Fixing the M1 MacBook's BIGGEST Issue! 

Products in this video: ⮕ Plugable Dual 4K Docking Station: geni.us/plugabledisplay ⮕ Plugable Triple Monitor 1080p Docking Station: geni.us/plugabletripl ⮕ Logitech MX Master Wireless Mouse: geni.us/mxmouse ⮕ Logitech MX Keys Wireless Keyboard: geni.us/mxkeyboard ⮕ Dell U2720Q 4K Monitor: geni.us/4kdisplay

Screw display link Apple just needs to fix dual monitor support. This is getting ridiculous

life saver, i've been waiting to upgrade until i found a solution and now i can go pick a new M1 Machine. thanks alot.

I've been using a Dell D6000 with a 16" MBP and a 2K external display (In order to avoid the 16" infamous overheating issues) and the DisplayLink mode does get the job done, but it felt noticeably less smoother than a direct HDMI or DP output.

Always love quality m1 macbook content here

Many thanks. I've been wrestling for 9 months with my old HDMI cable and 1of2 scheend, as the original M6000 worked on my work Dell tablet but not MBR. Having updated the drivers, both screens now work beautifully.

Hi, first off love the channel. Second, Can you please check cpu and temps using these? I have one, from a different brand but it was warming my M1 air a lot especially when watching video which make sense as 60hz video would require a LOT of data for these virtual GPUs... I ended up stopping using this solution because of that, as I didn't like that my M1 was always warm to the touch and also undocking and redocking often ended up with the layout of the screens being screwed up and sometimes just resuming from sleep would do that as well. Would love to get your feedback on that plugable device CPU and temp when using them, probably just run a YT video for a while on your main air screen, then compare with one running on the DisplayLink one and I bet you'll notice quite a huge diff in both cou usage and temps of your macbook. It's not to say it's bad since the m1 is powerful, but it will tax some of that horsepower, especially if you enjoy running a video on the side while doing work, well, I suspect that will reduce the amount of power, especially when you do intensive 3D graphics like I do or video editing which also is resources hungry. Let me know, thx in advance.

Having to buy additional hardware cannot be considered a "Fix". This is a workaround for a flaw.

It would have been nice if you went to settings and showed what to select and also showed exactly how you connected the cables.

This is the content we need. More and more solutions for the problems faced by users. Not some stupid video just simply praising the damn M1 and worshipping it. A video where its concerns are put across and a solution is presented.

Are you running scaled (hiDPI) resolutions on both your 4K monitors? I've heard that DisplayLink has issues outputting hiDPI and will only display regular 1x non-scaled resolutions.

Thanks for making this vid! This was exactly what I needed for mac MacBook Pro with M1 chip. You're a life saver!

Nice, thanks for demonstrating this. You mentioned 3 and 4 external screens as well, does this support that too? All screens at 4k min 60Hz of course. Three would actually be enough for me, using “only” 2x 32” external 4k screens now, (not M1 an setup) for coding, but I plan to add a third 4k 32” screen.

All nice but for those who needs to know, with displaylink it is impossible to colour manage your monitors. I have an Eizo with a selfcalibrator and a Benq with an external calibarator and all colours were off whatever I tried. The magentas went completely wrong, so I had to sell my second monitor because the set up was useless. If you do colour critical work don't get this set up. Hopefully with M2 this will get resolved.

I use a Dell D6000 Display Link dock and it works great as well with 2 external displays. The Dell D6000 has Audio as well which is nice, and it powers the laptop from its own USB-C so no need to have the power plugged in separately.

The problem with displaylinks is that the second monitor is virtualized by software (driver), that is, the video is rendered by CPU and not by GPU. This causes a lot of other issues, such as high CPU usage (in idle) and a very low FPS.

You’d really want one that also charge the laptop, so you only need to plugin one cable.

