detecting multiple displays, option key not working

Apple-Silicon 2020 M1 13-in MacBook Pro and Air and 2022 Apple-Silicon M2 13-in MacBook Pro and Air are extremely-capable entry-level computers. They can support the internal display AND an External display up to the previously unheard of size of the Apple 6K display at billions of colors. But only ONE in addition to the internal display.

This may not match the way older computers forced you to work, since older computers were not able to support a really large external display. But it is NOT a defect. The spec was available long before you could purchase the computer.

The Apple standard for its built-in hardware-accelerated displays, makes them suitable for full-motion video for production/display of cinema-quality video with NO dropped frames, and NO dropouts or partial-blank scan lines due to memory under-runs or other issues. This requires a hardware rasterizer/display-generator for each fully-accelerated display.

If you need more hardware-accelerated displays than the built-in and one external display, and an un-accelerated iPad if desired, you probably need a more capable computer.

If you are only doing program listings, spreadsheets, stock quotes and other slow to change data, there are some other solutions, but they require you to make some strong compromises.

Hello finlayfrombuckingham,

Welcome to Apple Support Communities!

We want to help you get the displays successfully connected to your MacBook Pro.

We want to get the software on the MacBook Pro updated, to help resolve any potential software issues.

See here:

"Use Software Update

Before following these steps, it's a good idea to back up your Mac.

1. From the Apple menu  in the corner of your screen, choose System Settings or System Preferences.

• If you chose System Settings, click General on the left side of the window. Then click Software Update on the right.
• If you chose System Preferences, click Software Update in the window.

2. Software Update then checks for new software. 

• If Software Update finds new software, click the button to install it. The button might be named Update Now, Upgrade Now, Install Now, or Restart Now, for example. You might then be asked to enter your administrator password.
• If Software Update says that your Mac is up to date, then no new software is currently available for your Mac model. Software Update shows only software that is compatible with your Mac."

This Apple Support page has the full details: Update macOS on Mac - Apple Support

If the issue continues, please restart both the Mac and displays to further isolate the source.

You might also try the Option key in another app to ensure it's working correctly.

We hope this helps to resolve the issue with Detect Displays not showing.

Cheers!