New Macbook air connecting external monitors

Use dual monitors with your MacBook Air and MacBook Pro with M3 chip - Apple Support

elenb111 wrote:

Hmm.. if it connects to my windows computer and extends up to 3 external displays shouldn't it be thunderbolt?

No. There are USB-C docks that support multiple displays using (internal) DisplayPort MST daisy-chaining … which the Mac does not support. There are USB-C docks that support multiple displays using second-class "workaround" technologies that do not take advantage of a computer's native hardware video support.

Furthermore, since Thunderbolt is a high-end feature, vendors of Thunderbolt docks tend to make it very clear that their Thunderbolt docks are Thunderbolt docks. They don't want to hide that under a rug, as it is a selling point, and part of the justification for the generally higher price (vs. plain USB-C docks).

You haven't said which specific HP docking station you have, so I can't look on HP's Web site to see if there are any technical specifications or user manuals that might indicate how its video arrangement works.

Because even on the mac it turns all the screens on but I cant have it where the external monitors are the main two screens… it always has the built in laptop screen active.. and mirrors the rest

It's fairly common to see this symptom if you're trying to use an arrangement that isn't suitable for supporting multiple displays on a Mac.

1. Please ensure your laptop lid is closed.

2. Please make sure your dock supports connecting two screens to your MacBook laptop. I think the issue might be with your dock. You could consider using the TobenONE UDS013 dock. I have used it without any issues.

Unless the dock is a Thunderbolt dock, the Mac does not support hanging two monitors off of it.