Let’s get started. 

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How to fix Macbook Pro Not Detecting External Display

Solution #1: Check the Display Settings

The first step to resolve issues related to the external display can be achieved via reviewing the display preferences of your MacBook Pro device. To access the Display Settings on Mac, follow these quick steps:

Tap the Apple icon placed on the top menu bar, select “System Preferences”. 

Tap on “Display”.

Check on the “Scaled” radio button placed next to “Resolution”.

Now press and hold the Option key for a few seconds so that macOS displays a hidden “Detect second Display” option in the Settings window. 

Once the hidden “Detect Displays” is revealed, tap on his button so that Mac starts scanning for the external monitor. 

Solution #2: Adjust Resolution Settings

In our next workaround to fix the “MacBook not detecting external display” issues, we will try making a few changes in the Display Preferences of your MacBook Pro device. Here’s what you need to do.

Navigate to System Preferences> Display. 

Under the Display tab, select the “Scaled” resolution. 

Now uncheck the “Adjust brightness automatically” option and then manually drag the slider to adjust brightness. 

Solution #3: Check the Power Adapter

Well, this is a naive mistake that most users make. Simply make sure that you’re using the right USB-Type C or Thunderbolt power adapter to connect the external display to your device. You need to ensure that the power adapter is compatible with your machine and all the other physical connections are in place. 

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Solution #4: Check for Updates

Is your MacBook Pro device running on the latest macOS version? Well, if you’re not sure about the last time when you updated the OS, maybe now is the time. Using an outdated version of macOS can also trigger the “MacBook Pro not detecting external display” issue. To check for any available updates, follow these steps. 

Tap the Apple icon placed on the top menu bar, select “System Preferences”.

Select “Software Updates”.

If you see any available updates listed on the screen, hit the “Upgrade now” button right away to update the macOS. 

Solution #5: Use an Alternative Monitor

Adjusting the display settings did not help in fixing the issue? Well, you can try connecting a new test monitor to check whether your MacBook Pro device recognizes it. Connect a new monitor as the external display to your Mac and see whether it is working without any hindrances. 

If the test monitor is able to connect to your Mac successfully, it indicates that there were some underlying connection issues with the primary external display that you were trying to use. 

Also read: 5 Easy Ways to Right-Click on a Mac

Solution #6: Reboot your Device

Agree or not, but rebooting your device is one of the oldest hacks to resolve common errors and bugs. So, yes, why not? First, unplug the external monitor and then reboot your MacBook Pro device. Once your device restarts, plug the external display into your machine to check whether your Mac is able to detect it. 

Download and Install CleanMyMac X

Is your Mac performing at a slow and sluggish speed? Do the apps take forever to load? Well, over time and prolonged usage, your MacBook’s performance slowly starts to degrade. To make sure that your machine performs at an optimized speed and performance, download and install the CleanMyMac X utility tool on your device. 

CleanMyMac X is a must-have utility for your Mac that helps you clean junk files, speeds up your PC’s performance, and makes your Mac as good as new within just a few clicks. This nifty cleanup tool deeply scans your device to look for useless and junk files and then cleans them to instantly recover chunks of storage space on your device. 

So, are you ready to bring back the lost glory of your MacBook? Download CleanMyMac X today! 

Also read: How To Fix macOS Monterey Is Running Slow Issue

Conclusion

Connecting an external display to your Mac can definitely boost productivity. Was this post helpful? Did the above-listed solutions help you in fixing the “MacBook Pro not detecting external display” issue? If you’re encountering any kind of issues while connecting the external display monitor to your MacBook Pro device, you can use these workarounds to get past the trouble. 

For any other queries or assistance, feel free to hit the comments section!