Connect MacBook 2010 to two external monitors

I have a VGA cable that has an adapter that turns into USB and another one that is an adapter for an HDMI so it can go into my laptop. The one with the HDMI works, but the USB/VGA one doesn't work. Any suggestions?

You can only do it on MacBook 2011 or later via Thunderbolt using Thunderbolt Displays

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Cant connect MacBook Pro to LG external monitor.

I used a mini display port to hdmi cable that is connected to the monitor however, no signal is detected. I went to the display tab and it is says the 'arrangement' tab is hidden as it is only available when another device is connected. This makes me think neither device is aware of the connection. Can anyone please help?

Greetings rtmoms,
Welcome to the Apple Support Communities!
I understand that you are having an issue where your external monitor, when connected to your MacBook Pro, shows no video or signal. In this situation, I would recommend reading over and working through the steps in the attached article.
Apple computers: Troubleshooting issues with video on internal or external displays - Apple Support
Cheers,
Joe

Connecting the T410s to an external monitor

1) Excuse the ignorant question but how would you connect the T410s to an external monitor? The T410s has a DisplayPort port, but what if the monitor does not have a DisplayPort port but an HDMI port?
2) Which leads into my second question. How would I connect the T410s to two external monitors? I guess whatever the answer is to the above question, but connect some kind of a splitter coming out of the T410s DisplayPort port?
3) And lastly, take a look at this link...
http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/web/LenovoPortal/en_US/catalog.workflow:category.details?current-catalog-id=12F0696583E04D86B9B79B0FEC01C087&current-category-id=19C791A03AF24034A0011B825513BCED&tabname=Gallery
Once you get there, click on T400s below the thumbnails. If that long link I pasted does not work right, it is the T-series gallery on Lenovo's site. In one of the pictures, it shows the T400s connected to two external monitors, but does not say how. They brag at how you can export 2560x1600 to two monitors without the use of a dock. Is this possible even though the T410s video card tops out at 1440x900?
Thank you.
~Paul
Lenovo ThinkPad T410s - 2901CTO
IBM ThinkPad T41p - 2373GGU
Solved!
Go to Solution.

Thank you, lead_org. You've been very helpful. Last 2 questions hopefully.
1) Regarding the use of DisplayPort on the Mini Dock Plus, since DisplayPort transmits audio as well as video (unlike the old style VGA which only sent video), if I connected the Mini Dock Plus to the HDMI port of my monitor (using a DP-to-HDMI adapter of course) would I lose audio out coming out of the green miniplug port on the mini dock, since the system might assume I want all audio to go through the DisplayPort cable? I have seperate external speakers I want to use and not the ones on the monitor.
2) Do you lose any quality when you connect to an external monitor using a Mini Dock, as opposed to connecting directly from the T410s itself? The reason I'm asking is that some people claimed that using the green miniplug audio port on the dock generates a much lower volume than if they were to plug the speakers directly into the laptop instead.
~Paul
Lenovo ThinkPad T410s - 2901CTO
IBM ThinkPad T41p - 2373GGU

Two external monitors + ethernet on the Macbook Pro Retina (late 2013)

The new MacBook Pro 13" retina have 2 thunderbolt connectors and one HDMI but no ethernet port (how pro is that?).
As the title of this post suggest, I want to drive two external monitors as well as an ethernet port.
1.) Is there a dock that woudl allow such setup out of the box?
-OR-
2.) Using the Macbook Pro's two thunderbolt ports and the following adapters:
- Thunderbolt to Gigabit Ethernet,
- Mini DisplayPort to DVI (is this actually thunderbolt compat?).
Can once of the thunderbolt connector be splitted or chanied to drive etiher: two screens or one screen + ethernet?
Or would I also need to use the HDMI port in such case? If so is there any performance difference between the Macbook Pro's HDMI port and the thunderbolt ports? Can all these be run concurrently i.e. thunderbolt display and the HDMI port?
The monitors both have DVI-D connectors.

Thunderbolt expansion docks are beginning to appear. "They ain't cheap." This one would support what you want to do ... Belkin Express Dock (using both Thunderbolt ports on your MBP)
Thunderbolt devices can be daisy-chained however I don't believe that means it will support 2 displays on the same chain.
miniDisplayPort and Thunderbolt are co-compatible. You can plug a miniDisplayPort cable into the Thunderbolt port in order to connect a display.
DVI and HDMI are co-compatible. You should only need an appropriate cable to connect the display to the MBP's HDMI port.

Connect two external monitors to mini DP(using a mini DP to VGA adapter) and the VGA out at once

I am trying to connect two external monitors to mini DP(using a mini DP to VGA adapter) and the VGA out at once. Windows recognize both monitors as well. But it dowsn't let me use all three monitors at once(see the below image). In the dropdown, it lists all three monitors. Problem is there are two active displays I can select.

