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Apple’s macOS is a secure operating system, and at the heart of its security is your password: you will need your password whenever you install new software or make changes to macOS via System Preferences (as of Ventura called System Settings); you’ll need it when logging in to you Mac (even if you log into your Mac with an Apple Watch, or using Touch ID you’ll still need to enter your password when your Mac starts up); and sometimes you’ll need your password when deleting important files.

But what do you do if you’ve lost or forgotten the password, or it doesn’t work? Maybe you inherited or bought the Mac secondhand and you don’t know the password. Don’t panic. In this article we’re going to look at how to recover a lost Mac password.

On a related note, if your Mac is asking you for your iCloud login, or Apple ID, then read about what to do if you forget your Apple ID password. Alternatively, if you have forgotten the password to the admin account on your Mac you may also find this article helpful: How to change the admin password on a Mac. We also have How to find a password on a Mac.

1. View the password hint

Foundry

If you are lucky your Mac’s password has been set up with a hint and you can view this on the log in screen.

You need to be in the log in screen to be able to access this option–just waking your Mac from sleep will not display the ? icon that you need to click on, you need to restart your Mac.

1. Restart your Mac.
2. When you are on the log in screen select the user you wish to log in as.
3. You should see a ? beside the Enter Password field.
4. Click on the ? and you might see a password hint.

If this helps you fix the problem excellent. If not we have more ideas below.

2. Change the password from another account

Foundry

Do you share the Mac with another person – some people do, in these days of remote working and hot-desking – and do they have their own account? Is there an administrator who looks after your work Mac? An IT guy (or girl) who might be able to log on? Or do you have a different user account on the Mac that you do know the password to? The only problem here is that if the other user doesn’t have Admin rights on the Mac they will not be able to change the password for you.

If you know (or can find out) the password to another account for the Mac you can use this account to reset your password. Follow these steps to reset your Mac password from another account. Note the process is a little different depending on which version of macOS you are using.

In Ventura

1. Either restart the Mac, or if it is logged in click on the Apple logo and choose Log Out [name].
2. Select the account you do know the password to.
3. Enter the password for that account.
4. In Ventura open System Settings > Users & Groups.
5. Click on the i beside the account you’ve forgotten the password for.
6. Click Reset Password.
7. Enter the password you are logged in with.
8. Add a new password and verify it.
9. Add a Password hint (so that it doesn’t get forgotten again).
10. Click Change Password.

In Monterey or older

1. Either restart the Mac, or if it is logged in click on the Apple logo and choose Log Out [name].
2. Select the account you do know the password to.
3. Enter the password for that account.
4. In Monterey or older open System Preferences > Users & Groups.
5. In Monterey or older click the lock icon in the bottom left of the window and enter the password again.
6. Select the account you’ve forgotten the password for in the sidebar.
7. Click Reset Password.
8. Fill in the New password, Verify and Password hint fields.
9. Click Change Password.

You have now changed the password for that account, and you can log into that account using the new password.

Note that this doesn’t change the password for the Keychain and you will be asked when you log into the account if you want to update the keychain password. To do this you’ll need the old password (which you have forgotten) so you’ll have to click Create New Keychain.

3. Reset your password using Recovery Assistant and your Apple ID

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When you start up your Mac and select the user you wish to log in as you should see a ? beside the Enter Password field. Click on the ? and you might see a password hint (as we detailed above).

Below the password hint you should see the option to “Restart and show password reset options”. If you click on this your Mac will restart with Recovery Assistant open. Follow the steps below to reset your password.

1. When you are on the log in screen click on the ? beside the Enter Password box.
2. Click on Restart and show password reset options.
3. Your Mac will restart in the Recovery assistant.
4. Enter your Apple ID email address.
5. Click on Next.
6. Enter your Apple ID password.
7. You will now get an alert on another Apple product that is signed into your Apple ID. Approve the fact that there has been a login attempt (even if the alert says it happened in a completely different part of the country).
8. You will now see a six number code appear on your device, you should enter this on the the Mac you are trying to log in to.
9. Select the user you want to reset the password for.
10. Click on Next.
11. Enter a new password and then verify it.
12. Add a password hint so that you don’t forget it again (but make sure that someone else couldn’t easily guess it!)

If you don’t see the ? this could be because you haven’t started up your Mac from off–so switch the Mac off and turn it on again.

If you still don’t see the ? and Recovery Assistant option at start up move to the next step.

4. Use Recovery mode, Terminal and your Apple ID to reset your password

Foundry

If you didn’t see the option to “restart and show password reset options” detailed above, you can still enter the Recovery mode and use the Recovery Assistant to change your password.

