# Dual external monitors with Macbook Pro? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 9, 2020, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dual-external-monitors-with-macbook-pro/851455 "2020-04-09T20:14:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2020, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dual-external-monitors-with-macbook-pro/851455/1 "2020-04-09T20:14:40Z")
I am a Windows guy but my GF has 2012 Macbook pro with 2 thunderbolt ports. Do we need 2 thunderbolt to HDMI adapters or is else something else needed? Right now the setup is HDMI cable to the 1 external monitor. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2020, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dual-external-monitors-with-macbook-pro/851455/2 "2020-04-09T21:00:33Z")
Unless you have two Thunderbolt monitors (which can be daisy-chained), then yes, you will need two adapters. You can daisy-chain DisplayPort monitors also, so you might what to check to see if your monitors support that interface first. ---
**Author:** ![Cleophus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e57/32.png) [@Cleophus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cleophus)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2020, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dual-external-monitors-with-macbook-pro/851455/3 "2020-04-09T21:08:47Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > You can daisy-chain DisplayPort monitors also, so you might what to check to see if your monitors support that interface first. MacOS does not support this, unfortunately. With regard to the OP, don’t confuse Thunderbolt with USB-C. They share the same port shape but for the purpose of connecting monitors Thunderbolt-supporting devices are unnecessarily expensive. You’ll need one adapter per port/monitor. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2020, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dual-external-monitors-with-macbook-pro/851455/4 "2020-04-09T23:02:23Z")
System info says they are Thunderbolt ports. Buying 2 adapters to connect to 2 HDMI monitors. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2020, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dual-external-monitors-with-macbook-pro/851455/5 "2020-04-09T23:46:23Z")
I wish my early 2011 MacBook Pro had two thunderbolt ports! Just one, though. I _do_ run two external monitors, but the other external monitor is attached via one of those USB adapter contraptions. Nowhere near as nice a setup (although I’m glad to have the three screens by whatever means). ---
**Author:** ![GMANCANADA](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gmancanada/32/2837_2.png) [@GMANCANADA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GMANCANADA)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2020, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dual-external-monitors-with-macbook-pro/851455/6 "2020-04-10T00:38:10Z")
I’m not clear from your question: Are you just asking if that’s one way to do it or if that’s the _only_ way to do it? One HMDI adapter into each port is one way to do it, but it’s not the only way to set up two monitors. I actually just ordered a new MacBook Air (to replace my 2012 MB Pro) and the new Air also has two Thunderbolt ports. As I was looking at option to connect my USB devices, there are multi-function TB adapters available on Amazon. I saw ones that plug into a single TB port, but offer USB, HDMI, Memory Card, lighting cable etc in a single housing. There may be options out that offer multiple HDMI’s. Maybe try search for MBPro “docking station” adapters? If you didn’t want to use up both ports for monitors, that would allow to use the second port for charging etc. A second option that will work is using **Apple TV**. After many years of daily use the HDMI-out on my MB Pro stopped working. I bought a used Gen 1 Apple TV for $25 (they were only $100 new, 7 years ago, so they go cheap now). It plugs into to my monitor and the MB Pro uses its built-in “Airplay” to stream to it. If you had one TB\>HDMI adapter and one wireless Apple TV that would allow you two monitors and allow you keep a port free for other stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2020, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dual-external-monitors-with-macbook-pro/851455/7 "2020-04-10T15:16:00Z")
just looking for any way to do it. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2020, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dual-external-monitors-with-macbook-pro/851455/8 "2020-04-10T15:26:30Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > just looking for any way to do it. Get a dock [like this one](https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-Thunderbolt-Dock-Powered-Docking/dp/B07DB5DSXX) that has two HDMI outputs. There’s a plethora of dock choices with a mix of ports out there. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2020, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dual-external-monitors-with-macbook-pro/851455/9 "2020-04-10T20:14:45Z")
Don’t need that dock, I am just buying 2 $10 adapters for HDMI plus a new monitor. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2020, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dual-external-monitors-with-macbook-pro/851455/10 "2020-04-10T22:27:07Z")
Is there a dock that will work with Thunderbolt 1.0 and provide two monitor ports? I assume not, since I looked for one before and never found one. I’d love to be able to convert one Thunderbolt port to two HDMI outputs! ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2020, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dual-external-monitors-with-macbook-pro/851455/11 "2020-04-10T22:40:41Z")
> [@Cleophus](#): > > MacOS does not support this, unfortunately. > > With regard to the OP, don’t confuse Thunderbolt with USB-C. They share the same port shape but for the purpose of connecting monitors Thunderbolt-supporting devices are unnecessarily expensive. You’ll need one adapter per port/monitor. The computer is from 2012. It was Thunderbolt 1 and [looked just like a Mini DisplayPort](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a8/Thunderbolt_Connertor.jpg). OP: I don’t have a MBP of that era in front of me, but if you get the adapters and the monitors have a lower resolution then they’re support to be then you might need to get an “active” converter not a passive one. They’re a little more expensive but not excessively, $20-30 range if not Apple branded. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2020, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dual-external-monitors-with-macbook-pro/851455/12 "2020-04-10T23:05:58Z")
already using one external monitor via HDMI port and it looks fine. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2020, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dual-external-monitors-with-macbook-pro/851455/13 "2020-04-12T01:22:24Z")
thunderbolt to HDMI adapter works fine ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2020, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dual-external-monitors-with-macbook-pro/851455/14 "2020-04-12T02:51:58Z")
Yeah, I missed it was a Thunderbolt 1 issue. Your best, probably only solution is two vintage thunderbolt1-\>HDMI adapters. Modern USB-C era stuff (of which there is a lot) is useless to you. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dual-external-monitors-with-macbook-pro/851455/15 "2020-04-13T22:39:15Z")
how do we get the 2 monitors to work as 1 big monitor? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dual-external-monitors-with-macbook-pro/851455/16 "2020-04-13T22:54:16Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > how do we get the 2 monitors to work as 1 big monitor? What do you mean? ETA: Unless mirroring is on, that’s the default setting - one big desktop. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dual-external-monitors-with-macbook-pro/851455/17 "2020-04-13T23:04:25Z")
well it is one big desktop now, but there are some odd things. It does not show the top menu or bottom bar with all the programs on the external monitors. they show up on the laptop. We have excel on 1 monitor and chrome on the other one so that’s what we want.