Thanks for the video. In your products you don’t mention which m1 this is. Does it happen to be a 2020 8gb? Would love to know how the load is for a machine like this, especially running videos and zoom calls

I’m currently in search for a product for my MacBook Pro M1…I’ve tried the 4URPC MacBook Pro Docking Station Dual Monitor HDMI 4K, 14-IN-2 USB C Triple Display Laptop Docking Station for MacBook Pro Air - 2x 4K HDMI, 6xUSB, SD TF Reader, RJ45 Ethernet, 3.5mm Audio/Mic, PD3.0, which didn’t work. Along with 3 other docking stations. I’m definitely not a computer person but I’m wondering if you can let me know what the difference is with the product recommended (Plugable) and the version I previously tried?

Should this work for a Macbook Air M1 2020?

Wow, this is what I actually searching for! Thanx

A tip for everyone who has problems with multiple monitors. I currently use an Odyssey G9 monitor (5K@120Hz), an FHD (my pen display which is my second monitor) and, of course, the MacBook Pro M1 Max display, all with different desktops. I have already had the opportunity to connect a third external monitor 4K@60Hz 27". To achieve this setup I use a simple docking with an HDMI FHD, the 4K monitor in the notebook port and the ultrawide 120Hz in the usb-c port. I've seen, however, people using more than three monitors with different desktops!

Imagine, apple could just support multiple monitors from the mac with like a $100 option and everyone would choose that instead of a $150 dock, they are losing money instead of taking advantage of a problem they made, which is crazy

What about colour correction? No one is talking about the fact that you cannot calibrate M1 MB displays for print rendering them useless for people working in print and photographers.

Can you record the screen in the external monitors?

Thanks for the great video very helpful

The DELL D6000 also works with the M1 MacBook.

I have exactly that hub and it works fine with my 2 FHD monitors, but the fonts are blurred and the overall graphics is really awful. However, it's not the adapter but the M1 and Big Sur not supporting external monitors as Windows 10 does. I'm really frustrated.

Nice video, one question: do you need to set the MacBook to a particular setting on “what happens when you close the lid”? I.e “do nothing” etc? Thank you

Can this "workaround" stop working if Apple release any update that happens to break it? Also, I wonder if this single monitor issue is something that can be fixed in some future software update. Great content btw!

We use Dell D6000 Docks which support power over USB-C so only one plug required unless it's a 15" MacBook Pro.

Hey love your videos! But I have a question and want to know your opinion. So I want to buy the M1 MacBook Air for college and I want it to last a long time preferably around 4-5 years. Do you think that a base M1 MacBook Air is enough for someone like me that only does homework, take notes, writes essay, watches RU-vid, and movies?

Did you have to download Displaylink software into your Mac

I have a Dell docking station and can show 3 screens (2 external ,1 on MacBook Air) however the 2 external are mirrored and I can't extend from the MacBook - what are the Display preferences I should choose, have tried mirror and extend from both MacBook and external display

I have ordered my Plugable docking station but I may have missed in the video once I plug everything in is there software I have to download?

I've connected two monitors but MacBook recognizes them as one. Basically, it's mirroring the same on both. How to adjust this, please? It's not in the settings, it only displays one monitor frame there, and there are two. Do I need any drivers?

I have one Monitor conected via HDMI to Mac mini m1. The other monitor is connected via Display Port in the D6000 dock. After every reboot it doesn't detect the monitor connected to the Dock. If I take the USB C Cable off and reconnect, it works. Is there a way to resolve this issue?

Sweet - been looking for something like this for a while ❤️👍

Could this support two monitors at 1440p 120 hz?

Have you also tried a dual HDMI dongle method?

I see you connect the one monitor into the display port and the other into HDMI. Is there a reason for this or can you plug each monitor into HDMI 1 and HDMI 2 only using HDMI?

Sorry for the oot questions, is it fine now to charge my macbook air m1 thru a dongle?

Greet information. I have a MacBook pro M1 and 2 Apple studio monitors. Do you know if this will work with that combination? If not, do you know of anything?

Can you run three monitors in clamshell mode with that adaptor

Thank you so much for this video. Do you know it this workaround will work with 2020 MacBook Pro M1 using 2 iMac desktops as dual monitor setup? One iMac is 2013 and the other is 2014. Thank you very much again.

Have this been tested with an M1 iMac?

So then should i rather order an Intel Macbook pro if I want to use 2 HDMI screens?