The process will depend on whether you have a Mac powered by an Intel processor or one that uses one of Apple’s M-series chips, such as the M1 or M2.

On a M1 or M2 Mac: Restart the Mac and press and hold the power button until you see the startup options. Click on Options > Continue.

On an Intel Mac: Restart the Mac and press and hold Command and R until the Apple logo appears. See How to use Recovery mode on a Mac.

Once in Recovery you can change the password for the Mac, even if you don’t know the password. You just need to know your Apple ID and password.

1. In macOS Recovery either choose a user you know the password for, or click on Forgot all passwords.
2. Now enter your Apple ID email and click on Next.
3. Enter your Apple ID password and click Next.
4. If all is good you will see Authentication successful. You now need to click on Exit to Recovery.
5. When you get the the Recovery screen you don’t want any of the options presented to you, such as Restore from Time Machine and Reinstall macOS. Instead click on Utilities in the menu at the top of the screen.
6. Click on Terminal.
7. In Terminal type resetpassword
8. Click on Return. Now the Reset Password options will open on the screen.
9. Choose I forgot my password.
10. Click on Next.
11. Now sign in with your Apple ID email and password.
12. You will see a warning that someone is using your Apple ID flash up on your other Apple devices, approve this and then you will see a six number code.
13. Enter the six number code on the Mac.
14. Choose the user you wish to reset the password for.
15. After you have entered the new password and a hint you can restart your Mac.

5. Use your recovery key to reset your password

Apple

If your drive is encrypted (either by you or your employer) through FileVault, you will see an option to reset your password using your recovery key. You will of course need that recovery key – which is a string of letters and numbers – so hopefully you haven’t lost it.

If you have FileVault set up with a recovery key when you restart your Mac you will see Enter your FileVault recovery key as an option.

“Reset it using your recovery key” to use the drive’s recovery key to reset your login password.

If you can’t find your FileVault recovery key this may help: How to find your FileVault recovery key in macOS.

How to make a Mac password hint appear

Now you know your password you might want to make sure that a password hint appears if you forget your password again. Follow these steps to set up a hint:

In Ventura:

1. Go to System Settings.
2. Scroll down to Users & Groups.
3. Click on the i beside the user’s name.
4. Click on Change Password.
5. Enter the old password and then a new password, and verify that.
6. Add a password hint that makes sense to you but won’t be easily guessed by someone else.

In Monterey or older:

1. Open System Preferences.
2. Click on Users & Groups.
3. Click on the lock and enter your password.
4. Click on Login Options.
5. Tick the box that says show password hints.
6. If there is no tip set up click on the user.
7. Click on Change Password.
8. Enter the old password and then a new password, and verify that.
9. Add a password hint that makes sense to you but won’t be easily guessed by someone else.

Foundry

How to stop someone else resetting your Mac password

Now you know how to reset your password you may be worried that if you can use Recovery Mode to reset the password, someone else could do the same thing – and once a person has got access to your Mac, you’ve usually lost control over it. There are some steps you can take to protect your data, though.

The best way to protect your data is to turn on FileVault encryption. This encrypts the contents of your Mac, and the Password Reset utility will not show until you unlock it with Disk Utility. When you set up FileVault you can choose to receive a Recovery Key (which you should print out) or you can tie it to your Apple ID. Beware that if you forget or you lose these your data will be lost forever.

To turn FileVault on follow these steps (slightly different depending on the macOS version).

In Ventura:

1. Go to System Settings.
2. Click on Privacy & Security.
3. Scroll down to FileVault.
4. Click on Turn On…
5. Choose Allow my iCloud account to unlock my disk, or Create a recovery key and do not use my iCloud account. We advise using iCloud due to the risk of losing the recovery key.
6. Click on Continue.

In Monterey or older:

1. Open System Preferences.
2. Go to Security & Privacy.
3. Click on FileVault.
4. Click the lock and enter your password.
5. Choose Allow my iCloud account to unlock my disk, or Create a recovery key and do not use my iCloud account. We advise using iCloud due to the risk of losing the recovery key.
6. Click on Continue.

Mac

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The Apple Watch has been a huge success for the company, pretty much tying up the wearables sector at the first attempt. With 2023 underway, we’re looking forward to seeing what Apple will do with the next generation of its digital timepiece. So, here’s all the news, rumors we’ve discovered so far about the Apple Watch Series 9 as well as our expectations for the new device.

