How can I still use my mac while watching a movie on my TV through HDMI?

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Level 1

8 points

How can I still use my mac while watching a movie on my TV through HDMI?

I connect my MacBook Pro 2012 to my TV with an HDMI cable and Thunderbolt adapter. It shows the exact display of my screen on the TV, so when I watch a movie, I can't use my computer because the movie has to be fullscreen on my display. When my roommate uses hers, she can have the movie up but also do other things on her computer, and only the movie shows on the display. How can I get mine to play the movie while also being able to use it?

MacBook, Mac OS X (10.6.6)

Posted on Sep 29, 2014 2:11 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

griff w

Level 4

3,622 points

Oct 2, 2014 6:46 AM in response to sophiac

Hi there sophiac,

It sounds like you want to set your second display as an extened desktop. You may find the information in the article below helpful.

OS X Mavericks: Connect multiple displays to your Mac

Set up the displays as an extended desktop

Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click Displays, then click Arrangement.

Follow the onscreen instructions.

Once in that window, uncheck "Mirror Displays"

-Griff W.

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Answer 2

Nov 19, 2017 11:18 AM in response to sophiac

ur reply is only half-helpful

get to the arrangement page.....shows two screens but as always, no further instructions to view one activity on tv monitor and utilize display on macbook simultaneously

can you complete the explanation?

thanks

rb

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Answer 3

Nov 19, 2017 11:24 AM in response to ricktbaron

Select and drag the window containing the movie to the external display.

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Answer 4

Nov 19, 2017 11:53 AM in response to ricktbaron

Also, in "Mission Control" system preference, enable "Displays have separate Spaces", then logout and login.

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