TIL how to get my 7-year-old MacBook to Run External Monitors
Tags: todayilearned
Published: 2021-01-05 19:37:52

For a while, I've wanted to set up my laptop with a pair of monitors to make work a bit easier than just working on a laptop.

Now, this may seem easy, but my 2013 Macbook Air is old enough that ports have changed. Getting adapters for the old Thunderbolt 2 port is not so easy.

## Try all the Cables!

Anyway, my laptop has Thunderbolt 2 and USB. The monitors have VGA, DisplayPort, and HDMI options.

The first thing I tried, based on [a forum that suggested this](https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/2013-macbook-air-with-two-external-monitor.1597826/), daisy-chaining the 2 monitors together than just hooking the one to my laptop. I tried all combinations possible and none worked.

I even [asked on the apple community page](https://discussions.apple.com/thread/252204509) and they told me this wasn't possible. Though, I persisted because I saw several people say they had it set up that way.

## Splitter Adapters (Psst, 3rd time's a charm)
After trying all the cables, I tried to get a Thunderbolt 2 splitter because USB ports need to be available for other things.

### Attempt 1
So, I ordered a Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Monitor Splitter based on a review of someone saying they were running 2 monitors from their 2013 Macbook Air.

{% twitter 1343689948361326593 %}

You guessed it, it definitely didn't work. Why didn't it work? It probably didn't work because it was for a Mini DisplayPort and not Thunderbolt 2. Though, it did mention MST which seemed to be a thunderbolt thing.

### Attempt 2
The next adapter I purchased was a StarTech.com USB 3.0 to Dual HDMI Adapter. 
{% twitter 1344365163949023232 %}
Epic fail on my part, this one was for Windows only. I didn't realize it until I couldn't install the `.dmg` for the drivers. Oops

### Splitter Adapter Attempt 3
Woohoo! It works! Honestly, I didn't think the monitors would work running from USB ports. I don't know why I thought that, but I'm glad I was wrong. The combination of a J5 Create (JUA365) and a USB hub is perfect.

On top of that, the `readme` for the adapter was fantastic and easy to understand.
{% twitter 1346105703811985413 %}

## How to close the laptop?
I thought it was gonna require messing with settings to use just the monitors with the laptop closed. Turns out, it was super easy. Just close it.

![screenshot of discord message from me: Apparently using my MacBook with external monitors and closing the laptop is as easy as just closing the laptop. I thought about trying that earlier today, but thought for sure it couldn’t be that easy. I’ll try in the morning](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/i/hqxc7vrsc8sst0risdai.png)

I was told to make sure the hinge, where the vent is, is not on a solid surface and has room to breathe.
![screenshot of discord message from me: just try to keep the...crack? elevated. I majorly overheated mine once by keeping it closed and flat on the table. The vents are in the crack.](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/i/xjtwq7decxu7hy6q6tg6.png)

A happy side effect of closing my laptop: now I get to see all the stickers!


## What's Left?
Now I just gotta hide the wires. I think all the wires on the desk are going to get hidden behind the monitors. That should work.

Oh, I also need to return all these failed attempt adapters. They were all > $50.

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**TL;DR**
For my mid-2013 Macbook Air, [the j5 create jua365 adapter](https://en.j5create.com/products/jua365) is what allowed me to run 2 external monitors and the laptop screen. It also allows running the 2 monitors with the laptop closed.

![screenshot of About this Mac popup: macOS Catalina 10.15.7, MacBook air (13-inch, Mid-2013)](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/i/p2sy8fyk9bc2w1sbmies.png)

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*Btw, I was blackmailed into writing this post.*
{% twitter 1346110675349884928 %}
Now, I think I deserve this doggo pic. I wrote the post, doggo pic pretty please????! :D