I am having trouble getting monitor to work with macbook air

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I am having trouble getting monitor to work with macbook air

My PC is not working so I want to connect my macbook air to the external monitor. I bought a mini displayport to VGA adapter and connected it today. The monitor shows the coloured Apple display of purple sky, but the desktop or any programmes I open on the macbook do not show on the monitor. When I go into display, the options for size show on the monitor as well as the macbook - so the monitor is connected but not working properly. What can I do?

I was told by Apple to go into Bluetooth and allow bluetooth devices to wake for when I want to work with the macbook lid closed, but it does not show any bluetooth devices and can't find any when searching.

I would be grateful for any suggestions in order to sort out this problem.

MacBook Air

Posted on Apr 16, 2014 2:54 AM

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Answer 1

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stedman1

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Apr 16, 2014 3:00 AM in response to Bubsie88

You are operating in Extended Desktop mode. To see content on the external screen, simply open the App as usual, click and grab the Menu bar and drag the App left or right to show on the external screen. If you wish to have the same content on both screens, select Mirror Display mode.

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Answer 2

Bubsie88 Author

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Apr 16, 2014 3:33 AM in response to stedman1

Thank you for your reply. I don't understand what you mean by opening the App as usual - what App and what Menu bar? I clicked on Mirror display and now I get the programme showing on both Macbook and external monitor but, when I close the lid on the Mac, the display on the monitor turns off. So thank you for that, but I would appreciate an explanation of which App I need to look at in order to get the montior working when the lid of the laptop is closed.

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Answer 3

Apr 16, 2014 3:38 AM in response to Bubsie88

The App (Program) refers to any program you wish to open as you normally would. In Extended Desktop mode, You can open iTunes, drag it to the external monitor, while using Safari on the MacBook screen.

To have the screen working with the lid closed you would need to be connected to external power and be using an external keyboard and mouse.

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3131

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Answer 4

Bubsie88 Author

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Apr 16, 2014 3:51 AM in response to stedman1

Thank you for the further explanation. I have got an external keyboard and mouse and did what you suggested. The monitor now works with the lid closed on the laptop. Thank you very much for your help.

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Answer 5

Apr 16, 2014 3:53 AM in response to Bubsie88

You are quite welcome.

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