How can I connect 2 external displays to my MacBook Air (M2 chip)?

Maybe not the solution you were expecting, but you can use SideCar to get the third.

Here's me on a

1. M1 MacBook Air
2. Studio Display
3. 3rdGen 12.9" iPad Pro

So it can be done, but I get this might not be useful for everyone

carcie wrote:

I want to extend my display to 2 external devices but it doesn't seem to work, I can only get one, despite using an adapter - is it possible with my MacBook?

The MacBook Air M2 computer supports one external display.

MacBook Air 13- and 15-inch with M2 - Tech Specs - Apple

"Display Support

Simultaneously supports full native resolution on the built-in display at 1 billion colors and:

One external display with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz"

How many displays can be connected to MacBook Pro - Apple Support

"Using a hub or daisy-chaining displays doesn't increase the maximum number of displays that you can connect."

Connect one or more external displays with your Mac - Apple Support (English)

"Docks don’t increase the number of displays you can connect."

To connect multiple external displays to a MacBook Air with an M2 chip, a combination of hardware and software solutions can be utilized. While the MacBook Air M2 natively supports one external display up to 6K resolution at 60Hz, additional displays can be connected using various docking solutions and adapters. Furthermore, managing resolutions on these external displays, especially for non-4K monitors, may require third-party software due to Apple Silicon Mac’s display handling. Here’s an integrated answer incorporating all these elements:

Hardware Solutions for Connecting Multiple Displays

1. Docking Stations/Adapters:

• Sonnet DisplayLink Dual DisplayPort Adapter Connects two 4K DisplayPort displays via Thunderbolt or USB port.

• OWC USB-C Dual HDMI 4K Display Adapter with DisplayLink Ideal for Apple silicon M1/M2/M3 Macs or other Macs or PCs with USB-C or Thunderbolt. Notably cost-effective and high-quality.

• VisionTek VT7100 Triple-Display Docking Station Supports up to three 4K displays through a single USB connection.

• Kensington Docking Stations and Video Adapters Includes USB-A to DisplayPort/HDMI/DVI adapters and DisplayLink docking stations.

• HyperDrive 10 in 1 USB-C Hub: Connects two external monitors and includes additional ports like USB-A, USB-C, and Ethernet.

• Satechi USB-C Multiport Adapter: Offers 1 HDMI and 1 VGA port, supporting one 4K display at 60Hz and another at 30Hz.

• OWC 11-Port Thunderbolt Dock: Supports two 4K displays or one 5K/6K/8K display, with multiple ports for connectivity.

• Other OWC Docks: Various models offer support for dual 4K displays and include multiple ports for additional connectivity.

Software Solution for Resolution Management.

1. BetterDisplay This free application can help manage resolution issues on external monitors, especially those that support less than 4K. BetterDisplay enables HiDPI resolution scaling, allowing for more flexibility in managing screen sizes and resolutions. It is designed to work with the latest versions of macOS, including Monterey, Sonoma, and Ventura. This software can be particularly useful for Apple Silicon Macs that may encounter scaling issues with external displays.

When using these docking solutions and adapters, it’s important to check their compatibility with your MacBook Air M2 to ensure they meet your specific requirements. Additionally, using third-party software like BetterDisplay can enhance your experience by providing greater control over display resolutions, especially for non-4K monitors.

For more detailed information about these hardware solutions and the BetterDisplay software, you can visit the respective websites of Sonnet, OWC, VisionTek, Kensington, HyperDrive,& Satechi. Additionally, BetterDisplay’s official website provides detailed information on its features and compatibility with macOS versions.

The 13" and 15' M2 MacBook Airs only support one external display.

MacBook Air (M2, 2022) - Technical Specifications

There are ways of attaching multiple displays (e.g., with DisplayLink-equipped hubs or adapters, and installation of a special driver on your MacBook). Some "workaround" products include:

• SonnetTech DisplayLink Dual DisplayPort Adapter for M1 and M2 Macs
• SonnetTech DisplayLink Dual HDMI Adapter for M1 and M2 Macs
• OWC USB-C Dual HDMI 4K Display Adapter with DisplayLink

These may have significant drawbacks compared to using the built-in hardware-supported display output. And they do not increase the number of hardware-supported display outputs.

