Macbook Air (M1 chip - Sequoia 15.2) will not recognize a 2nd external monitor

I have 2 Dell UBSC monitors that I am trying to connect with my laptop. I have tested the cables, updated my os, and restarted my desktop and both monitors. Both of the monitors work individually in either of the USB ports on my laptop. The first monitor connects fine, but when I shut the laptop lid and plug in the second monitor it says "No USB-C signal from your device." It does this with whatever monitor I plug in 2nd. Help!

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 15.2

Posted on Jan 16, 2025 12:07 PM

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Servant of Cats

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Posted on Jan 16, 2025 4:45 PM

NCFAULKEN wrote:

The first monitor connects fine, but when I shut the laptop lid and plug in the second monitor it says "No USB-C signal from your device."

Closing the lid on a M1 or M2 MacBook Air won't let you attach a second display.

MacBook Air (M1, 2020) - Technical Specifications - Apple Support

"Simultaneously supports full native resolution on the built-in display at millions of colors and:

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

You might have been thinking of M3 MacBook Airs, which have extra hardware and software to let them pull the "close the lid to attach a second display" trick.

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Macbook Air (M1 chip - Sequoia 15.2) will not recognize a 2nd external monitor

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