Can MacBook Air M4 have three external monitors?

[fai1012]

Hi all, I have been using my MacBook Pro Intel with my dell docking station and able to use three monitors with lip opened or closed.
I also have another corporate laptop which is MacBook Air M3 and only able to use two monitors no matter what I do.

I am wondering if that’s the limitations of M chip or it is the restriction of my company because I am not admin?

I am thinking of upgrading my MacBook Pro intel to the new MacBook, so thinking if the M4 can use all my three monitors or I have to go for M4 pro or even max?

Really thanks in advance!

[rboerner]

Originally Posted by fai1012

Hi all, I have been using my MacBook Pro Intel with my dell docking station and able to use three monitors with lip opened or closed.
I also have another corporate laptop which is MacBook Air M3 and only able to use two monitors no matter what I do.

I am wondering if that’s the limitations of M chip or it is the restriction of my company because I am not admin?

I am thinking of upgrading my MacBook Pro intel to the new MacBook, so thinking if the M4 can use all my three monitors or I have to go for M4 pro or even max?

Really thanks in advance!

Can you please provide the specific model number of the Dell docking station you are using?

For example, UD22.

Can you also please provide the brand and specific model number of each of the three external displays you are using?

For example, Dell U2723QE.

[fai1012]

Docking stations: Dell D6000
Monitors: Dell P2222H

[rboerner]

Originally Posted by fai1012

Docking stations: Dell D6000
Monitors: Dell P2222H

1. The Dell D6000 has two DisplayPort outputs and one HDMI output.

To which specific port is the Dell P2222H display that is not working connected?

For example, HDMI output or DisplayPort on the far right.

2. Can you confirm you are using standard DisplayPort to DisplayPort cables (cables with a DisplayPort connector on both ends) and a standard HDMI to HDMI cable (cable with a HDMI connector on both ends) to connect the displays to the dock?

[fai1012]

Originally Posted by rboerner

1. The Dell D6000 has two DisplayPort outputs and one HDMI output.

To which specific port is the Dell P2222H display that is not working connected?

For example, HDMI output or DisplayPort on the far right.

2. Can you confirm you are using standard DisplayPort to DisplayPort cables (cables with a DisplayPort connector on both ends) and a standard HDMI to HDMI cable (cable with a HDMI connector on both ends) to connect the displays to the dock?

1. There is no specific port that is not working because I tried removing one of them and the other will work and I tried removing all three. It implies that it can support only two external monitors

2. I am not sure, but I have another Macbook Pro with Intel chip, I can use all three external monitors.

[rboerner]

Originally Posted by fai1012

1. There is no specific port that is not working because I tried removing one of them and the other will work and I tried removing all three. It implies that it can support only two external monitors

2. I am not sure, but I have another Macbook Pro with Intel chip, I can use all three external monitors.

To the best of my knowledge, the D6000 docking station is somewhat unique in regard to its internal functionality and this may be playing a part in the unexpected behavior.

To expand further, when the D6000 is connected to a host computer that supports one video signal out via it's USB-C or Thunderbolt port, that single video signal is routed out through the dock's HDMI video output port.

The remaining two DisplayPort outputs are driven by the DisplayLink technology within the dock.

This means that as long as your Mac supports one external display, you should be able to use three external displays via the D6000.

In cases where the D6000 is connected to a computer with a USB 3.0 cable (as opposed to a USB-C or Thunderbolt connection), the DisplayLink technology will allow you to use any two of the three potential video outputs at the same time. Dell speaks to this detail on page 4 of the manual for the D6000 here --> LINK

All this means is that in theory you should be able to use three external displays when the MacBook Air with an M3 processor is connected to the D6000.

Since that is not in fact the case, and you can only use two external displays at a time, I would suggest the following:

1. Ensure that you have installed the latest DisplayLink Manager Application on your Mac. As of today, that is version 1.12.4 --> LINK

2. Ensure that you have the latest firmware update for your D6000 docking station --> LINK

*** The firmware updater on works on Windows. It will not work on a Mac ***

3. If those steps do not help, then I would suggest reporting the issue directly to DisplayLink by following the process outlined here --> https://support.displaylink.com/know...to-displaylink