How to connect two or more external displays to an Apple Silicon M1 Mac

While plain M1 and M2 MacBooks are limited to three external displays using this dock when DisplayLink software is installed, M3 and M1/M2/M3 Pro/Max MacBooks can connect to four 4K at 60Hz.

Other docks reviewed here also allow M1 and M2 Macs to connect to three displays, but what we really like about the Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station with DisplayLink is right there in its name: it’s a full Thunderbolt 4 dock rather than USB-C. It therefore offers 40Gbps data-transfer rates compared to the 10Gbps that you’ll find on most of the other docks reviewed here.

If you require three monitors we think you might also prefer the fast data-transfer rates offered by Thunderbolt, so recommend this DisplayLink docking station to power users.

That Thunderbolt port connection also allows one of the three screens to be at 6K resolution (60Hz) while the other two via HDMI will be 4K at 60Hz.

There are two HDMI 2.0 ports plus a generous three downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports (as well as one upstream TB4 to the laptop). It doesn’t host any extra USB-C ports but the three Thunderbolt 4 ports (40Gbps data transfer, 15W power output) are backwards compatible with USB-C. There are two fast 10Gbps USB-A ports, too, plus a UHS-II SD card reader, Gigabit Ethernet and an audio jack.

Non-Pro/Max M3 Macs can connect to four displays using this dock, as long as the laptop’s lid is closed (clamshell mode). It’s also a great option for M1/M2/M3 Pro users usually restricted to two external displays.

Plugable’s redesigned UD-6950PDH docking station plus free-to-download DisplayLink software can connect two extra 4K/60Hz displays to M1, M2 and M3 Macs. While plain M3 MacBooks can already connect to two external displays, this DisplayLink dock allows plain M3 MacBooks to remain open with the two additional displays attached (otherwise the M3 laptop’s lid has to be closed).

It features an impressive 13 ports including Gigabit Ether, SD and MicroSD card readers and five spare USB ports.

You won’t get data transfer any faster than 5Gbps so if you crave the full 40Gbps Thunderbolt bandwidth you should instead consider the Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station with DisplayLink, reviewed above.

You can use both of the dock’s HDMI ports or both DisplayPort or a mix of each, depending on your monitor requirements. Two video ports will always be left empty, but the flexibility is welcome.

No availability outside of North America has yet been announced.

This Alogic DisplayLink docking station is similar to the Satechi Triple 4K Display Dock (reviewed below) in that it supports up to three external 4K displays at an impressive 60Hz refresh rate and has an array of useful non-display ports. It can power the connected laptop at 100W and has a decent 135W external power supply so doesn’t require an extra USB-C charger.

The DisplayLink download link is clearly shown in the user manual, and instructions make sense—although you need a magnifying glass to read them!

The DX3 has fewer video ports than the Satechi dock but all are top-notch DisplayPort 1.4. If any of your monitors lacks DisplayPort but has HDMI, you’ll need to add an adapter between dock and display. As you’ll need to buy video cables anyway, this doesn’t matter as prices for straight cable and adapter cable are close enough.

Unlike the Satechi, this dock does have a card reader—indeed it has two: SD and MicroSD, both at top 312MBps UHS-II—allowing you to add inexpensive portable storage to your laptop setup.

It also has Gigabit Ethernet, four USB-A (one with 7.5W charging) and two 10Gbps USB-C (one 100W PD upstream to the laptop, and one 7.5W smaller device charging).

Choosing between the Alogic DX3 and Satechi Triple 4K docks could be decided on whether your monitors have HDMI rather than DisplayPort, although adapters mean there is an easy solution. We also applaud the DX3 for its dual SD card readers.

Reviewed further down this list is Alogic’s DX2, which supports two 4K displays at 60Hz and lacks some of the other ports found on the DX3. if you just need two external monitors for your M1/M2/M3 MacBook this may be a cheaper option.

The Satechi Triple 4K Display Docking Station is a quality horizontal dock that supports up to three external displays on a plain (non-Pro or -Max) M1/M2/M3 MacBook if you install DisplayLink software. The user manual includes a QR code that takes you to the software download page.

Competitively priced at $299 / £299, it features three HDMI ports and two DisplayPorts and can support three 4K displays at 60Hz on a Mac. The mix of HDMI and DisplayPort offers a more flexible monitor choice than some docks tested here, although adapters will provide easy solutions if your dock’s port is DisplayPort but the monitor has just HDMI.

There are 12 ports in total, including Gigabit Ethernet and 10Gbps USB-A and USB-C ports—two of which can power devices at a decent 7.5W. The dock connects to the MacBook via 10Gbps USB-C.

Unlike most of the docks reviewed here it comes with its own 130W power supply, so doesn’t require a high-powered USB-C charger.

It doesn’t boast a card reader to add inexpensive portable storage to your laptop, but you can buy one cheaply enough to attach to one of the USB ports.

We prefer Alogic’s DX3 that supports up to three 4K displays and offers more ports and faster charging for not much more cost, but the DX2 is fine if all you require is two top-end monitors connected to your mid-sized MacBook.