Here's an article you might want to read. It's from a time before there were any 14" or 16" Apple Silicon MacBook Pros (with the higher-end Pro and Max chips that support more displays). But a lot of it is still relevant.

https://danielcompton.net/apple-m1-displaylink-multiple-display

Jtornel wrote:

Maybe not the solution you were expecting, but you can use SideCar to get the third.

Another "software" method (if both Macs are recent enough) is AirPlay to Mac. This isn't as good as a hardware connection to a real monitor, or a Target Display Mode connection (back when TDM was still useful). I would not advise anyone to run out and buy a Mac just to use it as an AirPlay Receiver. If one already has compatible Macs for other reasons, then it costs nothing to play around with it.

I'm not sure if you can use Sidecar and Airplay (whether to another Mac, an Apple TV set-top box, or a smart TV) at the same time. The Support documents appear to be silent on that question.

System requirements for Continuity features on Apple devices - Apple Support

Use iPad as a second display - Apple Support

Set up your Mac to be an AirPlay Receiver - Apple Support

What does the statement that the above-mentioned adaptors "do not increase the number of hardware-supported display outputs" mean?

What can, and can't be done, with the above adaptors as opposed to the ability to have 2 "hardware-supported" outputs?

It means your Mac's hardware (its graphics processor and all related components) support a specified number of external displays (one in this case) and the use of intervening devices such as hubs or docks cannot increase that number.

Somewhere on the M2 chip, there is a hardware automaton whose only purpose is to package up the contents of screen buffers, and send those out in timely fashion, at a negotiated refresh rate. Say you connect a 4K monitor with a 60 Hz refresh rate – the hardware will send 60 screens' video worth of data to the monitor, every second, without fail. This offloads a lot of work from the CPU. The CPU doesn't have to push all of the video data; it just has to tell the automaton to go do it.

The automaton is very good at this limited job. But its capabilities may be much more "cast in stone" than those of the CPU.

Based on the technical specifications of every M2-based Mac released so far, it looks like the M2 supports two hardware video outputs; on iMacs and Mac laptops, the built-in screen consumes one. So there's one free one, and thus support for a maximum of one external display. (Even if that can be a 6K display that has roughly the same number of pixels as five and a half 27" 2560x1440 displays.)

That's what I do too--(5thGen) 12.9" iPad Pro, Macbook Air and Samsung 32" HDMI monitor. (No external touchpad) Magic keyboard and Magic mouse too. During the week I switch over to the company PC and two external monitors. The PC I use is nice but a small step down from my Macbook. Looks like grandkid art too! :)

luk289 wrote:

not very useful answer, as we know that by using DisplayLink etc. you can connect more. (even if hardware doesn't support it or manual says so)

I guess you can physically connect several external displays using docks but that does not increase the number of supported displays or the functionality/quality of the displays.

An analogy:

You nave a field of crops that requires 500 gallons of water per hour.

You have a well that provides 500 gallons of water per hour.

You have a pump that provides 500 gallons of water per hour.

Now you want to add another field of crops that requires 500 gallons of water per hour.

You can attach another 500 gallon per hour pump to the well but the max water you will get is 250 gallons per hour to each crop field. Regardless how many 500 gallon per hour pumps you attach, the maximum water available will be the 500 gallons provided by the well.

I guess you can physically connect several external displays using docks
 but that does not increase the number of supported displays or the 
functionality/quality of the displays.

Well.... but this is exactly what happens, I connect more LCDs thru a dock, and that INCREASES functionality of my MBA m2.

your MBA supports only 1 screen (by built-in hardware - this is what manual states) - ok,

but using a dock station - you can connect 2 monitors ! (maybe more, IDK, at the expense of CPU power I guess). I don't see any issues with 'low quality' (how should I see that 'low quality' ?).

I'm quite well aware of any lagging slow refresh or other issues - if this happens I'd notice it immediately.

luk289 wrote:

what 'reduced display quality' exactly ?

I'm not talking about gaming, I use it for programming (few IDEs, browser, some other tools)

If you are not using the displays to their advertised specs, great. If you buy a display with specified performance/quality specifications then I would assume you would want the display to function at those specs. They will not, if multiple displays are connected to the Mac being discussed in this thread.

What are the drawbacks to using the workarounds?

BergerEM wrote:

What are the drawbacks to using the workarounds?

Slow graphic performance

Reduced display quality