One of the biggest long-term benefits of the Mac has been the ease of connecting external monitors. The connector type, supported resolutions, and total number have changed over time, but it’s always a simple task.

Or at least it was! Over the past six years, Apple has introduced USB 3 over USB-C (12-inch MacBook, discontinued), Thunderbolt 3, which uses USB-C (and supports many types of adapters), and Apple’s Silicon M-series processor models. . Some Macs also have or still include video connectors: in the past these were DVI (several forms), Mini DisplayPort, DisplayPort over Thunderbolt 2, and HDMI.

More recently, HDMI 2.0 has become the only remaining non-USB-C video connector. Apple has built HDMI into many Intel models, as well as the M1 Mac mini, the 14-inch and 16-inch M1 Pro/Max MacBook Pro, and the Mac Studio.

Figuring out how many monitors you can connect to which Mac has become akin to counting based on our mailbox for many readers.

(Do you have a monitor that uses DVI, Mini DisplayPort, or Thunderbolt 2? Check out our 2020 guide to see what you have and what type of adapter you need. Want to use your iMac as an external monitor? Only iMacs released 2009 to mid 2014. See Troubleshooting Tips for Using Your Old iMac as an External Display for Macs with Thunderbolt 3.)

Here’s the match for the last few generations of Macs, starting with the newest, not counting the internal display for iMac and Mac laptops. Connections are via a USB-C connection unless otherwise noted.

The resolutions, for reference, are:

• 4K UHD: 3840×2160 pixels
• 4K: 4096 wide, with common variations including 4096×2160 or 4096×2304 pixels.
• 5K: 5120×2880 pixels
• 6K: 6016×3384 pixels

The maximum supported resolution is listed for each configuration or setting, but you can also use a lower resolution monitor. For example, the M1 Mac mini allows you to stream up to 6K via USB-C, but you can connect a 4K UHD monitor to this port instead.

Mac M Series Monitor Options

Most M1 and M2 Macs allow you to add only one external monitor; Mac mini allows two. Despite many questions from readers, there is no adapter or trick with Apple hardware to add an extra display beyond what Apple* supports. There is simply no video.

Here are your options, grouped by display options:

• MacBook Air M1 and M2, 13-inch MacBook Pro, iMac M1: One external display up to 6K resolution
• M1 Mac Mini: One up to 6K via USB-C and one up to 4K via HDMI 2.0

(*You can use equipment using DisplayLink technology to add additional monitors via USB 3. This requires the company’s kernel-level driver to be installed. Read our review of StarTech’s Mac Compatible USB 3.0-HDMI Adapter with DisplayLink.)

M1 Pro, Max and Ultra monitor options

With the release of the M1 Pro and M1 Ultra chips in October 2021, followed by the announcement of the M1 Ultra in March 2022, Apple has greatly expanded the display options for professional-grade models:

• 14″ or 16″ MacBook Pro with M1 Pro: Two external displays up to 6K resolution via USB-C and one external display up to 4K resolution via HDMI 2.0
• 14″ or 16″ MacBook Pro with M1 Max: Three external displays up to 6K resolution via USB-C and one external display up to 4K resolution via HDMI 2.0
• Mac Studio with M1 Max or M1 Ultra: Four displays up to 6K resolution via USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 4 and one display up to 4K resolution via HDMI 2.0

The Mac Studio M1 Max configuration includes two front USB 3 USB-C ports that cannot be used with DisplayPort adapters; the M1 Ultra upgrades them to Thunderbolt 4, which can be used with a standard USB-C DisplayPort adapter. This does not reduce the number of monitors you can connect, but you may need an external Thunderbolt 4 dock to have enough free USB-C ports for all your needs.

Intel Mac with USB 3/Thunderbolt 3 monitor options

Intel Macs with Thunderbolt 3 had a fancier set of potential external monitor configurations. Here are the capabilities for the latest shipping version of each Thunderbolt 3 and 12-inch MacBook with USB 3 over USB-C:

• 21.5″ iMac: One 5K display or two 4K UHD or 4K displays
• 27″ iMac (standard graphics card), 13″ MacBook Pro: One 5K or 6K display or two 4K UHD or 4K displays
• 27″ iMac (AMD Radeon Pro 5700 or AMD Radeon Pro 5700 XT): Up to two 4K UHD, 4K, 5K or 6K displays
• 16 inch Macbook Pro: Up to two 5K or 6K displays or up to four 4K UHD or 4K displays
• Mac mini: One 5K display via USB-C or up to three 4K displays with a combination of USB-C and HDMI 2.0 ports
• Mac Pro: Depending on the graphics card, it can range from one 5K or 6K display, or up to four 4K displays, to four 5K or 6K displays, or up to eight 4K displays.
• 12 inch Macbook: One 4K display

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