what cable to connect macbook to monitor

#What cable to connect macbook to monitor mac#

(Until I get more time to write about this MacBook Air external monitor setup process, I'll just say, 'See your Mac System Preferences panel for more external monitor setup information'.) MacBook Air external monitor - Monitor adapter cables After that, it just becomes a matter of how you want to use your MacBook Air external monitor setup. In a few moments your MacBook Air will recognize the external monitor, and you'll see your Mac desktop appear on that monitor as well. With your external monitor turned off, connect the monitor to your MacBook Air with your new cable(s), and then turn your external monitor on. 3) MacBook Air external monitor setupĪs you might have guessed, getting the correct external monitor adapter cable was the hard part, and connecting your external monitor to your MacBook Air is simple. If you're unsure, get the make and model of your monitor, or snap a photo of the monitor cable, and take it to Best Buy or an Apple Store and they can help you. Older monitors have VGA connectors, and most newer monitors have DVI connectors, but again, it's very important to get the right adapter cable for your external monitor, and I can't help you there. (I bought mine at Best Buy.)Īgain, which adapter you need to buy depends on the external monitor you want to connect to your MacBook Air, specifically the types of connections that monitor allows. You can buy all of these MacBook Air external monitor cables at the online Apple Store, and can probably buy them at Best Buy and other electronics stores as well. Here's an image from the MacBook Air specifications page that shows this information, along with the MacBook Air screen resolution capabilities:

HDMI output - requires a third-party Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Adapter.

Dual-link DVI output - requires a Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter.

VGA output - requires a Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter.DVI output - requires a Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter.2) MacBook Air external monitor - the correct cableĪccording to the technical specs, the MacBook Air Mini DisplayPort provides four different types of output to support external monitors, and these four different types of output each require a different type of external monitor cable: Using this MacBook Air external display port - and the correct cable, which you have to buy - you can connect your MacBook Air to an external monitor. (Image courtesy of Apple, with a few changes by me to highlight the Mini DisplayPort.) You can see the MacBook Air Mini DisplayPort in this photo: To connect an external monitor to a MacBook Air, first locate the 'Mini DisplayPort' on the right side Air. 1) MacBookAir external monitor - The Mini DisplayPort Connect the monitor to your MacBook Air.

Buy the right type of DisplayPort adapter cable for your external monitor.Locate the Mini DisplayPort on your MacBook Air.MacBook Air external monitor FAQ: How do I connect an external monitor to my MacBook Air?īecause the MacBook Air and the iMac use the same Apple Mini DisplayPort technology to connect to external monitors, the process of connecting an external monitor to a MacBook Air is nearly the same as connecting a dual monitor to an iMac:

What cable to connect macbook to monitor