Apple Watch Series 9: Release date

Apple has a release schedule for its Watches that, if you’ll pardon the pun, runs like clockwork. For years now, its latest iterations have made their debut in the second or third week of September, usually alongside the new iPhones, with on-sale dates about a week and a half later:

• Apple Watch Series 8: September 7, 2022
• Apple Watch Series 7: September 14, 2021
• Apple Watch Series 6: September 15, 2020
• Apple Watch Series 5: September 10, 2019
• Apple Watch Series 4: September 12, 2018
• Apple Watch Series 3: September 12, 2017

It seems highly unlikely that Apple will change the cadence this year, so we expect the Apple Watch Series 9 to launch in September 2023, likely on September 6 or 12.

Apple Watch Series 9: Price

Again, Apple has been remarkably consistent with its pricing strategy for the Apple Watch for U.S. buyers. However, 2022 saw European countries take the brunt of several price increases. As such, the U.K. saw the baseline model rise by £50:

• Apple Watch Series 8 – $399/£419
• Apple Watch Series 7 – $399/£369
• Apple Watch Series 6 – $399/£379
• Apple Watch Series 5 – $399/£399
• Apple Watch Series 4 – $399/£399

With a price rise in Europe already in place, we’d expect the Series 9 to have a similar price as the Apple Watch Series 8 it replaces. So, it should be around $399/£419.

Apple Watch Series 9: Design and specs

With the next generation of Apple Watch still off in the distance at the time of writing, information about what new features Apple could introduce remains pretty scarce. There are a few possibilities though, as well as some features the team at Macworld would like to see Apple introduce.

Ultra-style design

Last year Apple introduced the all-new Apple Watch Ultra with a dizzying array of features and components. The newest member of the Apple Watch family featured a more rugged design, flat edges, and a slightly larger display (49mm vs 45mm on the Apple Watch Series 8). While the Apple Watch’s aesthetics are iconic, a flat design had been rumored for the Apple Watch as far back as the Series 7, and we wouldn’t be surprised to see the Series 9 adopt a similar look to the Ultra.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Perhaps the most likely feature the new Watch could borrow from the Ultra would be the Action button. This is a second physical button, located on the opposite flank of the Digital Crown. On the Ultra you can set it to trigger specific tasks such as a stopwatch, workout, or flashlight, functionality that would be an excellent upgrade to the existing Apple Watch design.

S9 chip

If you look at the tech specs for every new Apple Watch, you’ll see a new chip listed. The Series 8 has an S8 chip, the Series 7 has an S7, and the Series 6 has an S6. The only thing that’s weird is that they’re all the same chip with different names. While the S6 delivered a 20 percent boost in performance over the Series 5, the S7 and S8 are rebranded versions of the same processor according to teardowns and Apple’s conspicuous commission of any sort of performance improvements. But we’re hoping the S9 changes that, with a boost in performance and maybe a Neural Engine built into the chip.

Dual-Frequency GPS 

Like the iPhone 14 Pro, the Apple Watch Ultra upgraded its GPS to include the L5 band in addition to the standard L1 for faster and more precise location tracking. Even if you’re not hiking in steep terrain, the extra band would be handy in busy city areas where the standard Watch can struggle. Apple has a habit of introducing new features on high-end models and then trickling them down to the lower-end models, and we think that very well could happen here.

The Apple Watch could soon have an even better display. Will it debut with the Series 9?

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MicroLED display

There have been plenty of rumors about Apple potentially using MicroLED displays on various devices over the past few years, but the strongest are targeting the Apple Watch as the first device to make the switch. After all, the Apple Watch was the first device to have an OLED screen—years before the iPhone—so it’s likely that Apple debuts its MicroLED screen on the Apple Watch too. The advantages would well make it worthwhile, as MicroLED is thinner, brighter, higher-res, and more efficient than even OLED. The most recent rumors say the first microLED watches won’t arrive until 2024, but we’re holding out hope for an earlier appearance.

5G

Thus far, Apple Watches are one of the few remaining Apple devices that hasn’t been updated to 5G—even the high-end Apple Watch Ultra has 4G LTE. With the Apple Watch moving closer toward complete independence, having the fastest connection available seems like a good idea. We’re sure there are no doubt a few problems to overcome, but Apple tends to be good at that.

Obviously, we’ll keep updating this article as more information becomes available, so be sure to check back regularly. In the meantime, if you can’t wait until September, here’s our roundup of the best Apple Watch deals currently around.

Apple Watch

Altair SimSolid will streamline Airbus teams in their development of the world’s first zero-emission commercial aircraft TROY, Mich., Jan. 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Altair (Nasdaq: ALTR), a global leader in computational science and artificial intelligence (AI), announced that Airbus Commercial has selected Altair SimSolid – the game-changing simulation technology that performs structural analyses on fully featured […]

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The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) continues to take issue with multiple aspects of Apple conduct, with the board Monday saying it had determined that the company’s policies may interfere with employees’ rights to collective action.

