Apple includes the free Photos app on all Macs, iPhones and iPads, but this app is primarily intended for organizing your photo collection and only has a limited selection of editing tools.

If you’re a keen photographer and want to have more creative control over your work–but don’t want to pay for the privilege–then take a look at the free photo editing apps for Mac below. We’ve taken a look at the best alternatives to Photos that provide a wider and more powerful set of photo-editing tools.

In this article, we round up the best free photo-editing programs for the Mac, including Adobe Express, Google Photos, Gimp and more. There is even a free version of Photoshop you can try out (currently in beta). If you don’t mind paying for a decent photo editing app then we recommend you take a look at our round-up of the Best photo editing software for Mac, which includes the likes of Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom and Photoshop Express, Pixelmator Pro, Affinity Photo and many more.

If you were hoping to get the full version of Photoshop for free read How to get Photoshop on a Mac, which includes some ways to get Photoshop for free.

Updated 30 June 2023 to add Photoshop on the web.

Best free photo editor for Mac

Personal Software

Apple includes the free Photos app on all Macs, iPhones and iPads, but this app is primarily intended for organizing your photo collection and only has a limited selection of editing tools.

If you’re a keen photographer and want to have more creative control over your work–but don’t want to pay for the privilege–then take a look at the free photo editing apps for Mac below. We’ve taken a look at the best alternatives to Photos that provide a wider and more powerful set of photo-editing tools.

In this article, we round up the best free photo-editing programs for the Mac, including Adobe Express, Google Photos, Gimp and more. There is even a free version of Photoshop you can try out (currently in beta). If you don’t mind paying for a decent photo editing app then we recommend you take a look at our round-up of the Best photo editing software for Mac, which includes the likes of Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom and Photoshop Express, Pixelmator Pro, Affinity Photo and many more.

If you were hoping to get the full version of Photoshop for free read How to get Photoshop on a Mac, which includes some ways to get Photoshop for free.

Updated 30 June 2023 to add Photoshop on the web.

Best free photo editor for Mac

Personal Software

iCloud backs up our iOS devices, keeps all our photos and videos safe and in sync, and even syncs our macOS desktop between Macs–and lets us access it via an iPhone or iPad. But all those files have to take up space, right? Thankfully, Apple has a number of storage options available for iCloud, and in our guide to iCloud subscriptions and pricing, we explain which is the right one for you, along with how to upgrade or downgrade your iCloud storage.

For related advice, take a look at How to set up iCloud and How to use iCloud Drive. We also round up the pros and cons of some rival cloud providers in Best cloud storage apps for iPhone.

iCloud storage plan options and pricing

Before we go any further, we should probably first discuss the options available, and the corresponding prices for those in the counties where most of our readers are based, including the U.S. and U.K.

Currently, Apple offers five different tiers of storage for iCloud, which is shared between all your devices, including iPhones, iPads and Macs. If you set up Family Sharing you can even share the iCloud storage allocation with other members of your family.

Your storage space will account for any files that you store in the cloud, via apps or otherwise, and the cloud backups of your iPad and iPhone. Unfortunately, you can’t yet back up your Mac’s settings to iCloud, but since you can sync all your documents created in various Apple apps, and your Desktop and Documents folder, most of the things you need on your Mac can also be found in the cloud.

Apple currently has the following iCloud storage subscriptions available:

Storage	U.S.	U.K.	Australia	Canada	Europe	India
5GB	Free	Free	Free	Free	Free	Free
50GB	$0.99	£0.79	$1.49	$1.29	€0.99	₹75
200GB	$2.99	£2.49	$4.49	$3.99	€2.99	₹219
2TB	$9.99	£6.99	$14.99	$12.99	€9.99	₹749

Apple used to offer 1TB for £6.99 for 2TB for £13.99 a month, but in spring 2017 it removed the 1TB offering and reduced the price of 2TB.

Apple upped prices for Apple Music, Apple TV+ and Apple One in October 2022, but it didn’t change the prices for iCloud at that time.

How to upgrade your iCloud storage for free

Since May 2018 Apple has been offering the first month for free so you could trial the service for a month before deciding whether you need it or not. This is particularly handy if you needed a little time to sort out a backup of your data but weren’t really keen on paying for iCloud storage, as it will basically give you up to 2TB of storage for a month – you’ll just need to remember to cancel the service before you are due to pay anything.

However, this free offer is only available to those who aren’t paying for any iCloud storage currently. If you already pay for storage, you can’t take advantage of the free month if you update to the next tier, but you could always pay for a month and then revert to the cheaper subscription afterwards (you’ll just need to remove the extra data from iCloud).

