M1 support for dual external monitors

Hello UCCFARM,

Not according to this article it can't, sorry.

Use external monitors with your Mac - Apple Support

"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."

There is an 'M1 Apple Silicon' model which does support two displays.

Perhaps some later upgrade in hardware or firmware may allow others.

..The transition has just begun across Apple product hardware builds..

Mac mini (M1, 2020+) 

Model Identifier: Macmini9,1

Part Numbers: MGNR3xx/A, MGNT3xx/A

Tech Specs: Mac mini (M1, 2020)

User Guide: Mac mini (M1, 2020)

From what I have read it seems they threw all the GPU into producing super HD quality, flawless rendering, 4K resolution to one display rather than scattering still good but not perfect among several. I know I have seen various posts along these lines so there's always:

Apple products feedback links - http://www.apple.com/feedback/

Like many, I did not fully appreciate my new MacBook Air M1 only supported a single external monitor, regardless of whether or not I splashed out on a new USB-C dock with dual HDMI interfaces.

Anyways, I did the next best thing:

1. The first external monitor is driven using Apple's USB-C to HDMI adapter, or any of support.apple.com/en-ca/guide/macbook-air/apd8cdd74f57/mac, or your favourite USB-C dock with HDMI output.
2. The 2nd external monitor is driven using 3rd-party DisplayLink drivers: https://www.displaylink.com/downloads/macos

You'll need a Displaylink-certified USB-to-HDMI adapter. I used a StarTech USB32HD4K USB to HDMI 4K adapter: https://www.startech.com/en-us/audio-video-products/usb32hd4k

I was pleased to find that the current v1.3, of the open source DisplayLink driver, supports my MacBook Air M1 in clamshell mode, and that I have no problem displaying internet videos on my DisplayLink-attached 1920x1080 external monitor. (My primary display, a 2560x1440 monitor, is supported using an Apple USB-C to HDMI adapter).

Yes, there remains the possibility using 3rd-party drivers like DisplayLink, that they will be broken by a future MacOS update, or that a DisplayLink-attached external monitor will perform less for some content (video editing?) but for now, all my needs are met, under MacOS 11.2.3: I have 2 external monitors, both working, on my MacBook Air M1.

To download the free DisplayLink Manager v1.3 for MacOS the URL is https://www.displaylink.com

The DisplayLink-certified USB3-to-HDMI adapter I'm using is: https://www.startech.com/en-ca/audio-video-products/usb32hd4k

The caveats are as mentioned:

• compatibility might break with future MacOS versions. (I just updated to MacOS 11.3 w/o problem)
• Performance might be unsuitable for some tasks (it mays YouTube videos skip-free for me, and I have my USB-C-to-HDMI-attached external monitor for more intensive tasks, should I encounter a task unsuitable )
• Since my posting, I did try to play a copy-protected video and got this message: "This movie can be played only on displays that support HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection)" — but temporarily quitting the DisplayLink Manager allowed me to play that video on my USB-C-to-HDMI adaptor-attached external monitor #1, w/o issue.

PS. Unfortunately, I don't think there's a way to edit my previous posting to correct any problematic URLs.

M1 MacBooks natively support just one monitor, the M1 Mac Mini does natively support up to two external monitors - one via the HDMI port and a second via USB-C. But the latest models of the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro support only one external display.

But, I am using LG Split Screen software, you can split the monitor screen into multiple parts. I am using it that way with my Macbook pro M1 2020.

One more software ie. LG Dual Controller, I have installed so that I can switch between two pc and also copy-paste between them.

Dual Controller is a program that can be used to share a keyboard and mouse connected to one PC with another PC. It provides mutual compatibilities between PC and PC and allows users to share the keyboard and mouse.

I hope you can experiment this way to use multiple monitors with your MacBook Air M1.

I Hope, this will help you to solve your requirements.

That's a huge step backwards. Most power users--the people willing to spend $2-3k on a compute--are using dual monitors. I've had a dual monitor setup for the past 10 years. Are we going back to the days before Facebook launched?

Thanks. This is very helpful but very disappointing. My preference is for 2 external monitors and the Mac rather than a single large screen. I am a scientist and I have found that the 2 external monitors plus the Pro work best for me. I have written to the Apple Feedback.

Good. As a former research scientist I remember when I had two monitors on my desk. Theis was back in the day and one as something like a monster 22" black and white display and a B&W portrait display next to it. One for graphs and one for writing papers.

My company just shipped a new Macbook pro M1 and much to my surprise I can not run two external monitors. I'd love to try what you've explained above but when I click on your link for Displaylink or even google it, the link comes back as the connection is not secure and hackers are trying to steal info? Any recommendations?

No, but a larger monitor effectively does the same thing. I have a Pro M1 and my wife has an Air M1. We Both have Dell U2720Q monitors (27"). They connect with a single Thunderbolt cable for power and data. The screen is big enough to work on two things at once. The monitors also have plenty of other ports so it means you don't need a docking station or hub. Multi-tasking with a tidy desk - great.

Either use a workaround like Ben suggests or buy a M1 Mac mini, which has USB-C and HDMI ports to support two external displays. The current line of M1 MacBooks doesn't natively support dual external displays. It's surprising that Apple would leave their developers and power users hanging like this.

marketanomaly wrote:

It's surprising that Apple would leave their developers and power users hanging like this.

Yes, just like it’s surprising that Toyota would leave contractors and boat owners hanging by selling them Prius hybrids.

Not sure how this is defensible. Apple screwed over a lot of people here and rendered millions of dollars of hardware immediately useless for anyone who “upgraded”. It’s an epic screw up. They should acknowledge it and fix it ASAP.

marketanomaly wrote:

Not sure how this is defensible. A lot of people screwed themselves over here and rendered millions of dollars of hardware immediately useless for anyone who “bought a computer without bothering to read the specs”. It’s an epic screw up. They should acknowledge it and fix it ASAP by buying computers that actually meet their needs.

Fixed that for you.