It’s important to note that while it can order companies to change their policies, the NLRB does not have the power to impose punitive damages if they don’t comply. Should Apple’s response prove unsatisfactory, however, this ruling is likely to lead to a complaint and potentially a federal case against the company, particularly given that the NLRB has ruled against Apple previously.

As reported by Bloomberg, the NLRB general counsel’s office has found that “various work rules, handbook rules, and confidentiality rules” that Apple imposes on its employees “tend to interfere with, restrain or coerce” them from exercising their labor rights. In blunter terms, this has been described as allegations of “union-busting.”

Furthermore, the NLRB has “found merit to a charge alleging statements and conduct by Apple–including high-level executives–also violated the National Labor Relations Act,” according to agency spokesperson Kayla Blado.

Former employees allege that they were prohibited from discussing wages, which is a protected right. (Apple finally relaxed this policy in November 2021.) It’s also alleged that threats to punish leakers violated labor laws.

Apple’s relationship with employees has come under intense scrutiny in recent years. Last year saw a US Apple Store successfully unionize for the first time in the company’s history, and numerous others attempted to follow suit. These attempts met with mixed results and considerable acrimony.

Facing a rising interest in the advantages of collective bargaining, it’s been reported that Apple sent out a list of anti-union talking points to its store managers. One store withdrew its filing in November, alleging “anti-union practices and increased hostility towards workers.” But most famous was a store in Cumberland, Atlanta, which withdrew a unionization attempt days before the vote, citing “a systematic, sophisticated campaign to intimidate [workers] and interfere with their right to form a union.” This resulted in a ruling against the company from the NLRB, which concluded that Apple violated federal law by interrogating and coercing employees.

Apple

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You’ve gotta stay alert in this game because sometimes an Apple rumor will just come flying at you out of left field. Case in point: this week’s rumor of a folding iPad coming in 2024.

“Folding iPad launch next year, says Kuo, ahead of a folding iPhone”

Finally, it may be time to ask the question we have been dreading for years: has covering Apple rumors driven Ming-Chi Kuo mad?

It has driven others mad before. (Some to the point where they refer to themselves in the third person.) So it is not unreasonable to wonder.

Kuo tweeted:

…I’m positive about the foldable iPad in 2024…

Surprisingly, the trailing eclipses were not followed by “…being a complete fantasy I had while on too much cold medicine.”

Now, if you are, like the Macalope, channeling A Tribe Called Quest and asking about this new iPad “Can I Kick It?”, the answer is an emphatic “Yes!” as the device will feature a “carbon fiber kickstand”.

Do not literally kick it, however, as that is expected to void the warranty.

IDG

You can imagine what this might look like: an iPad folded at roughly the center at an angle of say 120 degrees, with a virtual keyboard on the flat surface. Welcome to Typing Frustration City, population: you. Of course, they say the best keyboard is the one you have with you. People who aren’t touch-typers say that, anyway. But in reality, the best keyboard is the very clicky mechanical keyboard the Macalope uses to write these columns. That’s just experience-based science. Maybe a full-sized virtual keyboard will be better than a smaller virtual keyboard, that’s perfectly possible. But it’s not going to replace a physical keyboard.

Okay, maybe a butterfly one.

While rumors of foldable iPhones have been around since before the first Galaxy Fold snapped in two, this is the first real light being shown on foldable iPad rumors, and it comes out of nowhere to body-slam the mind.

“An iPad. A keyboard. A kickstand. An iPad. A keyboard. A kickstand. ARE YOU GETTING IT?”

As Dan Moren has suggested, Apple’s devices are generally pretty fast. In order to differentiate them and drive upgrades, the company may need to use new form factors and new use cases. So an iPad that can act as a laptop out of the box, without attaching a heavy keyboard, could be really appealing for a lot of people.

Or enough to make it a viable product.

Another place that Apple’s differentiated a device to create a niche success is the Apple Watch Ultra. The Apple Watch Edition, which tried to differentiate as a fashion statement, never really took off. But the Ultra differentiates by functionality and, ironically, the image of being the kind of person who needs that functionality also makes it a fashion statement.

Apple’s driving that message home by doing some clever product placement.

“Apple Watch is now the ‘official wearable’ of the World Surf League, its first such endorsement”

Surfers wear the Apple Watch Ultra, brah. I never surf a gnarly wave without my Ultra.

And now a generation of rich kids will expect to get an Ultra for their first hour-long surfing lesson. Cha-ching.

Still, it’s a neat showcase for the Apple Watch, a product that was roundly declared “a flop” when it first came out. As more apps take advantage of the Action button, you can imagine Apple forging more of these relationships so that soon everyone from skydivers to those on the competitive macrame circuit will look naked without one.

