Hello,
MacBook: Pro M3
Dock Station : ThinkPad using USB-C.
Monitors: Two Dell monitors
The M3 device should be able to accommodate more than 2 external monitors; however, when connected via USB-C, the two external monitors are recognized as one or display identical content. Despite installing DisplayLink Manager, I have not succeeded in getting the M3 to detect both monitors. Are there any alternative solutions or fixes available for this issue?
MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 14.1
What chip, specifically, is in this MacBook Pro?
A 14" MacBook Pro with the base M3 chip only supports one external display.
MacBook Pro (14-inch, M3, Nov 2023) - Technical Specifications - Apple Support
A 14" or 16" MacBook Pro with the M3 Pro chip supports up to two external displays.
A 14" or 16" MacBook Pro with the M3 Max chip supports up to four external displays.
MacBook Pro (14-inch, M3 Pro or M3 Max, Nov 2023) - Technical Specifications - Apple Support
MacBook Pro (16-inch, Nov 2023) - Technical Specifications - Apple Support
With respect to DisplayLink Manager, you would install that if you were using a DisplayLink-based "workaround" product to connect extra displays (beyond what the hardware supports) in a second-class fashion.
If you had two monitors and a MacBook Pro whose chip supported them, it would make more sense to use the first-class hardware-accelerated video support that you had paid for, than DisplayLink or similar workarounds.
What chip, specifically, is in this MacBook Pro?
A 14" MacBook Pro with the base M3 chip only supports one external display.
MacBook Pro (14-inch, M3, Nov 2023) - Technical Specifications - Apple Support
A 14" or 16" MacBook Pro with the M3 Pro chip supports up to two external displays.
A 14" or 16" MacBook Pro with the M3 Max chip supports up to four external displays.
MacBook Pro (14-inch, M3 Pro or M3 Max, Nov 2023) - Technical Specifications - Apple Support
MacBook Pro (16-inch, Nov 2023) - Technical Specifications - Apple Support
With respect to DisplayLink Manager, you would install that if you were using a DisplayLink-based "workaround" product to connect extra displays (beyond what the hardware supports) in a second-class fashion.
If you had two monitors and a MacBook Pro whose chip supported them, it would make more sense to use the first-class hardware-accelerated video support that you had paid for, than DisplayLink or similar workarounds.
suhashv6 wrote:
Despite installing DisplayLink Manager, I have not succeeded in getting the M3 to detect both monitors. Are there any alternative solutions or fixes available for this issue?
DisplayLink requires installation of DisplayLink software on a computer and the presence of a DisplayLInk "magic decoder ring" chip set in an external adapter, hub, or other device. If that device does not have that chip set, just downloading and installing DisplayLink Manager won't do you any good, as there will be no "magic decoder ring" chip set to send updates to.
If you are using a DisplayLink-equipped device, then it is the manufacturer of that device – or more likely, their technology supplier (Synaptics) who would provide support.
https://www.synaptics.com/products/displaylink-graphics
https://support.displaylink.com/knowledgebase/topics/80209-troubleshooting-macos
You may need to grant the DisplayLink software things like Screen Recording permission to get displays working.
Multiple monitors
