Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

cube

Suspended
Original poster
May 10, 2004
17,011
4,973
OK, this seems to be a fundamental flaw in OSX. I cannot find how to do this:

- I have a MBP and an external monitor and I want to use only one at a time.
- I want to use the optimal resolution for each monitor.
- It seems the only way to put the dock and menubar in both monitors is by mirroring, but that sets the external monitor at a lower resolution.
- I don't want to have to drag the menubar from one to the other.

Any solutions?
 
To only use your MBP display, unplug the external (duh :))

To only use the external, close the MBP lid and connect a mouse and keyboard.

To use both, uncheck "Mirror Displays" to go into extended desktop mode. You can have separate resolutions, but only 1 can have the menubar. The dock can either be on the bottom of the display with the menubar or it will move between monitors depending on whether you select left or right.

You cannot stretch the menubar or dock across two displays.
 
OK, but when I try to set the resolution higher than 1400x1050, even when only the external is working, I can't see the menubar or Dock.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.