Especially those on the competitive naked macrame circuit.

Not that the Macalope knows anything about that.

iPad

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The Fire-Boltt Cobra smartwatch is here. Domestic wearable manufacturer Fire-Boltt has launched its latest rugged smartwatch Cobra in India. The company claims that the smartwatch has passed 12 military-grade toughness tests and it can resist extreme heat, cold, humidity and other conditions. The Fire-Boltt Cobra sports a square dial and is also corrosion resistant.

Apple’s range of MacBooks that use the company’s own Silicon M1 or M2 processors cannot natively connect more than one external monitor, which is a massive limitation on the previous Intel-based generation of Mac laptops that could run two displays when connected to a USB-C or Thunderbolt 3 docking station or hub.

The M1/M2 Pro and M1/M2 Max do support multiple external displays, so owners of these Mac laptops can relax.

We hoped the M2 would lose the M1 limitation, but it survives on the plain M2.

M1 MacBook Air: Maximum one external display

M2 MacBook Air: Maximum one external display

M1 MacBook Pro: Maximum one external display

M2 MacBook Pro: Maximum one external display

M1 Pro MacBook Pro: Maximum two external displays

M1 Max MacBook Pro: Maximum three external displays

However, there are ways around this plain M1/M2 limitation, allowing you to run two or more external displays off an M1/M2 MacBook, which we will outline here. In each case, there’s a free software download and a docking station, hub or adapter required. 

With the software workaround, there are some risks involved as you will be required to install third-party drivers, and these might later be unsupported by future updates of the macOS.

External displays: big problem for M1 and M2 Macs

Apple’s Mac mini, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro 13in were the first Macs to feature the Apple-designed M1 CPU. They received rave reviews for their speed improvements over Intel-based laptops, including here on Macworld.

But if your MacBook setup includes running more than one external display, you have a major problem. Apple’s M1 or M2 chips simply won’t consider it—at least natively.

Apple states in the M1 and M2 MacBook Air and MacBook Pro tech specs that they support only “one external display with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz”.

Apple

While the M1 and M2 MacBooks natively support just one monitor, the M1 and M2 Mac Mini does natively support up to two external monitors—one via the HDMI port and a second via USB-C. But the M1 models of the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro support only one external display.

Apple has apparently promised to fix the problem in a future macOS update, but the arrival of the later M1 Pro and M1 Max—and more recently the M2—suggest that M1 owners could be waiting a long time. We have this guide to Monitors for M1 Macs and what you need to know before buying. We also cover the basics of how to connect your Mac to an external monitor.

Workaround #1: install DisplayLink software drivers

You can use a combination of display technologies to get around the M1/M2 MacBooks’ single-monitor limitation. This should work with most third-party docks, although some manufacturers, such as Caldigit, don’t recommend it.

Many multi-display docks use a combination of native USB-C Alternate Mode (native “Alt Mode” video output) and DisplayLink technology. This combination serves as a workaround to the M1/M2 platform supporting only a single external display via USB-C.

Note that DisplayLink requires a third-party driver to be installed on the Mac. There are different versions of the DisplayLink driver, and some bring their own compromises to the party. But, in general, setup is straightforward.

The DisplayLink macOS app or DisplayLink Manager app are ways of enabling DisplayLink technology on macOS. The app is available as a standalone installer rather than through the mac App Store.

Plugable docking station and three external displays via DisplayLink.

1. First, download the latest Mac DisplayLink driver.

DisplayLink Manager Graphics Connectivity App v. 1.7.0 is compatible with macOS Catalina 10.15, macOS 11 Big Sur and macOS 12 Monterey. It can be managed via the DisplayLink icon in the Apple Menu bar.

The macOS requires the user to permit “Screen Recording” in order for DisplayLink devices to work properly. This can be found in System Preferences under Privacy in Security & Privacy; navigate to Screen Recording in the list on the left, then tick the Screen Recording permission for DisplayLink Manager after unlocking the padlock using your admin password. You may need to quit and restart DisplayLink Manager afterwards.

More in-depth details on DisplayLink Manager under macOS Big Sur, Catalina and Monterey, in this DisplayLink support page.

Installation is straightforward. Older versions did not support laptops’ closed-display/Clamshell mode, but 1.7.0 does support Clamshell mode if the MacBook is Intel-based running macOS 12 or if the MacBook is M1-based running macOS 11 or 12.

Other limitations include incompatibility with display rotation. Rotation on Apple M1/M2 requires DisplayLink Manager 1.6+ with macOS 12+.

There’s an option in DisplayLink manager to “launch at startup”, or you can drag the DisplayLink Manager to your Login Items in Users & Groups.

