Part 1 of a series on discovering the friction points in Apple’s polished ecosystem.

Photo by AB on Unsplash

When I unboxed my new MacBook Pro 14-inch with the M4 chip, I wasn’t exactly thrilled. Don’t get me wrong — I respect the hardware, the battery life, and the performance Apple Silicon offers. But something about macOS always made me feel… boxed in.

Unfortunately, it didn’t take long for that feeling to be validated.

The Setup That Works (on Windows)

My personal setup includes three external monitors, all connected via a USB-C hub with:

2x HDMI
1x DisplayPort

This setup works flawlessly on my Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon:

3 external monitors ➝ USB-C Hub ➝ ThinkPad (Windows)

Each display functions independently — I can drag apps across screens, debug code while watching logs, and have media playing off to the side. Simple and effective.

The Same Setup on macOS? Disaster.

Device Info: MacBook Pro 14 inch, M4, Nov 2024.

When I plugged the same hub into my brand-new MacBook Pro M4, I was greeted with… three identical screens.

No extended displays. No flexibility. Just a single mirrored desktop copy-pasted across all three monitors.

As a sane person, I tried all possible things: checking system settings, browsing online, changing cables (weird choice but whatever)

And this isn’t a hardware issue. It’s a macOS limitation — by design.

Why This Happens: It’s Not Just You

macOS Doesn’t Support MST (Multi-Stream Transport)

MST allows chaining or splitting multiple displays through one port. It’s a core part of DisplayPort and USB-C video delivery.

Windows and Linux support MST natively.
macOS never has.

So even though your M4 MacBook Pro hardware technically supports it, the macOS software stack disables it entirely.

That’s why:

Your USB-C hub mirrors displays.
macOS can’t differentiate those signals as separate outputs.

If you booted into Linux or Windows (via external drive), it would likely work. TBD: I’ll find reference and add them here.

Apple’s Official Display Limits

From Apple’s official documentation:

“MacBook Pro (14-inch, M4) supports up to two external displays.” One via Thunderbolt + one via HDMI*.*

🔗 Apple Support — How many displays can it support?

You’ll never get three extended displays without a workaround.

Workarounds That Actually Work

1. DisplayLink Dock (With Caveats)

DisplayLink docks simulate multiple displays via software and USB. They bypass macOS’s native display system.

Pros:

Adds more displays even on limited Macs
Just one USB-C port needed

Cons:

Not future-proof (macOS updates can break it)
Performance issues (lag, screen tearing, limited refresh rates)
No proper DRM support (Netflix, Apple TV might fail)
Extra software layer always running in the background

2. Stick With Dual Displays (Officially Supported)

If you want no drama, use one or two displays as specified on Apple Support page. I chose this approach as I don’t want to spend money on an expensive ThunderBolt4 dock and here’s a reference to my setup: Reddit — r/macbookpro

You’ll get proper resolution, GPU acceleration, and fewer headaches — but you’re capped at 2 displays.

3. Use Sidecar / Universal Control

If you own an iPad, Sidecar adds an extra pseudo-display. It’s decent for reference apps, music, or notes — but not a full-fledged monitor replacement.

Some Curious Takes I Found

While researching all of this, I came across forum responses from other Mac users:

“Why do people even need more than two monitors?”
“Just close your MacBook lid and use dual screens.”
“Windows uses too much CPU/GPU when handling multiple monitors — macOS is smarter.”
“Apple must have a reason for not supporting MST. It’s probably better for battery life.”
“You’re using the wrong hub. Just buy a proper Thunderbolt dock instead of blaming Apple.”
“Too many screens just make people unproductive. This is a feature, not a limitation.”
“Professionals use one screen and focus — that’s the Apple way.”

I get it. Everyone has different workflows, and some people genuinely don’t need more than one or two screens.

But I couldn’t help but feel a little surprised.

Not because people work differently — but because many seemed eager to rationalize limitations instead of recognizing them. Instead of asking Apple to do better, it felt like users were asking each other to settle for less.

It’s okay to love a product and still point out its flaws. That’s how platforms evolve. That’s how user needs are heard.

Final Thoughts

The M4 MacBook Pro is an advanced piece of hardware — battery life, performance, thermals. But I’m starting to feel Apple prioritizes elegance over flexibility — even if it hampers power users.

If you’re coming from Windows or Linux with a complex, multi-screen workflow — brace yourself. You’ll either need to downgrade your expectations or invest in fragile workarounds.

TL;DR

macOS doesn’t support MST, so USB-C hubs with multiple outputs won’t extend your displays.
M4 MacBook Pro supports only 2 external displays natively.
DisplayLink docks work, but they’re fragile and add lag.
macOS can’t control external display volume natively.
HDMI-CEC features are incomplete on macOS.
Some Mac users justify these limitations — but that doesn’t make them less frustrating.

Curious To Hear From You

If you’ve built a stable triple monitor setup on macOS — how did you do it? Do you feel Apple should prioritize power-user flexibility more?

Drop your experience in the comments

#MacBookPro#macOSLimitations#ExternalMonitor#DisplayLink#MST#M4

My First macOS Disappointment - External Display Limitations on the M4 MacBook Pro