Running a second monitor with a MacBook Pro

[ladytonya]

I have a 2017 13" MacBook Pro that I am now using for working from home. I want to set it up with a second monitor so I have a dual monitor situation with the MacBook's screen and a second monitor. Everything I search for about dual monitors assumes that I want to connect two monitors to my MacBook and just use it as the computer. My employer is sending me a monitor with HDMI. I'm trying to find the best way to do this setup, and it has to be something that's relatively portable because I don't actually have an office in my house (I usually work either at my kitchen table or on a card table in the living room) and I need to be able to easily disconnect the monitor from my MacBook when I need to take it with me. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

 

[bradl]

I have a 2017 13" MacBook Pro that I am now using for working from home. I want to set it up with a second monitor so I have a dual monitor situation with the MacBook's screen and a second monitor. Everything I search for about dual monitors assumes that I want to connect two monitors to my MacBook and just use it as the computer. My employer is sending me a monitor with HDMI. I'm trying to find the best way to do this setup, and it has to be something that's relatively portable because I don't actually have an office in my house (I usually work either at my kitchen table or on a card table in the living room) and I need to be able to easily disconnect the monitor from my MacBook when I need to take it with me. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

This should be simple for you. The 2017 MBP should have 2 USB-C ports for you to use, in which you're probably using one for charging. For the other, you should be able to use a USB-C to HDMI adapter to plug the HDMI cable (that should come with your monitor) into the adapter, which should get you to use that second monitor. That way you can have your laptop screen open as well as extend the display of your laptop to the second monitor.

Something similar to this is what you'll need:

Anker USB C to HDMI Adapter (@60Hz), 310 USB-C (4K HDMI), Aluminum, Portable, for MacBook Pro, Air, iPad pROPixelbook, XPS, Galaxy, and More

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www.amazon.com

That should do it for you..

BL.

 

[ladytonya]

Perfect, that sounds easy! Unfortunately, some things that sound easy I have a way of making them be complicated.

Also, it was mentioned that I might want to get a hub so both USB C ports aren't always occupied. Any suggestions on a good yet inexpensive hub? I have seen them anything from $20 to $200!

 

[bradl]

Perfect, that sounds easy! Unfortunately, some things that sound easy I have a way of making them be complicated.

Also, it was mentioned that I might want to get a hub so both USB C ports aren't always occupied. Any suggestions on a good yet inexpensive hub? I have seen them anything from $20 to $200!

You're right on this. You'll want to go the hub route, and I should have mentioned that before, because with only having the 2 ports, you'll to have additional ports to use, so a hub would work. For those, anything from $20 to $35 would be considered cheap, especially as it will work for a long time, and should you upgrade your Mac, will work with the new hardware as well.

Something like this will definitely work as well:

USB C Hub Adapter for MacBook Pro/Air M1 M2 M3 2023 2022 2021 13" 15" 16", 7-in-2 Multiport HDMI MacBook Accessories Dongle with Thunderbolt 3, 4K HDMI, USB C 3.0, 2 USB 3.0, SD & microSD Card Reader

USB C Adapter for Macbook Pro Air 2020 2019 2018 with hdmi and usb LIONWEI aluminum alloy 7-in-2 macbook pro air adapter multiport dock expand your MacBook Pro Air ports into 2 USB3.0 + Thunderbolt 3 + 4K HDMI+ USB C Data Transfer Port and SD/TF card reader. A best accessory for MacBook Pro and M...

www.amazon.com

BL.