Using an external display with a MacBook

Here are some tips for using a MacBook or MacBook Pro with an external monitor. They range from the painfully obvious (for brand new Mac users) to one I actually just learned yesterday.

1. When you connect an external monitor to your MacBook (or PowerBook, for that matter), you can combine your MacBook's LCD and your external monitor to create one big monitor. That means when your mouse pointer goes off the edge of one, it will appear on the other. Open the Displays Preference Pane to configure the resolution and orientation of the two monitors. This type of configuration works well when you want to keep your main work on your larger external display, but still keep things like IM, iTunes, and email constantly visible on the smaller laptop LCD.
2. Some windows act like they don't want to be dragged on to your external monitor. If a windows is being stubborn, try dragging it up to the menu bar, and keep dragging, even if stays stuck below the menu bar. Sometimes once you have dragged it far enough that it has room to render the entire window, it will jump to the other monitor (Terminal used to have this problem, but Apple fixed it some time ago). If that doesn't work, try dragging it from a corner of your monitor. My Adium contact list doesn't seem to want to live on my external monitor, but I can coerce it up there by dragging up from either corner.
3. When your laptop is open, you can't switch to using the full resolution of an external monitor. I have no idea why, but it's a fact of life for MacBook users. You can use both displays in "extended" mode, or you can mirror your MacBook's display (which most likely doesn't use the full resolution of your external monitor), but you can't switch to using only the external monitor. Very strange.
4. If you close your laptop, you can actually get the full resolution of your external display. Put your MacBook to sleep, connect your external display and an external monitor, and wake the computer up by pressing any key. You will have full use of your external display while your laptop is closed.
5. If you really want to have your MacBook open while only using an external display, after following the procedure above, you can open your MacBook, and it's screen will remain off, which means you can still use the MacBook's keyboard and trackpad. Why you can't get into this mode using F7, I have no idea. This is a good technique for allowing some heat to dissipate while still using an external display so the lid of your MacBook doesn't melt or warp.
6. You can boot your computer using just an external display. Just connect your external display, open the lid, hit the power button, and close the lid again immediately.
7. In order to output only to an external monitor, you have to have the power cable connected. I tried for several minutes yesterday to get my MacBook to wake up with an external keyboard and monitor before unpacking my AC adapter from my backpack, and it wouldn't work. It took me a while to make the connection (no pun intended), but I eventually discovered that with the power cable attached, everything works as expected.
   

And now for some other random tips:

1. If you decide to buy the MacBook over the MacBook Pro (I actually like the MacBook slightly better, but that's a topic for another post), don't forget to buy a mini-DVI to standard DVI adapter. The MacBooks don't have standard DVI port -- just the mini.
2. If you have a DVI to VGA adapter, stop reading this right now, go find it, and put it in your computer bag where it should be stored. You'll thank me the next time you're in front of a client or an audience, trying to mash a VGA cable into a DVI port.
3. For the ultimate in multiple-display, multi-computer support, check out Synergy. Synergy actually lets you switch between different computers running different operating systems simply by moving your mouse from one monitor to the next. The first time you see it, you'll swear it's magic. Imagine two separate physical computers next to each other with two monitors, one keyboard, and one mouse. Just move the pointer from one monitor to the other, and you're actually using the other computer. It even let's you copy and paste between computers. If you're a Mac user running Parallels, you might not see the point, but you still have to appreciate the technical wizardry.

Anything that I've missed? Post it in the comments.

Comments

[Jonathan]

Great article, I just got issued a brand new MacBook Pro through work but we use them with external monitors.

I had already figured out most of the stuff you mertioned, but the bit about getting maximum resolution out of the external monitor by connecting it whilst the laptop is closed was GOLD!

Thanks!

[Eli]

Does anyone know of a way to get set a MacBook Pro to idle sleep when it is connected to an external monitor? I generally just leave my computer with the screensaver on when I'm away from my desk, but when it is attached to my external monitor it never actually goes to sleep. This drains the battery. If anyone has any advice on how I can get idle sleep to work while the MacBook Pro is connected to the external monitor I would be very pleased.

Thanks,

Eli

[haracas]

Can anyone tell me how to make my macbook pro display on a projector please? I've hooked up my macbook pro to a VGA monitor, and am tapping F7 to not much avail.

If anyone can help, can you leave a comment here or email me at haracas@gmail.com, thanks!

[Carter Duggan]

I just bought a samsung syncmaster 906bw to use as an external display with my 13 inch macbook. Unfortunately i can only get the display to show my background picture and when i close the lid to the laptop the monitor just goes blank. Im using the dvi to mini dvi connector and an additional dvi to dvi cable. Im all out of ideas. Can anyone help me?

[Guy Harvey]

Great article. I'd always wondered how to get the external working by itself. To Toasite above, you probably need to uncheck "mirroring"
I had it checked and was getting the lower resolution on my 20 inch cinema.

[AJB]

I just got the hp w1907 monitor for my 1st gen macbook and i was having this problem where when i mirrored the displays, the hp would get blurry. i fiddled around with it, and i found a way to make only the external work, and i can use the keyboard and trackpad on the macbook:

if your monitor is plugged in, close the lid to your macbook, take out the mini-dvi cord, plug it back in, but don't open the lid. you need an external mouse or keyboard, which i have, and you wake the computer up in its sleep by clicking and swirling around the mouse. wait a few seconds, and your desktop should come up on the external monitor. now you can open your lid, and use the trackpad and the keyboard of your macbook. the monitor will be crisp and clear, unlike the mirroring feature. the macbook's display won't turn back on unless you take out the monitor or --> i did this on accident right after i got the monitor, and then i left and the computer went to sleep. i came back, and both the monitor and the macbook's display worked, so you don't have to worry about the macbooks display not working again or anything like that. well i hope that made sense, i wasn't sure how to explain it, but i hope that helps. :)

[Steven]

I just bought an external monitor and mini-DVI adapter for my macbook.

