac. Learn how to use AirPlay to mirror or extend your Mac display.
Learn more
Retina MacBook Q&A
Update Published August 15, 2019
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How do you connect an external display to the Retina MacBook? What is the maximum supported resolution? What is the best USB-C monitor to use? What adapters are required?
The 'Early 2015' and 'Early 2016' Retina MacBook models each can simultaneously support the internal display as well as an external display at a resolution as high as 3840x2160 at 30 Hz. Although they can be connected to a 4K display via HDMI, they are not capable of using a 4K display at 60 Hz like MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models available at the same time.
The final Retina MacBook models -- the 'Mid-2017' series -- on the other hand, can simultaneously support the internal display as well as up to 4096x2304 at 60 Hz on an external display.
Adapter Options for Older Displays
All Retina MacBook models have a single USB-C port -- and not any kind of 'traditional' external display port -- so an adapter is required to connect an older display.
When the first Retina MacBook was released in 2015, an adapter was the only option, but times have changed, and native USB-C monitors now also are available readily.
Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (USB-C Display Adapters)
Specifically, Apple provides two options to connect an external monitor to the Retina Display MacBook -- the Apple USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter (MJ1K2AM/A), which has an HDMI port, and the Apple USB-C VGA Multiport Adapter (MJ1L2AM/A), which has an old school VGA port. If your display is equipped with HDMI or VGA, you then will just need a 'traditional' HDMI or VGA cable in addition to the relevant adapter.
The Best USB-C Displays
If you already have a quality external display of sufficient resolution, an adapter is a good option.
However, if it makes sense to purchase a new display regardless of connectivity or you would prefer to not have to use an adapter with your Retina MacBook to connect an external display, it is most convenient to purchase a display with native USB-C capability.
Although lower resolution displays also will work, it generally is best to purchase an external display that supports the maximum resolution that the notebook can drive. For the 'Early 2015' and 'Early 2016' Retina MacBook models that is 3840x2160 at 30 Hz. Mac webcam not working.
Two native USB-C monitors with a native resolution of 3840x2160 are the 27-Inch LG Class 4K UHD and the BenQ EW3270U 4K HDR. Play playstation 1 games on mac.
Photo Credit: LG Class 4K UHD (Left), BenQ EW3270U 4K HDR (Right)
The 'Mid-2017' Retina MacBook supports a native resolution up to 4096x2304 at 60 Hz. One display that supports this resolution is the 21.5-Inch LG UltraFine 4K. It also will work with the earlier Retina MacBook models, but at a reduced refresh rate of 48 Hz.
Photo Credit: LG (UltraFine 4K)
All of these displays also power the Retina MacBook while connected which is critical for a notebook dependent on a single USB-C port.
Site sponsor Adorama sells these adapters with free shipping for all. Site sponsor OWC sells the LG Class 4K UHD display.
What type of video processor is provided by the Retina Display MacBook? Is it 'dedicated' or 'integrated' memory? Is it upgradable?
Each Retina MacBook has an Intel 'integrated' video processor and each is more powerful than its predecessor:
MacBook | Model Identifier | Video Processor |
Early 2015 | MacBook8,1 | HD Graphics 5300 |
Early 2016 | MacBook9,1 | HD Graphics 515 |
Mid-2017 | MacBook10,1 | HD Graphics 615 |
Regardless of model, the graphics processor in the Retina MacBook models share 1.5 GB of system memory and it cannot be upgraded at the time of purchase or later.
How can you 'force' or 'hack' the Retina Display MacBook models to run at the native resolution or otherwise fit more on screen than by default?
The Retina Display MacBook models, regardless of generation, have a 12' color display with 2304x1440 native resolution at 226 ppi. However, the screen is 'pixel doubled' so that it effectively looks like half the resolution, just with more four times as much detail as a pre-Retina display. Doubled, the resolution would be 1152x720, and that is an option, but it ships scaled as 1280x800 by default to provide more 'room' on screen. In addition to the default, scaled resolutions of 1440x900, 1280x800, 1152x720, and 1024x640 are choices, too.
Photo Credit: EveryMac.com
Unlike the Retina Display MacBook Pro and Retina 4K/5K iMac models, there is no way to see additional resolutions, such as the native one, within the 'Displays' Control Panel on the Retina MacBook.
However, for more resolution options, the free Retina DisplayMenu and inexpensive QuickRes and SwitchResX third-party software may be of interest.
If you find QuickRes or SwitchResX useful, EveryMac.com strongly encourages registering the software to support continued development.
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