First, download the latest Mac DisplayLink driver. Plugable docking station and three external displays via DisplayLink.ġ. The app is available as a standalone installer rather than through the mac App Store.
The DisplayLink macOS app or DisplayLink Manager app are ways of enabling DisplayLink technology on macOS. Some of the docks we review below offer the DisplayLink software when you first connect the dock to your Mac. But, in general, setup is straightforward. There are different versions of the DisplayLink driver, and some bring their own compromises to the party. Note that DisplayLink requires a third-party driver to be installed on the Mac. This combination serves as a workaround to the M1/M2 platform supporting only a single external display via USB-C. Many multi-display docks use a combination of native USB-C Alternate Mode (native “Alt Mode” video output) and DisplayLink technology. You’ll need to download the appropriate DisplayLink software from the dock manufacturer-full instructions later on. DisplayLink USB-C docks or just USB-C docks require software drivers to enable data compression that make them almost as powerful as a Thunderbolt dock. A whole new category of docks-many reviewed below-has appeared to solve the M1/M2 Mac one-screen problem.