It features two DisplayPort 1.4 ports, one 10Gbps USB-C with 7.5W charging, three 5Gbps USB-A ports (one with 7.5W), a 3.5mm audio jack and Gigabit Ethernet.

This simple, portable and affordable adapter doesn’t give you loads of extra USB ports, Ethernet or card readers like a hub or docking station would, but it offers four powerful video ports: two DisplayPort 1.4 and two HDMI 2.0.

Once you’ve installed the DisplayLink drivers, this means an M1/M2/M3 MacBook can run two extended displays at up to 5K (5120-x-1440) at 60Hz using a combination of these video ports. You’d need to use both DisplayPort 1.4 ports for the maximum 5K resolution—the HDMI 2.0 ports max out at 4096-x-2160 at 60Hz.

There’s no passthrough charging so you’ll need to use another of the MacBook’s Thunderbolt ports to keep the laptop powered up in use.

The Ugreen USB-C Triple Display Docking Station is a quality compact vertical dock that supports up to three external displays on a plain (non-Pro or -Max) M1/M2/M3 MacBook if you install DisplayLink software.

Priced at $329/£399, it features two HDMI ports and a DisplayPort and can support three 4K displays at 60Hz on a Mac. There are 12 ports in total, including Gigabit Ethernet, card readers, and 10Gbps USB-A and USB-C ports. It connects to the MacBook via 10Gbps USB-C.

You need to install DisplayLink on your Mac—instructions above. Ugreen could make this easier with a link on its site.

Read our full Ugreen USB-C Triple Display Docking Station review.

The Hyperdrive Dual 4K HDMI 10-in-1 USB-C Hub doesn’t use DisplayLink and instead uses SiliconMotion’s InstantView.

Hyper says that it works “without having to download cumbersome drivers” but there is some software installation involved, and you need to allow InstantView access to your Privacy settings in System Preferences. You connect the hub or adapter to your M1 MacBook and find the HyperDisplay app that appears in a Finder folder sidebar. Double-click the macOS InstantView icon and follow the System Preferences instructions. Once this has been completed your MacBook will automatically recognize the adapter from then on.

It’s an easier solution than DisplayLink but with the same ability to allow M1, M2 and M3 Macs to connect to multiple external displays.

This compact hub still includes 10 ports, including the all-important 2x HDMI. The first display at 60Hz is added via HDMI and DP Alt-mode and the second at 4K 30Hz through HDMI and InstantView.

Also included are Gigabit Ethernet, MicroSD card reader (UHS-I), 3.5mm audio jack, 2x 5Gbps USB-A, and one 5Gbps USB-C.

A further USB-C PD port allows you to charge the connected laptop at up to 100W—handy as the hub itself uses up one of your M1, M2 or M3 laptop’s two Thunderbolt ports.

This double-function hub is designed to provide two HDMI display ports for a MacBook M1/M2/M3, plus passthrough charging for the laptop. It doesn’t offer a bunch of other ports like its big brother, the Hyperdrive Dual 4K HDMI 10-in-1 USB-C Hub reviewed above. As a result, it is cheaper and is one of the most cost-effective solutions for adding multiple monitors to the limited plain M1/M2/M3 Macs.

Like the 10-in-1, it uses SiliconMotion’s InstantView rather than DisplayLink software to get past the limitation.

The first display at 60Hz is added via HDMI and DP Alt-mode and the second at 4K 30Hz through HDMI and InstantView.

If you require more ports, such as Gigabit Ethernet, card readers and USB ports, consider the Hyperdrive 10-in-1 or one of the other hubs or docks reviewed here..

Do you really need four screens? If you do, and you can do without 4K resolution, the Plugable USB-C to Quad HDMI Adapter supports four HD displays even on an M1, M2 or M3 MacBook using the Silicon Motion InstantView software (requires download and installation).

The adapter features just the four HDMI ports so doesn’t offer any Gigabit Ethernet or extra USB-C ports, but does what it says on the box. All four displays can support HD (1920-x-1080) at 60Hz images.

The USB-C cable tucks neatly into the adapter’s case when not in use, making this a nimbly portable solution… as long as you don’t also carry the four screens around with you.

If you don’t need three external screens, we like this USB-C dock for its two HDMI and two DisplayPorts, which you can choose between when adding two displays to your M1, M2 or M3 MacBook. This should suit most monitors, unless you prefer direct USB-C displays.

Its spare USB ports (2x USB-A and 1x USB-C) are fast (10Gbps) for data transfer, and another USB-C port can be plugged into a USB-C charger (not included, which is common with the docks reviewed here) and supply up to 100W of charging power to the connected laptop.

There’s also a Gigabit Ethernet port for fast, stable wired Internet access.

You need to install DisplayLink on your Mac—instructions above—and UGreen has made this easy by adding the download files to your Mac when you first connect the dock.

Read a full Ugreen 9-in-1 USB-C dock review.

With third-party DisplayLink drivers, this dock will support up to three displays on a Mac. You can connect one 4K at 60Hz display (3840×2160 pixels) via either the DisplayPort or one of the HDMI ports. The other two displays via HDMI, however, are at a lesser HD (1920×1080) resolution, both at 60Hz.

