How to Connect MacBook to Monitor: Cables, Scaling, Setup

Trying to connect your MacBook to a monitor but seeing nothing on screen? Or maybe the text looks blurry, or your USB-C cable won’t charge? This guide shows you how to connect your MacBook to an external monitor step by step, with visuals.

Connect to your Mac: No signal on your external monitor?

Start by checking the cable type, your Mac model, and the input source on the display.

● Identify the model ID and specs on your Mac device and BenQ monitor

● Ensure the right cables are used to connect your Mac and monitor

● Enable a signal on the monitor

● Mirror or extend your Mac display

Display Settings: Text looks blurry or too small on your external screen?

macOS scaling may be the reason—here’s how to adjust it.

● Select your preferred user interface and desktop scaling

Enable Mac Color Mode: Colors don’t match your MacBook display?

Try enabling M-book mode to improve consistency.

● Can I adjust the color mode on my BenQ monitor?

● How to adjust M-book mode [Video]

● Tuning colors with MacBook and across external monitors [Video]

FAQs on Connecting External Monitors to Your Mac

Identify your Mac device and BenQ monitor model ID and specs

1. Find your “Mac version” first: choose Apple menu > About this Mac > Overview

2. Use your verified Mac version and look for available ports from the “Charging and Expansion” section via https://support.apple.com/specs

3. Check the label on your BenQ monitor to find the model ID.
For PD Series, it’s located on the lower side of the rear panel.
For MA Series, you’ll find it along the bottom edge of the screen.

4. Check the product page “buy” and “specs” sections of the specific “BenQ model ID” you are looking for to get an overview of available connectivity ports. https://www.benq.com/en-ap/monitor.html

Ensure the right cables are used to connect your Mac and monitor

1. Locate the right ports on your monitor and Mac device and choose a compatible cable.

2. Connect a Thunderbolt/USB-C display: connect the display to a Thunderbolt/USB-C port on your MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iMac, Mac mini, Mac Pro, or Mac Studio. We strongly suggest using this method to get the best performance.

3. Or connect a DisplayPort (DP) display: use a USB-C to Display Port 1.4 cable to connect the display to a Thunderbolt port on your MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iMac, Mac Mini, Mac Pro, or Mac Studio.

4. Or connect an HDMI display: plug a cable from your monitor’s HDMI in port directly into the HDMI out port on your MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iMac, Mac mini, Mac Pro, or Mac Studio.

Use an Apple USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter to connect the HDMI display to a Thunderbolt / USB4 port on your Mac computer.

5. Using adapters? Here’s what to check:

If you're using a USB-C multiport adapter or hub, make sure it supports video output (DP Alt Mode).

*Monitors with Thunderbolt 3/USB-C also work seamlessly with Mac devices that feature Thunderbolt 4.

*Please note that MacBook Air and MacBook Pro USB-C cables may sometimes support power delivery only, depending on cable specifications. To connect the display, you need to use the USB-C/Thunderbolt 4 cables BenQ offers or purchase an Apple Thunderbolt cable at the Apple Store.

Enable a signal on the monitor

If you encounter “no signal detected” or “no cable connected”, try the following steps:

1. Turn your monitor off and on

2. Change input source: open your monitor’s OSD (on-screen display) by using its physical controls (either a joystick or a series of buttons) and navigate to Input Settings and select the correct input source option.

3. Check whether your cables are connected properly. Make sure the display cable is plugged into the correct port on your Mac and securely seated in the port.

4. If possible, try using a different type of cable to test. So, if you’ve been using DisplayPort, try using an HDMI cable instead.

5. Please use the cable BenQ provides in the monitor box rather than 3^rd party cables or a docking station.

6. If none of the above steps resolve the issue, the monitor needs to be serviced. Please contact our customer service team, as we'd like to offer additional assistance.

Mirror or extend your Mac display

Mirror: want to design your artwork on your MacBook Pro, but on a larger display with full sized Dock icons? You should “mirror” your Mac display to the external monitor.

