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

di1in

macrumors regular
Original poster
Feb 27, 2011
244
21
How can I connect multiple HDMI monitors to my MacBook Pro retina 13 inch 2015 model? Can I connect two external and also use my internal monitor?
 

jerryk

macrumors 604
Nov 3, 2011
7,418
4,206
SF Bay Area
How can I connect multiple HDMI monitors to my MacBook Pro retina 13 inch 2015 model? Can I connect two external and also use my internal monitor?

You have one HDMI port on the unit so an HDMI-HDMI cable will work for that. For the second monitor you need a mini-Display Port to HDMI cable/adapter. I use two external monitor on my rMBP 15 quite often with this setup.

You can use the internal display at the same time, but I find it difficult to switch focus from the small laptop display to the bigger external monitors.
 
  • Like
Reactions: di1in

di1in

macrumors regular
Original poster
Feb 27, 2011
244
21
You have one HDMI port on the unit so an HDMI-HDMI cable will work for that. For the second monitor you need a mini-Display Port to HDMI cable/adapter. I use two external monitor on my rMBP 15 quite often with this setup.

You can use the internal display at the same time, but I find it difficult to switch focus from the small laptop display to the bigger external monitors.
Thank you so much. One more question: Can I use HDMI on one and a mini-display to VGA adapter on the other? (because I already have one of those lying around)
 
Last edited:

Samuelsan2001

macrumors 604
Oct 24, 2013
7,729
2,153
Thank you so much. One more question: Can I use HDMI on one and a mini-display to VGA adapter on the other? (because I already have one of those lying around)

If you have a vga connected screen then of course, if the screen only has HDMI inputs then no. Of course HDMI is more useful on lcd screens as vga is an analogue input.
 
  • Like
Reactions: di1in

jerryk

macrumors 604
Nov 3, 2011
7,418
4,206
SF Bay Area
Thank you so much. One more question: Can I use HDMI on one and a mini-display to VGA adapter on the other? (because I already have one of those lying around)

Yes, but you will need the appropriate adapter/cable. I do a lot of presentations and you never know if the projectors are going to support VGA, DVI, HDMI, etc. As a result I carry a mini-display port adapter that supports all 3, since they often have the projector cable, but almost never a mini display port adapter.
https://www.amazon.com/Version-Displayport-Thunderbolt-Compatible-Adapter/dp/B00UHLC24O
is the one I use, but there are a lot of other choices.
 
  • Like
Reactions: di1in

cottonr

macrumors newbie
Jan 14, 2021
1
0
Hi all, Mac newbie here. I have 2 x Acer 22" screens with just a VGA port which I'm trying to connect to my MacBook Pro Retina 13" 2015. I have one that is connected via an adapter to mini display port and I've tried connecting the second one via a VGA to HDMI adapter to the HDMI port but the Mac just flickers continuously and mostly stays black screen, on the laptop and the monitors. I thought about getting a via to HDMI lead but I don't think that will work. Can I connect the other one via another adapter to the second thunderbolt 2 port? I don't want to mirror the displays but want them to work independently. Thanks in anticipation!
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.