How to Connect Your MacBook Pro to an External Monitor

If you're using an external keyboard and mouse, you can close your MacBook's built-in display once you're connected – you might have to press a key or click your mouse to wake up the external display. To get started, plug your monitor into the power, then connect your display to your Mac.

When it comes to choosing the right cable, make sure you choose one that's long enough to go from the back of the display to your port on the Mac. MacBook Pros from 2017 to 2019 also have Thunderbolt 3 ports, so the same applies to those models. If you have a monitor that doesn't support this connection type, you can use an adapter or a dock.

You can connect just one external display using either a Thunderbolt 3 or USB-C cable. The 2020 M1 MacBook Pro 13 doesn't have an HDMI port, but it has either two or four Thunderbolt 3/USB-C ports. If you want to connect to a TV to set up an entertainment center, you can also use the HDMI port.

The Thunderbolt 4 cables are backwards compatible and can be used to connect to a display using a Thunderbolt 4, Thunderbolt 3, or USB-C cable. If you have a monitor that doesn't have a USB-C port, see our guide to the best USB-C monitors to find one, or use an adapter or dock as required.

The latest M1 Pro and M1 Max MacBook Pro 14 and 16 (released in October 2021) have Thunderbolt 4 ports and an HDMI port, so you have two options to connect a monitor. The 2021 MacBook Pro 14 and 16 have an HDMI port and two Thunderbolt 4 ports that you can use to attach an external display.

By following these steps, you should be able to easily connect your MacBook Pro to an external monitor and enjoy the benefits of a larger screen.

Macbook pro monitor stand