Hi,
How do i add a second monitor to my iMac desktop?
I'm running Catalina 10.15.2
These are the ports i have at the back of the monitor:
I believe i need an adaptor of some sort for a VGA or HDMI? These are the cables that came with the monitor..
I bought a Mini DP To VGA Adaptor but i can't plug it into the back of the iMac monitor.
Any help appreciated.
Paul.
Paul, what input ports does your external display have?
HDMI (need Mini Display port to HDMI adapter)
DVI (need Mini Display port to DVI adapter)
Mini Display Port (need Mini Display port cable)
VGA (need Mini Display port to VGA adapter)
Not all adapters are made the same, buy high quality adapters. Also follow the steps in Use external monitors with your Mac
Paul, what input ports does your external display have?
HDMI (need Mini Display port to HDMI adapter)
DVI (need Mini Display port to DVI adapter)
Mini Display Port (need Mini Display port cable)
VGA (need Mini Display port to VGA adapter)
Not all adapters are made the same, buy high quality adapters. Also follow the steps in Use external monitors with your Mac
usb does not as such carry video signals it's a general purpose serial data interface it require special dongles which act as external usb graphics cards
https://www.displaylink.com/products/usb-adapters
more
but it should not be such a big problem the back of my imac 2011 looks more or less like yours the 2 ports in your photo most to the right are thunderbolt ports
I use the thunderbolt to dvi as seen here
About the Apple Mini DisplayPort adapters - Apple Support
you should be able to use the thunderbolt to vga also displayed in the link
I've been using my adaptor with a variation of different monitors (samsung, dell and now asus) since 2011 without problems
these days the asus monitor which has several inputs are shared between second monitor for the imac, xbox screen and monitor for a windows desktop
That looks like either a DisplayPort or HDMI to VGA adapter and it will not work with your iMac.
What you you need is a Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter.
Or a Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapter, if your monitor also has HDMI input.
I’ve purchased a MiniDP to VGA Adaptor, but the cable end of the adaptor does not fit into any of the slots in the back of my Mac. It would seem i don’t have MiniDP port in the Mac.
It would appear that i need one that is USB compatible? If they exist?
I figured it out. More accurately, i was an idiot and in my impatience, hadn't tried the adaptor i'd purchased correctly. It's fine now and works a treat. As you've no doubt discovered, and this is a prime example....the error is sat in front of the screen.
Your questions prompted me to look more closely at the back and what i was doing.
Thanks a bunch and hope i haven't wasted too much of your time.
Paul.
So, these cables came with the external, Dell monitor.
Okay, you have not answered my question, I cannot tell by looking at the photos. Look on the box or the manual or even better look at the display and it will tell you the types of inputs it has.
The main two that i think you are interested in are the VGA and HDMI inputs on the secondary monitor. Does that help?
Dual Monitor on a 2014 Apple Mac
