Issue using two external displays with MacBook Pro M3

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Issue using two external displays with MacBook Pro M3

I have a MacBook Pro M3 and always used with only one external monitor. Now I tried to use with two using a caldigit adapter (fire bolt 3) for two monitors, but only one can be displayed at a time: if I remove the hdmi cable from monitor A, then monitor b is displayed in settings and vice-versa.

i have also tried to use one monitor in the adapter and the other directly in the hdmi port, with the same result.

I have checked for software updates and ot is already in Sonoma 14.4…. So, nothing to update anymore.

any ideas of what I could do? Am I missing something?

Posted on Mar 12, 2024 8:25 PM

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Answer 1

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Servant of Cats

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Mar 12, 2024 8:38 PM in response to Leorodri-bmh

MacBook Pros using the base M3 chip only support one external monitor. It is easy to identify these models – they only have two USB-C (Thunderbolt) ports (like the 13" M1 and M2 MacBook Pros and MacBook Airs). All of the 14" and 16" MacBook Pros which have {M1/M2/M3} {Pro/Max} chips have three USB-C (Thunderbolt ports).

MacBook Pro (14-inch, M3, Nov 2023) - Technical Specifications - Apple Support

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"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"

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13" and 15" M3 MacBook Airs only support one external monitor when the lid is open, but can support two when the lid is closed. According to 9to5Mac, Apple has confirmed that there will be a software update to add this feature to the 14" M3 MacBook Pro.

https://9to5mac.com/2024/03/04/14-inch-m3-macbook-pro-multi-display-support/

Apple apparently did not give a schedule for when this software update will come out.

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Issue using two external displays with MacBook Pro M3

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