1. Choose Apple menu > System Settings, then click Displays in the sidebar (you may need to scroll down).

2. Click Arrangement, then hold Option while dragging items on top of each other.

Extend: to get a larger workspace, you can set your external display to work side by side with your Mac computer to create one large, continuous desktop.

1. Choose Apple menu > System Settings, then click Displays in the sidebar (you may need to scroll down).

2. Click the name of your display on the right, then click the “Use as” pop-up menu, and choose “Extended display” or Stop Mirroring.

Select your preferred user interface and desktop scaling

By default, your Mac uses what the operating system considers the optimal resolution for your display size. The scaling chosen affects the size of text and icons as shown on your screen. In most cases we recommend using the resolution and scaling that Mac OS automatically sets for you. However, you may manually change resolutions to make text and other visual elements increase or decrease in visible size. This may prove beneficial, depending on your preferences.

1. On your Mac, choose Apple menu > System Settings, then click Displays in the sidebar (you may need to scroll down).

2. Select your desired user interface (UI) size.

Please be noted that the Mac is defaulting to 2560x1440 because that is the sweet spot between the text being too small and having nice clarity and sharpness. Our recommendation is to pick the "scale" that works best for you.

Can I adjust the color mode on my BenQ monitor?

On your Mac device, disable HDR mode first, then adjust the color mode based on your workflow preference.

How to adjust M-book mode

M-book Mode helps your external monitor display colors closer to what you see on your MacBook screen—essential for consistent visuals when doing creative work.

PD Series: Switch to M-book Mode via the Hotkey Puck or in the monitor’s OSD.
Go to Color > Color Mode > M-book

Just want your Mac colors to look right—without the extra steps?

MA Series monitors are built to recognize your Mac and automatically apply a compatible color setting by Display Pilot 2. It’s a seamless solution for everyday users who want visual consistency across screens, without manual setup.

Learn how BenQ monitors match Mac colors the right way

Tuning colors with MacBook and across external monitors

Still finding differences in the colors between your monitors? Or still wondering how to match your external monitor color to your MacBook?

With Display ColorTalk, effortlessly matching the colors across your displays without needing a calibrator has become a breeze.

Follow the steps below:

1. To bind monitors. Drag and drop windows to decide which monitor is the Benchmark and which is for Fine Tuning.

2. Before you start adjusting, resize two images to have similar dimensions and start matching colors by adjusting the brightness, color temperature, and color RGB.

3. Check your adjustment results. If you are not satisfied, click on colors and settings to readjust.

FAQs on Connecting External Monitors to Your Mac

• How to Fix Blurry Text on External Monitor with MacBook?

This usually happens because of macOS’s display scaling.

Go to System Settings > Displays, select your monitor, and choose “Scaled” to adjust clarity.

See step-by-step visuals above

• Can I connect a MacBook to a monitor with HDMI?

Yes, but most MacBooks only have USB-C or Thunderbolt ports.

You’ll need a USB-C to HDMI adapter that supports video output—some cheaper cables don’t.

Make sure your monitor is set to the correct input (HDMI or DisplayPort).

See cable connection examples in the section above

• Why isn’t my MacBook charging through the monitor?

Your monitor or cable might not support USB-C Power Delivery (PD).

To charge and display at the same time, check if the monitor has 65W PD output and use a certified USB-C cable.

Learn more in the USB-C power guide

• Can I use two external monitors with my MacBook?

If you're using a MacBook with M1/M2/M3 chip, it only supports one external monitor.

M1 Pro/M1 Max/M2 Pro/M2 Max/M3 Pro/M3 Max/M4/M4 Pro/M4 Max models or Intel-based MacBooks may support two or more, depending on the model.

How to Connect Dual Monitors to a MacBook Pro

• How do I know what ports my MacBook has?

Click the Apple menu > About This Mac > Overview, then searchsearch for your model on Apple’s website to confirm port specs.

MacBooks vary—some have Thunderbolt 4, others only USB-C.

Check your Mac’s ports at Apple Support

*MacBook, Mac, macOS, Apple, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iMac, Mac mini Mac Pro and Mac Studio are registered trademarks of Apple Inc.

Strictly necessary cookies

Functional cookies

Performance cookies and advertising cookies