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User profile for user: laura-t
laura-t Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

Connect 2 monitors via single HDMI adaptor?

I have a Macbook Pro with 2 USB-C ports and trying to connect 2 screens for work is a challenge.


Currently using 1x VGA adaptor to usb-c and 1x VGA to HDMI to usb-c, the screen with the HDMI connection hardly ever works forcing me to use my laptop screen which is not ideal. But I need that HDMI to usb-c connector as it lets me plug the charger & keyboard/mouse into it.


There are 2 new screens and 1x adaptor with 2x HDMI ports going spare in the office, I tested this configuration but both external screens show the same image. Going to "Displays" shows that only 1 of the external screens is registering, despite both showing an image.

This doesn't work as I need both screens to be separate displays, allowing me to close the laptop.


Is there a way to get the MacBook to treat the new 2nd screen as a separate display? Or is it because it's only 1 usb-c input into the MacBook so can only recognise 1 of the screens?


Thank you,

MacBook Pro

Posted on Dec 15, 2020 6:46 PM

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User profile for user: neuroanatomist
neuroanatomist
User level: Level 9
50,089 points

Dec 15, 2020 6:57 PM in response to laura-t

It's because the dual-HDMI adapter does not support dual displays on a Mac (it uses multi-stream, a Windows thing). You see this on similar docks/hubs in the $30-100 range on Amazon, and if you read the fine print there is usually a warning or an image like this:



Daisy-chaining video adapters (your 1x VGA to HDMI to usb-c) is not a good solution (as you're finding). You can either use separate single adapters (if your displays have HDMI inputs, get two USB-C-to-HDMI cables; if they only have VGAS, get two USB-C-to-VGA cables), or get a dock that properly supports dual displays on a Mac. Those include OWC, Elgato, Brydge, Kensington and Belkin. The least expensive is the OWC TB3 Mini Dock, which last I checked was ~$120.

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Connect 2 monitors via single HDMI adaptor?

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