If the display port on your MacBook doesn’t match the connector on your external monitor, you need to buy an adapter. This is shown by a lightning bolt icon rather than a display icon. Again, for Thunderbolt displays, you need to ensure you have a Thunderbolt port. The original and second-generation Thunderbolt ports shared a form-factor with the Mini DisplayPort. Original Thunderbolt and Mini DisplayPort If you connect your MacBook to a TV using an HDMI cable you can also play audio through the TV. The HDMI port is standard on most modern HDTVs and also present on a selection of MacBook Pro models. This is normally shown by a lightning bolt icon next to the port, rather than a USB icon.Ī USB-C display, on the other hand, works with both Thunderbolt and USB-C ports. If you want to use a Thunderbolt display, you need to connect it to a Thunderbolt port on your Mac. They may look the same, but Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C ports support different devices. The ports on your MacBook depend on its model and release year, but you should have at least one of the following options: Thunderbolt 3 or USB-C Over the years, Apple has included a range of different display ports on MacBooks. What display ports do I have on my MacBook? You may need to buy an adapter if they don’t match up. The precise cable you need depends on the available ports on your MacBook and monitor. All you need is a MacBook, a monitor, and a cable. The only other piece of equipment you need is a cable to connect both devices together. If you don’t, you can always use a TV instead.

And hopefully you have an external computer monitor.

Can I use my iPad as a second monitor for my MacBook?Įverything you need to connect a monitor to your MacBookīefore we show you how to connect an external monitor to your MacBook-not that there’s a special trick to it-we need to make sure you’ve got all the equipment you need for the job.

How do I connect a MacBook to a TV wirelessly with AirPlay?.How do you connect a MacBook to a TV as an external display?.Find out how many external displays your MacBook supports.How do I connect my MacBook to an external monitor?.Original Thunderbolt and Mini DisplayPort.What display ports do I have on my MacBook?.Everything you need to connect a monitor to your MacBook.

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