Broken MacBook Air screen won’t connect via usb c to external monitor

Question

Broken MacBook Air screen won’t connect via usb c to external monitor

Hi all!

My M1 MacBook Air sadly has a crushed screen.

I get around this by putting an hdmi to usb c cable into the machine and my tv. Then, hey presto, my computer screen on the tv. Recently however, there’s been an issue, a screen pops up on my tv asking me to ‘Choose to mirror or extend display’ from the screens menu. The one that looks like a screen on top of a screen. This is no good, I cannot see this menu on my busted computer screen.

I have tried F1+system+function, sadly nothing happens. Any good ideas out there? This used to work.

[Edited by Moderator]

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 15.6

Posted on Sep 14, 2025 11:39 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

steve626

Level 6

13,899 points

Sep 14, 2025 5:13 PM in response to David Warmind

That's a shame about your screen. Maybe this will work:

For a laptop without a touchbar (I don't see a touchbar in your image posted), COMMAND-F1 should force screen mirroring. I think F1 is the same key used for reducing the screen brightness. Or try COMMAND-fn-F1.

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Answer 2

sberman

Level 10

272,712 points

Sep 14, 2025 12:38 PM in response to David Warmind

This seems like a reasonable approach.

Mac Repair and Service - Apple Support

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Answer 3

Sep 14, 2025 10:57 PM in response to steve626

Thank you so much for your feedback, that is indeed the fix I see most often, however I have tried this (I believe I in my tiredness wrote system and not command)

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