Connecting dual external displays to MacBook Air?

[handbraketurn]

Hello All,

I just bought two displays and a desk mount, with the plan of having two monitors for my MacBook Air 2019 (which has x 2 Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports)

I bought this USB C dongle which has x 2 HMDI ports.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08PPFJ6JZ/ref=pe_2706...

And upon connecting them, I realised that OS sees both monitors as one, so both monitors basically mirror each other. Not very helpful.

Is it just not possible to have two separate external monitors, or do I need to have an adapter per USB-C port?

Probably should have checked this out before buying all the kit and setting it up.

Cheers,

HBT

[silentbrown]

handbraketurn said:

Hello All,
Is it just not possible to have two separate external monitors, or do I need to have an adapter per USB-C port?

One monitor per port, AIUI. Small print for your chosen adapter...

[handbraketurn]

silentbrown said:

handbraketurn said:

Hello All,
Is it just not possible to have two separate external monitors, or do I need to have an adapter per USB-C port?

One monitor per port, AIUI. Small print for your chosen adapter...

Thanks

[xeny]

If you're mainly going to be using the setup for office/productivity applications a Displaylink docking station may do what you want.

[LeeM135i]

If its an Intel Mac which given the year I think it will be you can use the adaptor you have to plug in one HDMI monitor and power the laptop through the adaptor then get a USB C to HDMI adaptor and plug it into the other USB C port, something like this https://www.amazon.co.uk/Adapter-Thunderbolt-Compa...

If its a M1 series then you can only connect one monitor so return the 2 you have bought and buy an ultra wide.

[babelfish]

LeeM135i said:

If its a M1 series then you can only connect one monitor so return the 2 you have bought and buy an ultra wide.

Or get something like a Dell D6000 docking station from eBay and have up to 3 monitors running off it.

[silentbrown]

LeeM135i said:

If its an Intel Mac which given the year I think it will be you can use the adaptor you have to plug in one HDMI monitor and power the laptop through the adaptor then get a USB C to HDMI adaptor and plug it into the other USB C port, something like this https://www.amazon.co.uk/Adapter-Thunderbolt-Compa...

If its a M1 series then you can only connect one monitor so return the 2 you have bought and buy an ultra wide.

2019 will be Intel, but there are still workarounds for the M1/M2 Airs. https://www.macworld.com/article/675869/how-to-con...