Mavec wrote:
I would like to add a third monitor.
The GPU(s) in your T400 (and most other laptop brands) will support two different displays concurrently. If you want to support more than two different displays concurrently, you will need another GPU external to the T400.
Generally, if you want to use two external displays on a T400 you will nee dto use a docking station.
I have read messages on various fora on this topic and know that there are a number of ways of doing this, but as I have never had a need to do this myself I can't tell you how to go about it.
Cheers,
Bill
I don't work for Lenovo

Problems connecting my MacBook Pro to an external monitor

For the past 2 years, I have regularly connected my MacBook Pro to an external monitor (Dell SR2320L) using a VGA cable. When I do so, the picture automatically comes up in the maximum resolution of the external monitor (1920 x 1080). However, just in the past few weeks, the picture on my external monitor automatically comes up in 1600 x 1200 instead. When I click on the display menu in the upper right corner of my screen, there isn't even an option for 1920 x 1080 anymore. I've tried restarting my computer and even unplugging and replugging in the cable, but nothing seems to fix the problem. However, on at least some occasions, the problem seems to fix itself after about a day or so of use, and the picture reverts back to 1920 x 1080. I should note a couple of things: when I connect another MacBook to my monitor, the display automatically comes up in 1920 x 1080. And when I connect my Macbook to a different display, I have the same problem as I have with my display. So I think the issue is definitely with my computer, not my monitor. Does anyone have a suggestion about how to solve this problem? Or, when the problem arises, is there anything I can do to reset the display to 1920 x 1080 other than waiting for the problem to fix itself? Any suggestions woudl be greatly appreciated!

Hi bonfig,
If you are having issues with the external display settings on your MacBook Pro, it may be worth going throught the following article, in particular the portion about resetting the SMC and PRAM:
Apple computers: Troubleshooting issues with video on internal or external displays
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1573
Cheers,
- Brenden

How to connect two external monitors to a Mac Book Pro?

How to connect two external monitors to a Mac Book Pro?

Not as is, but Matrox makes a peripheral that enables connecting more than one external monitor - matrox.com.

Two external monitors with macbook pro

attempting to use my MBP in clamshell mode with two external monitors. Only thing I get is the same screen on both monitors. I am also using VM Fusion running a windows xp interface.
Tried just mac software...same problem. Won't set up as two seperate monitors.
HELP

My understanding is that a "splitter" simply shares the same output signal between two monitors, causing both to display the same image at all times. That's exactly what you're seeing, right? So I think it's because you're using a splitter, instead of a device or devices that enable the monitors to receive different signals. Unless the manufacturer or vendor of your splitter can assure you otherwise and help you get your setup running the way you want it to, a better alternative would be to connect one monitor to your computer's video-out port, and the other to a USB port using an adapter like this:
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/NewerTech/VIDU2DVIA/
Note that the monitor connected via USB won't be as responsive as the one connected to the video-out port.
A more expensive option that would enable both monitors to be equally responsive is the Matrox DualHead2Go. If you have a MBP with a Mini-Displayport or Thunderbolt port, you would need the DP Edition of the DH2Go.

Trying to connect my Macbook Pro with an external Monitor - Using VGA - DVI

Hi Everyone..
Please dont classify me as dumb but every-time i need to connect my MBP to an external monitor or projector i cant
It just doesn't work... I plug it in using all the right connectors - DVI-VGA or the other way around... Anyway - i get a blue screen which tricks me... =]
After the blue screen i go straight to the page i was on before connecting the monitor...! =[
Anyway.. are there any settings i need to adjust.... =]
If there is anything that you guys know of please inform me because i am in need to use a Monitor frequently but so far i havn't been able to do it seen as though i don't know what to do.. Ive watched tutorials and have done exactly what they've told me but it still wont display anything on the external monitor. Ive used 2 MBP's - Both i've had issues with connecting them to an external display. i know its only a minor change i need to make in System preferences but i dont know which one it is...
Please - if you know please please please tell me what it is.! =]
Thanks alot!
Carl... =]

I assume that you mean the blue screen is on your monitor, not your MBP. If this is the case, go to system preferences and click on displays, when the pop up box appears, click on "detect displays". See if that helps.

Satellite P100: Can I connect two external monitor to VGA & DVI port at the same time?

The Satellite P100 comes with two external monitor port. A VGA and a DVI. Can you have have two external monitor working at the same time? Can you have two external monitor as well as your internal display working at the same time (for a total of 3 display at the same time?
Here is what I have confirm:
Internal display + DVI connector display
OR
Internal display + VGA connector display
Is it possible to have:
DVI connector display + VGA connector display?
OR
DVI connector display + VGA connector display + Internal display?

As far as I know this is not possible and you can use either DVI or VGA port.
For signal output can be used only one port for external display.

