MacBook Pro M5: Dock for 2 independent displays

Yes, the MacBook Pro M5 can drive 2 independent external displays, but the key issue is the dock you're using. Here's what you need to know:

Why your current docks are mirroring instead of extending:

- The Thinkpad USB-C dock and HP Thunderbolt dock you mentioned likely use DisplayLink or standard HDMI/DP output

- Older docks that aren't Thunderbolt 4/5 certified may present both ports to macOS as a single "display link" device, causing mirroring

- This is a dock limitation, not a Mac limitation

MacBook Pro M5 display support:

- MacBook Pro M5 (base): Supports up to 2 external displays (one via HDMI + one via Thunderbolt, or two via Thunderbolt)

- MacBook Pro M5 Pro/Max: Supports more external displays

- The laptop lid must be closed (clamshell mode) to use 2 external displays on the base M5, OR you can use 1 external + the built-in display

What dock you need for 2 independent screens:

The dock MUST support Thunderbolt 4 or Thunderbolt 5 with MST (Multi-Stream Transport). Good options:

- CalDigit TS4 (Thunderbolt 4) — excellent macOS compatibility

- OWC Thunderbolt 4 Dock

- Belkin Thunderbolt 4 Dock Pro

- Anker 778 Thunderbolt 4 Dock

Key feature to look for:

- Must say "Thunderbolt 4" or "Thunderbolt 5" (not just "USB-C" or "USB4")

- Look for "supports dual 4K displays" in the spec sheet

- Avoid DisplayLink-based docks for macOS — they require a driver and often cause mirroring issues

Setup tip:

- After connecting a compatible dock, go to System Settings > Displays

- Click "Arrangement" and ensure "Mirror Displays" is unchecked

- Drag the display icons to arrange them as you prefer

Ian_McG wrote:

I have tried with two docks I had on hand (1 Thinkpad USB-C and 1 HP Thunderbolt, not sure the version) but the best I can do is have the two external screens mirror each other (lists in the OS as 1 screen).

If you a "plain" USB-C dock allows you to plug in two or more displays, that's an indication that the dock either

• Relies on DisplayPort MST – which Macs don't support,
• Uses some second-class "workaround" that requires installation of a special driver, or
• Both

The typical symptoms of using a "plain" USB-C dock that drives two displays using DisplayPort MST are that

• The displays appear to mirror each other
• The Mac only sees one display

which are the symptoms you are seeing.

Macs can drive two displays over a Thunderbolt dock or hub, but there are some HP and Dell Thunderbolt docks that let you plug in more than two displays, and that drive some pairs of displays using DisplayPort MST. If you're using one of those, you need to find a pair of outputs that are driven by two separate signals. Otherwise you will encounter the same symptoms as you would with a "plain" USB-C dock that uses MST.

For instance, with one of the HP G4 docks, one way you'd get two independent signals is to plug one monitor into one of the DisplayPorts outlined in green on the left, and your monitor into the Thunderbolt port on the right. (I'm guessing that you could use any one of the four ports on the left, plus the Thunderbolt port on the right – but this illustration is one that I prepared for another thread so long ago that I don't remember all of the details.)

(For most monitors, plugging them into the Thunderbolt port on the right would actually mean plugging a USB-C to DisplayPort or USB-C to HDMI adapter into that Thunderbolt port.)

So, my question is, can the MacBook Pro M5 have 2 independant external screens? If yes, is there a setting I need to adjust that i haven't found yet or is it the type/vintage of the docks I have tried?

Yes. But if you want to connect them through a single hub or dock, that hub or dock has to be a Thunderbolt one, and if it allows plugging in more than two displays at a time, there may be further research or experimentation to be done to find out which pair(s) of outputs to use.

Once you have the hardware configuration right, see

Extend or mirror your Mac desktop across multiple displays - Apple Support

If it's the docks' fault, what would you reccomend as a good, cost effective dock to purchase? What is the key feature that i need in the dock to make it work (in case i look for other options)?

You may want to experiment to see if you can get the HP Thunderbolt dock to work for you. With that Thinkpad USB-C dock, it sounds like you would be forced to plug one of your monitors directly into the M5 MacBook Pro - thus increasing the number of "docking cables".

If you find yourself in the market for a dock, Other World Computing, SonnetTech, and CalDigit are long-time suppliers of Thunderbolt gear for Mac users.

<< So, if it is a MacBook Pro M5 (fairly sure that is what it is) I won't be able to get 3 screens (the laptop and two external) anyway? >>

That is not correct.

The Mac supports two displays on ONE cable ONLY for Thunderbolt ports, connected a genuine Thunderbolt Dock, not USB-C docks.

for a M5 ([plain) processor:

• Supports up to two external displays over any combination of Thunderbolt and HDMI ports:
• Two displays up to a native resolution of 6K at 60Hz or 4K at 144Hz or
• One display up to a native resolution of 8K at 60Hz or 5K at 120Hz or 4K at 240Hz
• Supports up to two external displays over a single Thunderbolt port
• Simultaneously supports the built-in display at full native resolution
• Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports support native DisplayPort 1.4 speeds

Learn more about connecting a display to your Mac

from:

MacBook Pro (14-inch, M5) - Tech Specs - Apple Support

Another reference for your M5 MBP’s support library:

Connect one or more external displays with your Mac - Apple Support