I have a USB-C dock that has two HDMI outputs along with power delivery capabilities. When I connect it to my Windows laptop, it recognizes both external monitors as separate screens perfectly. However, when I connect it to my MacBook, it only mirrors the same display on both external monitors while keeping the laptop screen separate. Ideally, I want to be able to use my MacBook with the lid closed and have both external monitors display different content. I'm trying to figure out why this setup works fine on Windows but is limited on macOS. Is this due to some configuration issue, a limitation with macOS, or something specific about the dock itself?
3 Answers
Macs don't support DisplayPort MST, which is what many of these docks use to facilitate dual monitor setups. For dual extended displays with a Mac, you typically need a Thunderbolt dock that’s specifically designed for that purpose.
Docks themselves don’t control how displays are configured. If there’s no configuration option available, it might just be Apple’s way of enforcing their own hardware. But fingers crossed that there’s a setting to tweak!
Could you share the exact make and model of your dock? It really depends on how the dock manages video output. If it’s relying on DisplayPort MST, that won’t work with macOS. It's often better to go with high-quality docks, like CalDigit or Anker, especially Thunderbolt 4 models, to avoid compatibility issues.
Or you could consider a dock that uses a software-based solution like DisplayLink, which might offer better compatibility.