Even a slightly loose connection can prevent your Mac from recognizing the attached display.

Just because a cable looks connected doesn’t mean that it is connected securely.

Click “Restart,” then immediately close your Mac’s lid.

Select the “Apple” logo in your Mac’s menu bar.

Connect your Mac to the external monitor.

Some users have also reported positive results by switching their monitor on and off while also removing and reattaching the cable:įinally, if you’re using a MacBook, MacBook Air or MacBook Pro, you can try disconnecting while also closing your Mac:

Disconnect your adapter for 10 seconds.

Let’s start with the simplest fix: turn it off and then back on again! There are a few different techniques you can try: If you’ve followed the above instructions and your external display still isn’t working correctly, then you can try the following fixes: 1. Follow the instructions here to make sure your external monitor is connected properly. Let’s get the obvious out of the way first and make sure your external monitor and Mac are set up correctly. These are general-purpose monitors for home, office and home office use.Before We Begin: Are You Sure Everything’s Connected Correctly? What you won't find here are professional-grade monitors with wide color gamut or gaming displays with fast refresh rates. The screen sizes range from 24 inches to a 34-inch ultrawide display. For more on that, I direct your attention to CNET's monitor buying guide.Ĭheck out the best USB-C monitor deals we can find right now. For a sun-drenched office, however, you'll want something that's rated for 350 nits or higher. Lower-end monitors are usually rated at 250 or 300 nits, which will likely suffice for a dark den or basement.

The other spec to keep an eye on is the maximum brightness rating, which you'll see range from 250 to 500 nits. In terms of resolution, I recommend at least full HD (1,920x1,080 pixels) for a 24-inch display Quad HD (2,560x1,440 pixels) for a 27-inch display and Ultra HD (3,840x2,160 pixels, or 4K) for anything 32 inches or larger. And a USB-C monitor pairs nicely with a USB-C laptop. Most notably, Apple's MacBook Air and the 13-inch MacBook Pro lack HDMI ports.

As laptops grow thinner, many have ditched the HDMI port altogether and offer only USB-C connections. No need for an adapter or conversion cable to connect an HDMI or DisplayPort cable to your laptop. No need for an HDMI or DisplayPort connection for audio and video, with a separate USB cable to power the monitor's USB ports. With a USB-C monitor, a single cable delivers audio, video and power to the display.

Monitr cable for macbook air