> Multiple displays with an M1 Mac
Can my M1 MacBook Air drive two external displays?
As the controller built into its M1 chip only supports one external display, unlike those in older Intel models, you can’t do this without connecting additional hardware and a software extension.
However, if you’re prepared to pay for a dock which features DisplayLink and install a DisplayLink driver for it, you can drive two or more external displays from your MacBook Air. First, check the specifications of external docks, or browse those listed at bit.ly/mac371dockingstations. Be very careful to choose one which is explicitly claimed to be compatible with M1 Macs, as some can be trouble. Then, from the DisplayLink site, download and install their latest driver.
This driver relies on an extension, which may be incompatible with future versions of macOS, although the latest release appears to work with Monterey. Users report that some macOS features, such as logging into your Mac using an Apple Watch and NightShift, may not work with the displays installed and active, but features such as “clamshell” mode work fine.