Small additional monitor woes...Any monitor help for a Mac M1 user?

[angelhair0]

Hi!. I'm an audio engineer, artist, and do all the administration with my business. I make creative music videos as well. I figured a video forum would be the best place for this question, as video editors are always working with and chaining monitors together.

I have an extra-wide curved monitor that I absolutely love. However I am really wanting some extra space to keep a few small things open and in-view while I work, like a Textedit file or sticky note, and maybe a view of my security camera. So I would love to purchase a second, small monitor to keep off to the side.

I've looked into tons of them, and bought some, and basically nothing has ever worked. Ive worked with multiple monitors my whole life, with desktops and laptops, and never had any issues unless it was clear there was some lack of incompatibility or bad settings. In this case, I figured it would just work considering I have a 2022 Mac.

I have a 13" monitor that works fine with my 2018 Mac Mini that I keep in the corner of the room in case I need to go back to it, but it wouldn't dare work on my M1. I've tried so many times. The only thing I could ever get to work as a second monitor on this M1 is an iPad. And I really don't want to buy an iPad for this. I've tried chaining off of my current monitor, and coming straight from my CPU either by USB-C, HDMI, or whatever else, depending on the monitor I am trying to test.

Granted a lot of those small monitors I've bought were from Amazon, so they're mostly no-name brands, cheap flimsy stuff. But even the more sturdy thicker ones with nice stands just don't want to be recognized on my M1. The additional monitor is never recognized by my computer, no matter what, with any cable. I can configure an iPad easily, as it shows up in my monitor options, allows me to position it, and all that stuff. But not with any other small monitor.

Any advice for small monitors, under 14", perhaps as small as 7", that will actually work with this thing?! Or is that just not going to happen because these newer computers are not meant to work with small resolutions?

[october262]

Hi!. I'm an audio engineer, artist, and do all the administration with my business. I make creative music videos as well. I figured a video forum would be the best place for this question, as video editors are always working with and chaining monitors together.

I have an extra-wide curved monitor that I absolutely love. However I am really wanting some extra space to keep a few small things open and in-view while I work, like a Textedit file or sticky note, and maybe a view of my security camera. So I would love to purchase a second, small monitor to keep off to the side.

I've looked into tons of them, and bought some, and basically nothing has ever worked. Ive worked with multiple monitors my whole life, with desktops and laptops, and never had any issues unless it was clear there was some lack of incompatibility or bad settings. In this case, I figured it would just work considering I have a 2022 Mac.

I have a 13" monitor that works fine with my 2018 Mac Mini that I keep in the corner of the room in case I need to go back to it, but it wouldn't dare work on my M1. I've tried so many times. The only thing I could ever get to work as a second monitor on this M1 is an iPad. And I really don't want to buy an iPad for this. I've tried chaining off of my current monitor, and coming straight from my CPU either by USB-C, HDMI, or whatever else, depending on the monitor I am trying to test.

Granted a lot of those small monitors I've bought were from Amazon, so they're mostly no-name brands, cheap flimsy stuff. But even the more sturdy thicker ones with nice stands just don't want to be recognized on my M1. The additional monitor is never recognized by my computer, no matter what, with any cable. I can configure an iPad easily, as it shows up in my monitor options, allows me to position it, and all that stuff. But not with any other small monitor.

Any advice for small monitors, under 14", perhaps as small as 7", that will actually work with this thing?! Or is that just not going to happen because these newer computers are not meant to work with small resolutions?

see this thread here - https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/connect-an-external-display-mchl7c7ebe08/mac

[angelhair0]

There is conflicting information, including on that site, at least to my eyes. That is why I am posting here.

The page you linked, which I have already ready, states "For Mac computers with the Apple M1 Chip: You can connect a single external display to your Mac," with the exception of the Mac Mini of course.

But on this apple page >>> https://support.apple.com/en-us/101910 it says "Mac Studio (2022) models support up to five external displays simultaneously, based on the resolution (up to 6K) and refresh rate (up to 60Hz) of each external display. You can connect displays to the Thunderbolt 4 ports and HDMI port on the computer." It does then say that the ports on the front of the CPU don't work for displays, but that's fine, there are some in the back.

And this page >>> https://support.apple.com/en-us/111900 which says "Simultaneously supports up to five displays" and provides details on how.

So what's the truth? I can't reconcile this conflicting information.

[skipmack46]

I have a Mac Mini M1 and I purchased a USB C HDMI Adapter and it works fine for a External Monitor, as I have 2 monitors working fine, one Built into the Mac Mini and one with the USB C HDMI Port.

[angelhair0]

The Minis and the Studios are a lot different when it comes to monitor capabilities from what I've found. In fact, I think Mac Minis are the most lenient when it comes to external monitors. But I could be wrong, because I keep finding conflicting info, and even Apple Support (at least the support you get at first, before anything is escalated) doesn't even understand what I'm talking about. Everyone's just like "well, it should work. Restart your computer."

However my next step is messing with adapters. I read one post on Reddit from someone who said nothing worked until they tried that.

[Cornucopia]

I can just tell you anecdotally that the M1 MacMinis we have (dozen or so still in use) have ALL had issues with multiple monitors. For those units that are requiring 2 displays, I am using a downstream HDMI video DA, which means they are stuck in mirror mode.

Apple aggravates me to no end!


Scott