2. Then connect the MacBook to a docking station.

3. For the first screen you can connect via the dock’s DisplayPort or HDMI Port, and this will be handled natively by the M1/M2 MacBook.

You could also connect the first external display via the dock’s other display ports or via a Thunderbolt or USB-C to HDMI or DisplayPort adapter.

The HDMI or DisplayPort output uses Alternate Mode (Alt Mode), and as it is basically a pipeline directly to the system’s native GPU, it will behave just like if you hooked up a USB-C to HDMI dongle to your laptop. This requires no user driver installation.

The second and third displays will rely on the DisplayLink software. DisplayLink uses an installed driver and the system CPU and GPU to convert graphics data on the system into data packets. That data is then sent over the cable as data packets, and converted back to video information and output to the monitors via the DisplayLink chip in the docking station.

Workaround #2: install InstantView software

Another third-party software solution is SiliconMotion’s InstantView, which operates in a similar way to DisplayLink and works with three of the hardware hubs and adapters we review below.

The initial setup is easier than DisplayLink with the hubs from Hyper but similar with the Satechi hub—but it suffers the same challenge that Apple’s software updates can disable it, which will entail installing a newer version and allowing the necessary security & privacy settings for screen recording, just as with DisplayLink.

You can download the latest version of InstantView software here.

Neither software solution is complicated and both worked well in our tests as you can read below.

Which docks support DisplayLink and InstantView?

Originally, dock manufacturers did not officially supported such a DisplayLink setup for Macs. The solution works, but they rightly warned that this could become unstuck in future versions of the macOS. Whenever there is a new OS update the drivers may need to be updated each time.

However, after some recent testing and improvements Plugable, for example, has updated its compatibility to officially support that configuration. For Mac compatibility, it has validated both Apple and Intel platforms running at least macOS 11. For M2, the company does anticipate compatibility but is awaiting new M2 MacBooks for testing and validation.

Which dock is best?

A docking station connects to your MacBook via Thunderbolt or USB-C. It then offers multiple ports that your laptop now has access to. These can include new display ports, such as HDMI, as well as Gigabit Ethernet for wired Internet access, USB-C/Thunderbolt/USB-A ports at varying speeds, audio plugs and card readers.

Learn more about the best Thunderbolt docking stations for more details, or you can connect via a simpler USB-C hub. Look for a dock with two or more display ports, preferably ones that can connect to your preferred displays without the need for an adapter. Some, such as the Anker Apex, have two display ports but Anker warns against using it with Macs, even though DisplayLink should work around the problem.

Thunderbolt 4 docks or hubs often have no dedicated display port but three available TB4 ports that can be used to connect directly to a USB-C display or via adapters to HDMI or DisplayPort monitors. While you may have to buy an adapter cable, 40GBps Thunderbolt 4’s port flexibility and backwards compatibility are recommended for users of modern Macs such as the M1 and M2 MacBooks.

USB-C docks and hubs are usually cheaper, though.

Docking station and hub manufacturers are now actively marketing their products as solutions to the M1/M2 external display limitation. Each requires either the DisplayLink download or another similar software solution, such as InstantView, but no further hardware adapter except for the dock or hub itself. And of course these hubs offer the usual multi-port benefits as well as the external monitor solution.

If your hub or dock has just one display port, you could also attach a second or third display via one or more of the spare USB-A ports, using an adapter such as StarTech.com USB 3.0 to HDMI / DVI Adapter. This costs $80 or £80, so needs to be factored in when pricing an M1/M2 MacBook purchase if you require multiple monitors and want to use the USB-A port rather than a display port such as HDMI or DisplayPort. Another option is Plugable’s USB Dual 4K Display Adapter.

This adapter turns an available USB-A 3.0 or USB-C port into one DVI-I or VGA port (DVI to VGA adapter included) and one HDMI output. Each display can simultaneously support the maximum resolution of 2048×1152 at 60Hz. Make sure to use an active HDMI DisplayLink adapter that can support 4K at 60Hz, as some are limited to 4K at 30H

The best multiscreen hubs and adapters for M1 and M2 MacBooks

Below we have gathered the best dedicated hubs and docks for multiscreen M1/M2. Note that these listed (and tested) below use USB-C rather than Thunderbolt, so don’t benefit from the MacBook’s potential 40Gbps data bandwidth. If you require all 40Gbps, go for a Thunderbolt dock and install DisplayLink as instructed above.

