RibbonTwo external monitors on a MacBook
It depends on the chip. Base M1 and M2 MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models support one external display. The M3 MacBook Air supports two with the lid closed; the M4 MacBook Air supports two with the lid open. MacBook Pro models with Pro and Max chips support two or more. If your Mac is limited to one, a DisplayLink dock can add more, with some trade-offs.
The limits by chip
| Mac | External displays |
|---|---|
| MacBook Air or 13-inch MacBook Pro with M1 or M2 | One |
| MacBook Air with M3 | Two, with the lid closed |
| MacBook Air with M4 | Two, with the lid open |
| MacBook Pro with a Pro or Max chip | Two or more, depending on the chip |
| Other models | Check the model's Tech Specs page |
These are limits of the chip, not the ports. A dock or hub with two video outputs won't get around them on its own: if your Mac supports one display, the second output stays dark or mirrors the first.
The definitive answer for your Mac is on Apple's Tech Specs page for that model, under Display Support. Find your model in Apple menu → About This Mac.
If your Mac supports only one: DisplayLink
DisplayLink docks and adapters drive extra monitors through software: a driver compresses the screen image and sends it over USB. They let a base M1 or M2 MacBook run two or more external screens.
The trade-offs:
- You install the DisplayLink Manager app and give it Screen Recording permission, which it needs to capture the image.
- Fine for documents, code, chat and dashboards; less smooth for fast motion and games.
- Some protected video (certain streaming services) won't play on DisplayLink screens.
- It uses some CPU.
For office work, many people find it perfectly good.
The M3 MacBook Air: lid closed
The M3 Air drives two external displays only when its lid is closed (clamshell mode). Connect power, an external keyboard and mouse or trackpad, plug in both monitors, then close the lid. Open the lid and it drops back to one external display.
Arranging three screens
- System Settings → Displays → Arrange. Drag the screens to match your desk, including height.
- Drag the white menu bar onto the screen you want as the main display.
- Leave Displays have separate Spaces on (System Settings → Desktop & Dock), so each screen has its own desktops.
Moving windows across: drag, use the green button's Move to option (macOS 15 and later), or a window manager shortcut. More detail in MacBook with an external monitor.
Using three screens well
A common layout is a main screen in front for the work itself, a second for reference (docs, a browser, a dashboard), and the laptop screen for chat and music. A vertical monitor as the second screen suits code and documents.
Three screens also means three places for windows to get lost. Ribbon gives each display its own strip of windows, side by side in columns: each screen scrolls independently, ⌃⌥N sends the focused window to the next display, and session restore puts the strips back after a restart. New windows join the strip on the screen you're working on instead of piling up wherever the app last was. Try the strip in the live demo; pricing is $9.99 once.
FAQ
Can a MacBook Air run two monitors?
The M3 Air can with the lid closed, and the M4 Air can with the lid open. M1 and M2 Airs support one external display natively; a DisplayLink dock can add more.
Why does my second monitor not work on my MacBook?
Most often the Mac supports only one external display. Check Display Support on your model's Tech Specs page.
Does a dock let an M1 MacBook run two monitors?
Only a DisplayLink dock, which uses a driver. A regular Thunderbolt or USB-C dock can't exceed the chip's limit.