I got everything connected correctly, but when I tried to use the external monitor, all I got was a message saying "No signal", and the display promptly went to sleep.

What puzzles me, though, is that my macbook fully recognizes the monitor, yet the monitor isn't detecting signal.

Any ideas? I'm baffled and quite a bit frustrated. Thanks a bunch.

[Chris Kirby]

I am having the exact sam eproblem with my setup. Someone, please help.

[frank cusack]

when i switch to the dell 24" external monitor from the mackbook pro, my internet connection is a lot less strong. It's cable, with Airport before. ?Any thoughts

[Bones]

Great article. Thanks!

If I am using an HP monitor with my MacBook, do I have to look at a letter boxed image, or can I somehow make it appear full screen on the external HP monitor?

[TX Ciclista]

fn + F7 will switch between the two modes for a Macbook hooked to an external monitor.

[RFish]

I use an external dvi monitor with the mini-dvi to dvi adapter whenever my macbook is at home, and I also have the mini-dvi to video adapter so that I can use front row on my TV. The problem is that every time I want to watch TV or use the computer I have to switch the adapter. Is there any practical way to split the signal and have it display on both simultaneously? Mini-dvi splitters don't seem to exist.

[Scott Bendure]

Thank you for this page, I was on the verge of returning the SAMSUNG SyncMaster 245BW 24" Wide-Screen Monitor I bought yesterday, but the info on this page helped me get it working properly. The samsung site was no help. I am so glad I don't have to pay twice the price for an Apple widescreen monitor. Thanks!

[Marc Fearby]

I don't understand why Apple still have not released a laptop that works well with external displays, and certainly have no idea why there still is no official docking station support.

Without these essentials, Apple laptops will never be adopted by people that use their laptops as desktop replacements that can also go out on the road. I hope Apple can do something about this, and soon!

[patricio]

hey there... i just plugged my 19" dell monitor to my macbook pro, but the dell monitor doesn´t receive any image from the macbook... i want to get the dual screen... how can i make it??? thnx.

[Kevin Althaus]

Hello -

I just got my first mac (macbook) and first LCD dsplay (samsung syncmaster 932). I originally bought the hp w1907, but returned it as it looked really bad with my mac (I'm sure its a beautiful display with windows vista ..blah). Anyway, here is a trick I just figured out as I don't have a USB keyboard.

I have my syncmaster hooked up DVI to my macbook. I close the lid on my macbook and t goes to sleep. I then pull out and slide in (ever so gently) my usb mouse. The syncmaster is now the primary display.

Then I open the lid on my macbook and type. The LCD on the macbook is still off, but the internal speakers and keyboard works.

I plan to get a cheapo USB keboard tomorrowm but this might help those who are looking for a solution.

Kevin

[Pete]

A couple of people have asked if it's possible to run 2 external displays from a macbook, but I haven't seen a response. Does anyone know? Thanks.

[Bob Brumber]

i was wondering if you connect and external display to your macbook, and only want to use that bigger display instead of the macbooks, is it possible to use it w/ the bigger monitor while having the macbook completely closed?

[Jonas Hoffmann]

If you want to use your external display as primary display (with menu bar and dick), just go to system preferences > displays > arrange (?, where you can say if the display is on right or left) > one display has a little white bar at the top
drag this bar onto the other display and voila, the external display is the primary display with menu bar and dock and the laptop display is the extension of this.

[BAC]

When I try and close the lid of my macBook pro and then awake it from sleep, my external monitor says "out of range" and goes black. What causes this? What can I do to fix this?

Thanks!

[Jon Moore]

You can also use a program called Teleport to use one keyboard and mouse between different machines. Also allows you to copy and paste between the diferent systems too. Pretty nifty.

[David Noakes]

My external monitor (HP L1906) worked fine with my MacBook for a couple of weeks, now its dead.
If I hook the monitor up to a PC or windows laptop, it works.
The Macbook just won't detect it, the monitor says "check video cable: and goes to sleep.
Any ideas?
On a PC some say remove Adobe type Manager. I have adobe Indesign CS3 on the Macbook, but can't find Type Manager and wouldn't know how to remove it.

[Daniel Buergo]

Hi,

Wonderful reading here. I have a problem myself when viewing my external display. Using my Vizio 20" as an external monitor, i can adjust resolution & all ok. *** Only thing is that everything looks kinda fuzzy.*** This really drives me nuts considering that my MacBook Black's (1 month old to date) LCD display is so crisp & clear. *** Any reason why this is?*** I can't seem to find an answer to this. I ran the auto detect & repair apps, nothing. I am sure that I am not the only one out there having this problem, at least i would like to think not. Thank you very much for any information.

[Erick]

Quote from member D "I Just bought my mini DVI connector for my Macbook and I am trying to hook up my Macbook to my Samsung HD LCD TV. I can't get the whole desktop to appear on my Samsung? The dock can barely be seen and I can barely see the taskbar at the top? The resloution also isnt that great. Any ideas?"

Im having the same issues i can barely see my taskbar and dock. Ive learned to deal with it after trying to adjust the screen size in display properties and nothing making it all fit. If anyone has any idea please let me know thanks!

[Scott Olson]

The key to getting the external display to activate when the lid is closed is putting the displays in mirrored mode.

The following post explains this further:

http://www.gscottolson.com/weblog/2007/12/05/running-a-macbookmacbook-pro-on-an-external-monitor/