External Monitor on a MacBook to connect
- You already have a external Monitor, check the available ports. In General, you need to connect a VGA cable, a DVI cable or a HDMI cable.
- Old MacbBook models only have a Mini DisplayPort connector, while the new Retina specimens with a Thunderbolt interface are equipped. You need to therefore very likely to have a suitable Adapter. A list of all the available models with the matching Macs, and MacBooks can be found in an Apple support document.
- Third party vendors usually have cheaper Adapter. You should have a Thunderbolt Display, you need the corresponding cable, you also in the case of Apple or Amazon get.
MacBook: External Monitor
External Monitor on a MacBook set up
You have connected the Monitor to the MacBook, there are various options to have the Display set up and settings. You can find this in the system preferences of your MacBook, under the menu item "monitors". Your Mac should detect the second monitor automatically. This is not the case, click on "detect displays". In the tab "Arrange", you can set your screen as you like.
- Arrange the screens the way you want it. In this case (see picture), the external Monitor is to the left of the MacBook. This arrangement is important so that you can drag the window from your Desktop to the external Monitor.
- Do you want to see the menu bar on the external Monitor, for example, because this offers a higher resolution than your MacBook, drag the menu bar with the mouse to the desired location.
- The Option "screens" is used to synchronize the display on your external Monitor is an exact Image of your built-in display. The resolution of the internal display is also used for your external Monitor. You have not enabled the Option, you can run both Displays at different resolutions.
- You want to close your MacBook and only use the external display, you need to make additional settings. In a separate article you will find instructions for the use of a closed MacBook.
Mac: External Monitor set up
In the next practical tip we show you how to get the current temperature of your MacBook read.
