How to run two or more external displays on an M1, M2 or M3 MacBook that natively supports only one.
Base M1, M2 and M3 MacBooks can only drive one external display natively. macOS also doesn’t support MST (Multi-Stream Transport), which is how many cheap dual-HDMI hubs split one signal into two. On a Mac, those hubs just mirror the same image on both screens.
To get separate screens, you need a hub with a DisplayLink chip (or Silicon Motion “InstantView”). These chips create extra displays through a software driver, which gets around the chip’s limit.
| Dock | External displays | Notes | Links |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plugable UD-6950PDZ Best overall |
2 × 4K60 | Widely used with Macs, 100W charging, good support. | Plugable · Amazon |
| Anker 563 / 565 USB-C Docking Station Value |
2 × 4K | Lots of ports. Make sure the listing says DisplayLink or macOS-compatible. | Anker · Amazon |
| Kensington SD4842P / SD4849P Business-grade |
Up to 3 | Business-grade, 100W charging, solid build. | Kensington · Amazon |
| Plugable USBC-6950U adapter Compact |
2 × 4K | Small and cheap, with no charging passthrough. Good if you only need screens. | Plugable · Amazon |
| Wavlink / Targus DisplayLink docks Budget |
2–3 | Cheaper options. Quality varies, so check reviews. | Wavlink · Targus |
Amazon links are searches, not specific listings. I didn’t check current prices or stock, so confirm the exact model before you buy.
Plug it into the Mac’s USB-C/Thunderbolt port (or the dock’s native port, if it has one) for full native quality.
Run only the extra screens through DisplayLink.
Install DisplayLink Manager and turn on its Screen Recording permission.
To check your chip, open the Apple menu and choose About This Mac.