Ugreen USB-C Triple Display Docking Station

Pros

• Supports three external displays at 4K 60Hz
• 12 ports, inc. 10Gbps USB-C and USB-A

Cons

• Requires USB-C charger

The Ugreen USB-C Triple Display Docking Station is a quality compact vertical dock supports up to three external displays on a plain (non-Pro or -Max) M1/M2 MacBook if you install DisplayLink software.

Priced at $329/£369, it features two HDMI ports and a DisplayPort and can support three 4K displays at 60Hz on a Mac. There are 12 ports in total, including Gigabit Ethernet, card readers and 10Gbps USB-A and USB-C ports. It connects to the MacBook via 10Gbps USB-C.

You need to install DisplayLink on your Mac—instructions above. Ugreen could make this easier with a link on its site.

Read our full Ugreen USB-C Triple Display Docking Station review.

Hyperdrive Dual 4K HDMI 10-in-1 USB-C Hub

Pros

• Supports two external displays at 4K
• 10 ports, inc. 5Gbps USB-C and USB-A
• InstantView easier than DisplayLink

Cons

• Second 4K display is 30Hz rather than 60Hz
• Requires USB-C charger

The Hyperdrive Dual 4K HDMI 10-in-1 USB-C Hub doesn’t use DisplayLink and instead uses SiliconMotion’s InstantView.

Hyper says that it works “without having to download cumbersome drivers” but there is some software installation involved, and you need to allow InstantView access to your Privacy settings in System Preferences. You connect the hub or adapter to your M1 MacBook and find the HyperDisplay app that appears in a Finder folder sidebar. Double-click the macOS InstantView icon and follow the System Preferences instructions. Once this has been completed your MacBook will automatically recognize the adapter from then on.

It’s an easier solution than DisplayLink but with the same ability to allow M1 and M2 Macs to connect to multiple external displays.

This compact hub still includes 10 ports, including the all-important 2x HDMI. The first display at 60Hz is added via HDMI and DP Alt-mode and the second at 4K 30Hz through HDMI and InstantView.

Also included are Gigabit Ethernet, MicroUSB card reader (UHS-I), 3.5mm audio jack, 2x 5Gbps USB-A and one 5Gbps USB-C.

A further USB-C PD port allows you to charge the connected laptop at up to 100W—handy as the hub itself uses up one of your M1 or M2 laptop’s two Thunderbolt ports.

Plugable USB-C to Quad HDMI Adapter (USBC-768H4)

Pros

• Supports four external displays
• InstantView easier than DisplayLink

Cons

• HD, not 4K
• Doesn't charge your MacBook

Do you really need four screens? If you do, and you can do without 4K resolution, the Plugable USB-C to Quad HDMI Adapter supports that many HD displays even on an M1 or M2 MacBook using the Silicon Motion InstantView software (requires download and installation).

The adapter features just the four HDMI ports so doesn’t offer any Gigabit Ethernet or extra USB-C ports, but does what it says on the box. All four displays can support 1920-x-1080 at 60Hz image.

The USB-C cable tucks neatly into the adapter’s case when not in use, making this a nimbly portable solution… as long as you don’t also carry the four screens around with you.

Satechi USB-C Multimedia M1 Adapter

Pros

• Supports two external displays at 4K
• 6 ports, inc. 5Gbps USB-C and 2x 5Gbps USB-A

Cons

• Second 4K display is 30Hz rather than 60Hz
• Requires USB-C charger

The Satechi USB-C Multimedia M1 Adapter uses InstantView rather than DisplayLink but the installation process is practically the same when you follow the manual.

It includes 2x HDMI ports: one of which can support a 4K display at 60Hz and the other at 30Hz.

It’s more than a mere display adapter, though, as it also boasts USB-C PD passthrough charging at up to 85W, one 5Gbps USB-C port and two 5Gbps USB-A ports.

Although named after the M1 processor it is fixing on the multiple display front, it will also work with similarly limited M2 MacBooks.

Hyperdrive Dual 4K HDMI Adapter

Pros

• Supports two external displays at 4K
• InstantView easier than DisplayLink

Cons

• Second 4K display is 30Hz rather than 60Hz
• No other ports except passthrough charging
• Requires USB-C charger

Like the Hyperdrive Dual 4K HDMI 10-in-1 USB-C Hub, Hyper’s cheaper Dual 4K HDMI Adapter uses the simpler InstantView software rather than DisplayLink.

Lacking any other ports, it’s not a hub and so just facilitates the dual-display function on M1 and M2 Macs. While it’s cheaper than its 10-port sibling, we’d recommend the more able hub—unless you need three displays, in which case you’d need to look at the other hubs and docks reviewed here.

One HDMI port supports 4K displays at 60Hz, but the other at the slower 30Hz.

A passthrough USB-C port requires a USB-C charger but can supply 100W to the connected laptop.