There is a link to the DisplayLink download printed in the user manual, although the type in the manual is the smallest we’ve ever seen!

The specs aren’t quite as impressive as the Satechi Triple 4K Display Docking Station, with 5Gbps a maximum data-transfer rate, although charging wattage for USB-A (3.0) is up to 7.5W each and USB-C is up to 12W, which beats the Satechi..

However, it does boast both SD and MicroSD card readers for affordable portable storage options, although UHS-I rather than super-fast UHS-II. And, crucially, it’s cheaper, although you will need to add your own USB-C 100W PD charger, unlike the Satechi Triple 4K Dock.

The Satechi USB-C Multimedia M1 Adapter uses InstantView rather than DisplayLink but the installation process is practically the same when you follow the manual.

It includes 2x HDMI ports: one of which can support a 4K display at 60Hz and the other at 30Hz.

It’s more than a mere display adapter, though, as it also boasts USB-C PD passthrough charging at up to 85W, one 5Gbps USB-C port, and two 5Gbps USB-A ports.

Although named after the M1 processor it is fixing on the multiple display front, it will also work with similarly limited M2 and M3 MacBooks.

Like the Hyperdrive Dual 4K HDMI 10-in-1 USB-C Hub, Hyper’s cheaper Dual 4K HDMI Adapter uses the simpler InstantView software rather than DisplayLink.

Lacking any other ports, it’s not a hub and so just facilitates the dual-display function on M1 and M2 Macs. While it’s cheaper than its 10-port sibling, we’d recommend the more able hub—unless you need three displays, in which case you’d need to look at the other hubs and docks reviewed here.

One HDMI port supports 4K displays at 60Hz, but the other at the slower 30Hz.

A passthrough USB-C port requires a USB-C charger but can supply 100W to the connected laptop.

If you’re based outside the US, beware as Hyper charges $80 international shipping, making this adapter more expensive than its 10-port sibling.

The Alogic Dual 4K Universal Compact Docking Station comes in two models—the CH2, which features two HDMI 2.0 ports; and the CD2, with two DisplayPort ports—so you can choose which best suits the external displays you already own.

Two external screens are probably enough for most people. If you require three, see the other hubs and docks reviewed here. Both screens can be up to 4K at 60Hz. Basic instructions are given on installing the DisplayLink software for M1, M2 and M3 Macs.

This neat, compact dock doesn’t feature as many ports as others mentioned here but what it has are top-rated: both the USB-A and USB-C ports support 10Gbps data transfer. There is also a Gigabit Ethernet port and a UHS-II SD card reader.

A passthrough USB-C port—you need to add a suitably powerful charger—can handle 100W, although 22W is required by the dock so leaving 78W for laptop and device charging. The dock must be connected to the laptop to allow device charging.

The EZQuest Ultimate Plus USB-C Multimedia Hub has two HDMI ports and a VGA port, and supports one 4K at 60Hz and one 4K at 30Hz via HDMI and 1080p HD via VGA. If you want three 4K displays, look instead at the Ugreen Triple Display Dock.

It also features 5Gbps USB-A ports, Gigabit Ethernet and card readers.

Like the Ugreen dock, it requires a USB-C charger for power and can pass through up to 85W to the connected MacBook, but connects via slower 5Gbps USB-C.

The Baseus 17-in-1 Docking Station has three HDMI ports, each of which can connect to an external 4K display at 30Hz. If you require three 4K external displays at 60Hz, the Ugreen Triple Display Dock will fulfill your needs better. If 30Hz is fine, the Baseus will save you money. 60Hz is better for gamers as it offers smoother video.

One big limitation for Macs, though, is that the external displays can only mirror and not extend the Mac’s screen.

Its claim to have 17 ports is exaggerated slightly as one is for the external power supply that powers just the dock at 12W. and another to add power the dock via a USB-C charger and then onto the laptop. But it has 15 other ports including the upstream 5Gbps USB-C connection to the MacBook, plus Gigabit Ethernet, card readers and 5Gbps USB-A and USB-C ports.

This triple-monitor DisplayLink-based docking station is positively bristling with ports: 15 in total.

Most interesting to us here are the six video ports: 3x DisplayPort 1.4 and 3x HDMI 2.0. This doesn’t mean you can connect six displays but it does should give you flexible options for the type of connection that fit your displays. However, in testing we had no success linking via DisplayPort, which makes the extra options rather worthless. As such, we prefer the other docks and hubs reviewed above.

You need to download the DisplayLink drivers for your M1/M2/M3 Mac. StarTech.com has a link and a video, or just follow our guide above.

As well as the half-dozen video ports are six USB ports: 2x USB-C (one at 10Gbps and one 5Gbps), plus 4x USB-A (one 10Gbps and three 5Gbps). The 5Gbps USB-C port can charge a connected device at 18W, enough to fast-charge an iPhone. One of the 5Gbps USB-A ports can charge at 7.5W.

Rounding off the many ports are Gigabit Ethernet and a 3.5mm Audio In-Out.

There’s no card reader to add portable storage but you could connect an adapter to one of the USB ports.