---
title: "Connecting a Mac to an External Display"
canonical: "https://kb.uconn.edu/space/IKB/10731880895/Connecting%20a%20Mac%20to%20an%20External%20Display"
format: markdown
---
Students, faculty, and staff can connect their Mac to an external display. 

## **Changing macOS Display Settings**

1. **Open System Settings**, then select **Displays**.
2. When you connect an external display, it will automatically detect and connect.
3. Use the **+** button to manually add a display or connect to wireless displays, like iPads or other AirPlay devices.
4. Click on each display icon (e.g., **Built-in Display** or **External Display**) to access its individual settings.
5. Use the **Use as** menu to select between **Main display**, **Extended display**, or **Mirror**.
6. Adjust display settings:

- **Resolution**: Choose between **Larger Text**, **Default**, or **More Space**.
- **Brightness**: Adjust manually or enable **Automatically adjust brightness**.
- **True Tone** and **Color Profile** settings are available for further display customization.

## Mirrored Desktop

1. **Open System Settings**, then select **Displays**.

2. Select the external display icon.

3. In the **Use as** menu, select **Mirror for Built-in Display**.

4. Adjust the resolution using the **Scaled** option.

5. **Optimize for**: Choose whether to optimize for your MacBook or external display.

6. Adjust **Color Profile** and **Refresh Rate** for better performance (e.g., 60 Hertz).

7. Access additional options like **Advanced** or **Night Shift** for further customization.
8. Holding **Option** changes **Night Shift** to **Detect Displays** for troubleshooting.

## Extended Desktop 

If the desktop is extended, you need to use both your MacBook screen and the classroom preview screen to adjust the resolution.

1. **Open System Settings**, then select **Displays**.

2. Ensure **Mirror Display** is **deselected** for an extended desktop.

3. Click on each display icon (e.g., **Built-in Display** or the external monitor) to access its individual settings.

4. Adjust the resolution under the **Use as** menu (e.g., **Extended Display**) and select from the available resolutions (e.g., 3440 x 1440, 1920 x 1080, etc.).

5. Adjust settings like **Color profile**, **Refresh rate**, and **Rotation** as needed.

6. Holding **Option** changes **Night Shift** to **Detect Displays** for troubleshooting.

## **USB-C HDMI-Enabled Classrooms**

UConn classrooms may already have built-in **USB-C HDMI** cables, eliminating the need for adapters. You will find the **USB-C HDMI** option on the classroom’s touch panel.

1. Connect the display cable (USB-C, VGA, HDMI, DisplayPort, DVI) directly to your laptop.

2. Power on the monitor.

3. Use the touch panel to select the appropriate input.

> ⚠️ Please note that not all monitors change input the same way.

## Related Articles

> Macro (contentbylabel)

> Macro (details)
> 
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