If you’re based outside the US, beware as Hyper charges $80 international shipping, making this adapter more expensive than its 10-port sibling.

Alogic Dual 4K Universal Compact Docking Station

Pros

• Supports two external displays at 4K 60Hz
• 7 ports, inc. 10Gbps USB-C and USB-A
• HDMI and DisplayPort versions

Cons

• Requires USB-C charger

The Alogic Dual 4K Universal Compact Docking Station comes in two models—the CH2, which features two HDMI 2.0 ports; and the CD2, with two DisplayPort ports—so you can choose which best suits the external displays you already own.

Two external screens are probably enough for most people. If you require three, see the other hubs and docks reviewed here. Both screens can be up to 4K at 60Hz. Basic instructions are given on installing the DisplayLink software for M1 and M2 Macs.

This neat, compact dock doesn’t feature as many ports as others mentioned here but what it has are top-rated: both the USB-A and USB-C ports support 10Gbps data transfer. There is also a Gigabit Ethernet port and a UHS-II SD card reader.

A passthrough USB-C port—you need to add a suitably powerful charger—can handle 100W, although 22W is required by the dock so leaving 78W for laptop and device charging. The dock must be connected to the laptop to allow device charging.

EZQuest Ultimate Plus USB-C Multimedia Hub

Pros

• Supports three external displays (2x 4K; 1x HD)
• VGA if you need it
• 12 ports, inc 4x 5Gbps USB-A

Cons

• Requires USB-C charger
• Second 4K display is 30Hz rather than 60Hz
• Third display is HD not 4K

The EZQuest Ultimate Plus USB-C Multimedia Hub has two HDMI ports and a VGA port, and supports one 4K at 60Hz and one 4K at 30Hz via HDMI and 1080p HD via VGA. If you want three 4K displays, look instead at the Ugreen Triple Display Dock.

It also features 5Gbps USB-A ports, Gigabit Ethernet and card readers.

Like the Ugreen dock, it requires a USB-C charger for power and can pass through up to 85W to the connected MacBook, but connects via slower 5Gbps USB-C.

Baseus 17-in-1 Docking Station

Pros

• Supports three external displays at 4K 30Hz
• 15 (actual) ports
• 85W PD

Cons

• Requires USB-C charger for laptop
• 30Hz 4K not 60Hz
• Only mirrors laptop display

The Baseus 17-in-1 Docking Station has three HDMI ports, each of which can connect to an external 4K display at 30Hz. If you require three 4K external displays at 60Hz, the Ugreen Triple Display Dock will fulfill your needs better. If 30Hz is fine, the Baseus will save you money. 60Hz is better for gamers as it offers smoother video.

One big limitation for Macs, though, is that the external displays can only mirror and not extend the Mac’s screen.

Its claim to have 17 ports is exaggerated slightly as one is for the external power supply that powers just the dock at 12W. and another to add power the dock via a USB-C charger and then onto the laptop. But it has 15 other ports including the upstream 5Gbps USB-C connection to the MacBook, plus Gigabit Ethernet, card readers and 5Gbps USB-A and USB-C ports.

Workaround caveats

Whenever there is a new OS update DisplayLink and InstantView drivers may need to be updated each time.

Plugable doesn’t recommend the workaround for gaming, video editing, digital audio workstations (DAWs), and protected-content (HDCP) playback. For these workloads, users will want the full throughput of a “bare-metal” native GPU connection—such as provided by the DisplayPort or HDMI port on the dock using Alt Mode.

Caldigit actively recommends against using DisplayLink, as it finds it unreliable and there would be no synergy between the driver and the dock. Because it requires a third-party driver, users are at the mercy of Apple and the third-party developer to support later versions, the company told Macworld.

However, this combination of display technologies does allow M1 and M2 MacBooks to run more than one external monitor, and the M1 and M2 Mac mini to run more than two. And more manufacturers are coming out with docks and hubs that support it.

The only risk is that it could stop working at any time, although it wouldn’t harm your system if it did, and you could simply uninstall DisplayLink.

DIsplayLink and InstantView are workarounds with a potentially limited timespan but the likelihood is that compatibility would be restored at some stage if the worst happened and you would get back your multi-monitor setup.

The Hyperdrive dual 4K HDMI hardware solution is the more expensive but stable workaround of the two—but if you want up to three displays you’ll need a dock such as one of those reviewed above and the DisplayLink solution.

Read our M1 MacBook Air review and everything you need to know about the M2 MacBook Pro and M2 MacBook Air.

If you are wanting to use a second display with your Mac and not have your Mac’s screen on, read our feature How to turn a Mac’s screen off.

Computer Accessories, Mac

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