In this article, I’m going to explain how to connect your MacBook Pro 16 to and external display, screen, or monitor.
There are two ways to do this. One is two find the right cable that is compatible with your MacBook and monitor, the other is to use an adapter, dock, or “dongle”. Today, I’m only going to discuss using the correct cable. When I write an article about using an adapter or dongle, I’ll add a link here.
My MacBook Pro 16 has four Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports with support for: Charging, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt (up to 40Gb/s), and USB 3.1 Gen 2 (up to 10Gb/s).
Most MacBook Pro models since 2016 have either 2 or 4 of these ports, but check the specs of your Mac before trying this.
The connector on the Mac is called USB-C. What flows through the cable is either DisplayPort, Thunderbolt (up to 40Gb/s), or USB 3.1 Gen 2. The trick is to find a cable with USB-C on one end and the right connector for your monitor on the other end.
Most monitors have one or more connectors, or “inputs” on the back. This lets you connect and switch between more that one computer on the monitor as well as giving you some choice about what types of connection to use. The most recent displays usually have DisplayPort, Mini-Display Port, or HDMI connectors on the back. Older models have one or more of those connectors, as well ad VGA or DVI connectors. Some of the latest monitors may have a USB-C connector or even a Thunderbolt 3 connection, but that is usually only on more expensive models.
I have a nice large Dell LCD monitor it has three inputs. USB-C, Display-Port, and HDMI inputs. My previous Dell monitor has a Mini-Display Port connector.
When I bought my MacBook Pro I bought a couple inexpensive cables from Amazon. I bought one USB-C to Mini DisplayPort cable and a USB-C to DisplayPort cable as well.
Connecting Your Monitor
Once you have the correct cable, start by plugging one end of your cable into the external monitor, display, or screen and the the USB-C end of your cable into your MacBook Pro 16. Note that for the end of the cable that plugs into the monitor will only plug in one way. Make sure you are plugging it in the right way. You may need to lay your monitor flat on a towel or cloth in order to line up and plug in the monitor cable. The USB-c end of the cable that plugs into the MacBook Pro is reversible, so you can plug it in in either direction.
Once the screen is connected, make sure you have selected the correct input from the buttons on the front of your monitor. It’s different for each display, so check the manual if you can’t figure it out. Once connected, on your Mac click Apple Menu > System Preferences > Displays. to setup or change settings.
In the video below, I show you connecting the two cables I bought above to my monitors.
Your monitor may only have HDMI, VGA, or DVI inputs. I did not buy or try any of these cables so I can’t recommend them.
Bonus – Use the USB – A Ports on your monitor
Many monitors have built in USB-A ports for connecting devices to your computer. For instance, a tired keyboard or mouse or maybe a USB drive. These hubs work by connecting the USB devices to your monitor and then connecting your monitor to a USB port on your computer. I bought a USB-C to USB-B cable to connect my MacBook Pro to the monitor’s USB hub.
Advantages & Disadvantages
The advantage of using these cables is that they are relatively inexpensive and connect your MacBook Pro directly to your display. You have one single cable between the two. The other solution is to use a dock or adapter which are significantly more expensive. You’ll also have a little wedges hanging several inches off the side of your computer, and then you’ll need to plug another cable into the side of that to connect your display.
The disadvantage of using these cables is that you are only getting a single limited use out of the USB-C / Thunderbolt-3 port on the side of your computer. Those ports are powerful, and with a dock or adapter. you can connect multiple devices to your MacBook Pro. And with some docks or adapters you can even use that same USB-C port to power and charge your computer. (The power supply needs to be plugged into the dock or adapter)
Final Note
At the time I wrote this the USB-C to mini-display port cable I bought was listed as not available, below is a list of one’s I would try if I need to order another one.
The classic “dongle” was a plug-in small attachment used by specific application software to validate that the machine running the software was indeed registered and allowed to run the software. No dongle, no software. Your use of the word as an “… adapter, dock, or “dongle”.” is incorrect. Dongles were specific-purpose devices whose only function was to provide an authorization code to the software app that required it. It didn’t connect to another device such as a monitor.