How to switch off internal macbook screen when using external monitor(s)

as far as i observed, adding external displays ( running different screens on them, not mirroring) to a macbook pro increases the gpu workload and with that comes temperature rise in the laptop and increase in ventilator noise - and probably increased hardware aging and risk of component faillure due to high temperature inside the laptop.
simply try connecting two external 27" screens and open some flash video on both of them. then run a temperature monitoring software and watch temps rise, compared to running same flash videos / demanding tasks only on one connected external screen or only on the laptop screen with no external monitor connected.
especially in mavericks, due to its increased background routines, such a set-up appears ever the more taxing, then again who does not love apple`s nice adds showing laptops with two 27” screens connected to it and the workspace vision they invoke....
i have seen temps around 100° to 102° celsius on a 13" macbook pro 2012 edition, which i would expect is territory where the cpu / gpu temp safety switches will trigger system shutdown any time soon ( hardware status before verified as fully in order by apple service and default osx installation)
imagine your anti-virus software starting some realtime content screening while runnign some demanding tasks already and the system shuts down easily (all such situation observed in reality)
(would be interesting to see how a retina display macbook fares with 2 external monitors running demanding tasks, considering the retina display already increased taxing for the gpu - any experience from users of such a setup would be very much appreciated as it will provide critical purchase decision intelligence for all of us envisioning a retina-book and two big screens adoring our desks...)
turning down the macbook`s built-in screen`s backlight may reduce power consumption but i have not seen any evidence that it switches off the gpu-to-screen feed and respective gpu load - it certainly did not prevent gpu, cpu, board, etc temps to rise to borderline levels.
so the key question here is, how to switch off the macbook pro`s built-in screen in order to avoid gpu cycles being wasted on that screen ( and the resulting heat developments) when working with big external screen(s) connected to the laptop ?

this thread talks about running several monitors as advertised by apple and running demanding task on them.
with the lid open, the keyboard offers a very efficiant heat escape vector, which is blocked when the lid is closed - this is a basic and commonsense insulation effect. this thread also mentions the use of temperature monitoring software and thus a repeatable test setup. the temps recorded were also mentioned. they rose when the lid was closed, the running task remaining unchanged. as far as i could track down the cpus in discussion will shut down around the 105 degree celsius range. i observed system shut downs when the system approached 103° celsius. not to mention that the fans will run loud well before that.
again this is on hardware checked and ok-ed by apple service.
the question still welcoming an expert answer: is there any way to switch off the built-in macbook monitor while the lid is open ?

Supports two external monitors???

Hello.
I'm in need of a new laptop but I dont know what to buy. I'm thinking of a Macbook Pro w/ retina (would be my first Mac). But will I be able to connect it to my two external Acer monitors? Each monitor supports HDMI, VGA and DVI. I know that Macbook Pro got one HDMI, and two Thunderbolt outputs.
Would it be possible to connect an external monitor with, lets say Thunderbolt --> VGA, with an adapter or something, and the other screen with HDMI --> HDMI?
I don't want "mirror screens", I wan't to extend the screen into two monitors.
Would this scenario be possible?
Thanks!
// Anton.

Yes, this will work just fine. I have done it through two thunderbolt -> VGA adapters. Also, have done one thunderbolt -> VGA to power one in addition to one connected through HDMI.

Use two external monitors

Hi Guys!
I am using a MacBook Pro early (2011), i also use an external Monitor. (Works fine -> mini displayport dvi adapter) !
Yesterday, i tried to connect an older (VGA, i did not want to throw it away) monitor too, in order to use 2 Monitors + MacBookPro-Monitor!
Is there a way to use these two external monitors?
Thanx guys for your help, if this topic was discussed in the past, i apologize for this extra entry (May you can show its link)
Greetings from Austria
theFlow

Hi MarcusL,
Welcome to the HP Community, I hope you enjoy your experience! To help you get the most out of the HP Forums I would like to direct your attention to the HP Forums Guide First Time Here? Learn How to Post and More.
I saw your post regarding using the two external monitors. You should be able to connect both. I have included two documents below depending on your operating system that will show you how to do it.
Connecting a Monitor, Projector or TV (Windows 7)
Connecting a Monitor, Projector or TV (Windows 8)
Thank you,
Please click “Accept as Solution ” if you feel my post solved your issue.
Click the “Kudos Thumbs Up" on the right to say “Thanks” for helping!
Thank you,
BHK6
I work on behalf of HP

MacBook Pro 2011 Dual External Monitors/Displays.

Is it possible to connect and run two external monitors (non-Apple - with DVI input) from a MacBook Pro 15 or 17". (ie, close the lid on the MBP and have two monitors running). Do you need extra hardware?

needs, as of this date, a thunderbolt display, as you will not be able to daisy chain anything other then thunderbolt displays. So you would get a thunderbolt display and then can use that to connect a second display to it with a dongle of your choice.
But it will work, and is natively supported.
There are alternatives to this like DisplayLink which is used to make a usb hardware be able to connect DVI to usb and usb to your computer.
but they've been having some issues with Lion however it's only with earlier MBP models so you might be good. This would be a cheaper solution.
Google usb to dvi I have the Arkview adapter but they're all the same because they use the same drivers. Again, your best bet is a thunderbolt display or waiting for someone to make an adapter that lets you connect multiple display with minidisplay port/thunderbolt.

Connect MacBook 2010 to two external monitors

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