I just created this setup with an M1 MacBook Air. Both displays connect successfully but applications like safari and chrome freeze and have the rainbow buffer wheel. The applications continue to run smoothly when the laptop isn’t connected to the external displays. Have any of you encountered this issue?

What if I have a 4k monitor and a 1080 monitor? Which docking station is needed to make both work?

Never knew this, I use one single 5120x1440 at home but potentially two at work. I’ll bear in mind.

can you log in to an M1 in clam mode from one of the screens? If you use an external keyboard with a fingerprint reader can you log in with your finger print through the external keyboard?

Ive tried using one of those display link adapters, I found mine to be quite laggy and the drivers unstable.

Thank you for addressing this issue! This was my single biggest concern regarding the M1 Macs

Hey man, im trying to decide whih of those two monitors to purchase. im going to be pirchasing two for a dual display setup with my macbook touchbar non m1. whih one do you recommend? they're vvery similar but i was leaning towards the dell one

.Resetting smc solved my external display issue. Device - Apple mac m1 pro 2022, Ventura 13.2. Thank you

If a monitor can display higher frequency is the output able to go higher than 60hz? Does sidecar (eg. to an iPad) allow connection if you have 2 external monitors working the way you've shown?

It would be so much better if the m1 air supports 2 laptops directly. Not sure why it doesnt. Is this still the only way of getting two displays to the m1 air?

Can you use two monitors with two HDMI cables instead of an HDMI with display port cable?

Pretty cool.. Can you rotate the monitors view 270 while plugged this device? Only when I use thunderbolt the mac pops this window. Otherwise if plugged with satechi multimedia adaptar i can only use the dual monitors on landscape view.

Can you plug the power delivery of this displaylink setup into a docking station connected to the MacBook or does the power supply needs to be directly connected to one usb-c port of the MacBook?

Does this still work after the recent Sonoma update?

I have used the display link for about a year and although it functions I don't like it. Every time I do an update or unplug it to travel when I get back to my desk the resolution and arrangement gets messed up. I really wish there was another solution... I am likely to go back to a PC after this. Mac isn't what is used to be.

So what exactly happens if you plug in a monitor to each of the usb c ports? Because I remember explicitly reading on the apple website somewhere that you can connect a monitor to each of the thunderbolt 3/4 ports and it should work. Also what happens if you try and daisy chain over thunderbolt? I’ve heard m1 macs should support daisy chain over thunderbolt as long as all the devices are thunderbolt

Thanks for the informative video. I do not have any experience with "virtual graphics" or "virtual gpu's". Does MacOS treat the monitors run by virtual gpu's exactlly like any other monitor would be treated? Does running a three monitor setup, including the built-in screen, create any OS issues that result in compromises or a need for work-arounds?

Does this workaround only work on 4K monitors? I have my M1 Macbook air connected via DisplayLink to two 23.8" BenQ HD monitors but the resolution is so bad that staring at the monitors makes me nauseous. Is there something else I'm missing?

M1 pro supports two ports. I can connect two external monitors. One from hdmi and other via usbc to hdmi adapter of belkin. No need of display link adapter.

Does it allow to change the font size (and not the resolution) when we click on "scaled"?

does MacMini M2 also facing similar issue with 3 monitors docking station?

I've tried 6 different USB hubs (none of them were powered, just adapters) and keep getting banding and flickering. How is the resolution for this? Is it sharp or will I get banding like I have with my other ones? This issue even happens with the apple brand adapter/dongle.

Can I run programs like Safari from a External SSD drive ? and is it good ? or install mac os on drive.?

Does this support screen rotation on any of the external displays?

I have a MacBook Pro m1 computer and a samsung ls24r65 display. Although I have tried many methods, I am having some difficulties connecting the screen to the laptop. First of all, when the laptop wakes up from sleep mode, the screen is not detected and the problem is solved by removing the cable and plugging it back in. Second and my big problem is that the screen reflects on black images and this is very annoying. I thought this problem was caused by the screen, but other laptops did not have any problems with the screen. I thought there might be a problem with the USB hub and I bought a type C DisplayPort cable and the problem still persists. Is there a solution for this?

