How Many Monitors Can a MacBook Pro Support

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The newest MacBook Pros can handle four monitors at 4k resolution or two monitors at 5k resolution. But, depending on your specific model, it might be less. And if you use external hardware and/or AirPlay, you might be able to add more than four monitors. 

I’m Jon, your resident MacBook Pro expert, and owner of a 2019 MacBook Pro. The most external monitor I’ve connected to my MacBook Pro is five. And I put together this guide to help you find out how many you can connect to yours. 

So, let’s dive right in. 

How Many Monitors Can Your MacBook Pro Support?

A MacBook Pro can support up to four monitors through HDMI and Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) cables. However, if you have an older MacBook Pro model, you might not be able to support as many monitors. 

The exact number of monitors your MacBook Pro can support depends on the model and year. 

Apple’s most recent MacBook Pro can support up to four external displays at 4k resolution or two monitors at 5k resolution. This is impressive and a nice feature if you need multiple monitors.

If you have an older MacBook Pro, you might not be able to support quite as many monitors as the newer models. It’s easy to check the capabilities of your computer from the Apple website.

First, you need to get your computer’s serial number. 

You can find it on the backside of your computer or by going to the About This Mac tab in the Apple menu on the top-left corner of your screen. 

Once you copy the serial number from About This Mac, go to Apple’s tech specs page, paste in it the search bar, and press return. Next, click on your MacBook in the search results and scroll down to “Video Support.” This specification will tell you how many displays your MacBook Pro can support. 

For example, Apple says my 2019 16-inch MacBook Pro can support “Up to four displays with 4096-by-2304 resolution at 60Hz at over a billion colors.” 

And that’s exactly how many monitors I use with my MacBook Pro most days, but sometimes I add a fifth one using AirPlay, bringing my total screens to six (including the built-in retina display).

How to Use Multiple Monitors with Your MacBook Pro

If you want to use multiple monitors with your MacBook Pro, it’s pretty easy to get things set up for this and working.

You can use an extra display to mirror the image on your main screen or set things up as extended desktop mode to have different workspaces on different displays.

First things first, you should check your requirements on your computer and external displays to make sure you have the right cables to make the connection.

If you don’t, you might need to get an adapter or a specific cord to connect your MacBook Pro to multiple displays. 

After you have the right cords and are sure that your MacBook can support the extra displays you want, follow these next steps to get everything to work:

For Screen Mirroring:

1. Connect your computer to the extra monitor or monitors.
2. Go to the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen.
3. Click on System Preferences.
4. Click on Displays.
5. Click on the Arrangement tab.
6. Click on the Mirror Displays checkbox.

For Extended Desktop:

1. Connect your computer to the extra monitor or monitors.
2. Go to the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen.
3. Click on System Preferences.
4. Click on Displays.
5. Click on the Arrangement tab.
6. Make sure the Mirror Displays checkbox is not checked.
7. Arrange your multiple displays however you want them to be arranged.

Most people prefer to have macbook air dual monitor setup because it can handle many types of work.

Why Use Additional Monitors?

External monitors can be helpful in various situations and are a nice feature of your MacBook Pro.

One common reason to use an extra monitor is the extra screen real estate. Multiple displays help you be more productive in your job and hobbies. I use five displays with my MacBook Pro (four external plus the built-in display) because it improves my workflow and helps me stay on task. 

Multiple monitors also help with applications that can use multiple screens to your advantage. 

For example, if you do a lot of audio production work with Logic Pro X, you can use multiple screens to improve workflow and productivity. Using one screen set up as the main mixer for audio and another with external plugins or other tools that aid in the recording can streamline the work.

Similarly, if you edit videos and photos, multiple displays can help you get your work done. 

While it is possible to use a single display that’s built into your MacBook Pro, using multiple screens can benefit you in both a professional and creative capacity.

Final Thoughts

You can use up to four external displays with your MacBook Pro. But if you have an older model, it may support less. Check Apple’s specification for your model to verify. 

Adding extra displays to your MacBook Pro can improve workflow and make you more efficient. 

How many monitors do you use with your MacBook Pro? 

Jonathon is a mechanical engineer with over ten years of experience. He is an Apple fan who currently holds a Macbook Pro (512 GB, 16GB RAM), iPad Pro 12.9", iPhone 11 Pro Max, Apple Watch 3, and 4x Acer 23" monitors.