I have a MacBook Air M1 (2 thunderbolts 8GB RAM). I use a old iMac as a monitor using a miniDisplayPort. I know (correct me if I’m wrong) that you can’t use 2 displays on a MacBook Air like mine because of a lack of hdmi. Is it possible though to connect a second display with hdmi to my MacBook while using my iMac on miniDisplayPort?
MacBook Air (M1, 2020)
The M1 MacBook Air does indeed support a maximum of one external display - but it’s not because of a “lack of HDMI.” It is a common limitation of all Mac notebooks that use ‘base’ M1, M2, or M3 chips.
There are USB-C to HDMI adapters, and hubs/docks with HDMI ports, that you can use to connect a single HDMI display. But the ones that offer first-class display output depend on your Mac’s built-in video support. If you’re using your single USB-C / Thunderbolt Display output to drive a HDMI display (via whatever kind of adapter), you won’t also have it available to drive a (Mini) DisplayPort display.
Note that there are third-party workaround products, using DisplayLink or similar technologies, that can let a M1 MacBook Air drive two displays.
None of them can add more first-class, hardware-supported display outputs. They may not be a good way to go if you are going to be working with a lot of rapidly-changing video content (e.g., if you are doing much video editing or gaming).
Re: “I use an old iMac as a monitor using a miniDisplayPort.”
You’re lucky that works. Although the Technical Specifications for the 27” 2009 and 2010 Macs say they accept DisplayPort input, Apple’s Support document on Target Display Mode indicates that recent Macs (including your M1 MacBook Air) do not support using any iMac as a Target Display.
I told apple, they were flabergastest. Though it works. Even though, does my theorie theoratactily work?
2 displays on MacBook Air
