Dual external monitors with mirroring?

Question

Dual external monitors with mirroring?

So I have a mid 2012 MBP with the single older TB port trying to get dual external screen functionality at home. It seems the few "hacks" out there are very limited, either sacrificing a USB port and bunch of CPU and output video that way, there's a pretty expensive adapter that will turn the 2 into one large screen and you can segment your screens like they are 2... And that's pretty much it.

But I found this on Amazon, it's a Mini DisplayPort to dual DisplayPort. It says that Mac OS doesn't support this and it will mirror the screens but I'm wondering, could you have one display just mirror the laptop screen? Since technically it does have dual screen support, just one screen is the laptop's screen, can you use this to output the laptop's screen to the 2nd monitor, then have the laptop closed and tucked away?

https://www.amazon.com/gofanco-Mini-DisplayPort-MST-Hub/dp/B079VWHXBV/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=34L3AGY4OFCQ3&keywords=mini+displayport+to+dual+hdmi&qid=1559335938&s=electronics&sprefix=mini%2Celectronics%2C183&sr=1-1-spons&psc=1

I figure this is going to be a have no idea until someone tries it question, but might as well see if anybody has an answer before I get it and wait for Amazon to deliver it.

MacBook Pro 13", macOS 10.14

Posted on May 31, 2019 1:56 PM

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Answer 1

May 31, 2019 2:51 PM in response to ChadVanHalen5150

If this is your computer then it only supports one external monitor:

https://support.apple.com/kb/sp649?locale=en_US

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Answer 2

May 31, 2019 2:03 PM in response to ChadVanHalen5150

You could research this adapter from OWC. I have no idea if it only supports mirroring.

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Answer 3

May 31, 2019 2:14 PM in response to BobTheFisherman

Thanks, I know Thunderbolt 3 does support multiple monitor displays, as it seems almost the next year's MBP after mine included multiple TB ports so this is a very old issue solved by updated hardware... There are TB 3 to TB 2 adapters, but I assume it'll have the same issues as the miniDP to dual DP adapter I linked to has, the computers weren't intended to have multiple monitors so the system just doesn't seem to support it.

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Answer 4

May 31, 2019 3:02 PM in response to ChadVanHalen5150

One hack I didn't think of earlier is perhaps using an Apple TV and AirPlaying the laptop screen to an AppleTV connected to a monitor, and sending TB video to the other. Let's see if I can get it working with an AppleTV here, because finding an old 1st or 2nd gen for $20 is easier than dealing with an adapter that may or may not work

Edit: Hooked up a monitor to an Apple TV, am able to not only run 2 external monitors with the laptop closed, but with it open you can AirPlay one monitor, hard link a 2nd AND still use your laptop's screen as a 3rd. In all my searching for people with this issue I never saw this brought up as a potential solution... But if any future people are having that issue this works. Just get a cheap Apple TV and AirPlay! There will be some slight lag on the AirPlay-ed screen, but as an auxiliary screen that is perfectly fine

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