Brand new 14” M1 Pro MacBook Pro. Unusable with external displays, particularly when playing video. When I connect to a display or tv via HDMI, the video playback skips around and produces no sound. Videos are unwatchable. Have you seen this issue as well?

Thank you for your content. You mentioned in your latest desk setup video that you’d do an overview on finishing/customizing the Karlby desktop. Is that still in the works?

Is this the only way to get more than 1 screen on an Air? I have a caldigit TS3 thunderbolt dock already and am curious if that will work too.

Quality content, as always!

So if you have the M1 Mac-Mini you can get "3" Monitors hooked up through that adapter?

Can you use two HDMI rather than two display port cables?

thanks for explaining this... I have spent several hours trying to troubleshoot and now realize its a "feature" to encourage buying more expensive Macs

after updating to monterey that dont work any more. My HDMI is dead. No matter if i use a dock or the hdmi on my macmini ;) the monitor is reacting as the "lights turn on" but the screen stays black and leaves the message "signal not found" so I think the signal is no longer transportet - I used caldigit hub no work - i used to cheaper "smaller" docks - no work. I used usb c to hdmi hubs to re-connect the 2nd external screen: NO WORK... so I hope for the 12.1. update... I cant work without 2 screen and i dont want to downgrade due to clean install -.-

If you connect a spear apple tv you may have to the 2nd screen thats all you have to do. Connected through the usbc cable natively and the other wirelessly through the apple tv.

Thanks for the thorough review! One question remains; is it possible to rotate one display by 90° to have one in Portrait and one in Landscape? Best Regards / Frankie

After this finding this video, I ordered a Plugable Docking Station and it works perfectly for me. Nothing else I tried worked so I wasn't holding out much hope but it is literally as easy as the video shows. I was on the verge of ordering a Mac Mini because the dual external screens were necessary for my business (and hence a problem for me), so you've saved me a lot of ££! Thank you so much!

Will this correct the issue with the Mac Mini M1 dual monitor via HDMI? My Mini M1 works the monitor using USB-C to HDMI fine, but the second monitor connecting to the HDMI port on the back of the Mini turn off and on intermittently. This is very frustrating!

Does the dock not provide power to the Mac?

Does connecting two 1440p external displays cause the M1 MBA to get hot?

Can you watch HDCP content (e.g. Apple TV+ or Netflix, Amazon Prime Video) on the displays connected via the DisplayLink docks?

The problem with Plugable its that when you close the mac and you unplug the power cord the monitor looses the signal, i was figuring out how to fix it, i dont want to have all the time mi macbook connected to electricity

Is there a cheaper option than the display link?

I am wondering if the problem causing dual monitors not to work on M1 MacBooks has to do with software or hardware? In other words, is it something that Apple can fix in the future? If not, I’m considering just getting an ultrawide even though dual monitors would be much better for my needs, it doesn’t seem like DisplayLink is a great solution for me. Thanks

my 2020 Intel Macbook Air is driving a 43" 4k monitor and the fan runs full bore all the time until I disconnect monitor and use laptop display..Will this Display Link Adapter help that problem??

Who connects 2 monitors directly Yu the device? I’ve been using displaylink docks at home and work for several years

is it possible to use some other display adapters? i can hook up 2 monitors with the one i have from work but when i do they both show the same, and i cant make them work as 2 seperate ones

Does this work with the new macBook Air M3?

Thanks a lot for so detailed video. Also it works for me because I need it for the same monitors as you tested😂

Any testing with 120Hz+ monitors?

I have an 24" Apple Cinema Display and an 27" Thunderbolt Display. Can I make these work with an M1 MacBook Air?

anyway is there any fix regarding the bluetooth / 2.4g wireless mouse issue on M1 macs? mine seems just cursor lag using bluetooth or USB receiver and I already try using different mouse it's still lag and often disconnected by itself and only fixed by buying Apple Magic Mouse.

is it harmful for the screen to use clamshell mode? I have M1 MBA and it gets really hot when I pushed hard. I am worried that heat can damage the screen

Do you have any issues with cursor lagging when connect to a 4K monitor? I am using Mac book air m1 + dell u2720q with some cursor lagging which would not happen with window PC