If you still don’t want to pay Apple for storage, have a look at our Best alternatives to iCloud.

Which iCloud subscription should you get?

Now you know the different storage options available to you, which is the best for you? There’s no point in paying $9.99/£6.99 a month for 2TB of storage if you only use it to back up your iPhone, after all. You should consider factors like whether you’re getting iCloud storage full notifications, whether you use iCloud Drive to store your documents or whether you primarily use another service like Google Drive or Dropbox, if you are using iCloud Photo Library, and whether you’re using iCloud Drive Desktop and Documents to sync documents between multiple Macs.

The above are all very important factors when considering iCloud storage options, but there’s more to it than that. We break it down below. For a guide to using iCloud read: How to use iCloud.

In 2021 Apple brought new features to iCloud with iCloud+ including privacy and security features, such as iCloud Private Relay and Hide My Email.

5GB

If you’ve only got a single iOS device that you use and you don’t take many photos or videos, the free storage tier should be enough for you. The free iCloud storage tier can also be used by those that primarily use another cloud storage service (like Dropbox or Google Drive) for storing documents, photos and videos.

If you do opt for the free tier, make sure you disable iCloud syncing in any apps that you frequently use to avoid filling up the storage unnecessarily.

50GB

Those of you that own more than one iOS device will probably have to bump up the storage option to 50GB, as a standard iOS backup can be anywhere from 1-5GB or even more, depending on how much is stored on your device. It’s also better for those that like to take photos and videos on their iOS devices and want to keep a secure backup of them – the option is still available for those on the free tier, although they wouldn’t be able to store many before the storage becomes full.

You can get 50GB of iCloud Storage with the Apple One Individual Plan for $16.95/£16.95 per month. We have more details on the Apple One plans in a separate article.

200GB

The 200GB plan is the standard option for those that have multiple iOS devices and a Mac, as it allows for enough room to store the backups of each device, along with space for a fairly substantial iCloud Photo Library and other documents to be stored online. It’ll give you the freedom to use iCloud as you see fit, without having to worry about filling up the storage.

It’s also recommended for those looking to use iCloud Drive as their primary cloud storage service.

You can get 200GB of iCloud Storage with the Apple One Family Plan for $22.95/£22.95 per month.

2TB

The 2TB storage option is ideal for those that share an account between multiple users (such as families, with a plethora of devices to keep backed up) The 2TB option is perfect for those that have a collection of iOS devices and Macs that they switch between regularly. It’ll provide more than enough space for iOS backups, an iCloud Photo Library spanning thousands of photos and videos, documents and other app data.

If you want the freedom to use iCloud as you desire without any worry about space, and if money is no option, 2TB is ideal.

You can get 2TB of iCloud Storage with the Apple One Premier Plan for $32.95/£32.95 per month.

If you have decided to make the plunge and upgrade from the free tier of iCloud storage, of if you’ve bought the 2TB tier and realised it’s more than you need, it’s easy to change your tier – read our tutorial here:
How to upgrade or downgrade your iCloud storage

Also read: How to get someone else’s Apple ID off your iPhone and How to remove a card from iTunes & App Store

Apple

If you have multiple Macs you want to use, it can be a hassle to manage multiple keyboards, mice, and other pointing devices. What if you could use a single set of input devices to control multiple Macs—and sometimes iPads?

Since Monterey, Apple has offered Universal Control for Macs and iPads, a solution for sharing keyboards and mice between two Macs. Where Universal Control doesn’t fit, you can try a hardware or software KVM, which can share a set of input devices among multiple computers.

What is Universal Control?

Universal Control will let you use the same keyboard and mouse for all the Macs and iPads you are working on. All you have to do to switch devices is move the pointer until it crosses the edge of the screen. The new feature also makes it extremely easy to copy content between devices using drag-and-drop.

Universal Control builds on the Continuity features Apple added years ago that made it easy to move from one device to another seamlessly. Then with Catalina in 2019 came Sidecar, which made it easy to use an iPad as an additional screen for your Mac. Read: How to use an iPad as a second screen with a Mac.

But Universal Control goes a step further than Sidecar did: rather than turning your iPad display into a secondary Mac display, Universal Control will maintain the iPadOS on the iPad, so that you can interface with the iPad as an iPad, rather than as a second screen for your Mac.

Similarly, Universal Control brings a Sidecar-like feature to the Mac, so you can extend the primary screen to the secondary Mac, but you can also choose to use the two Macs independently so that you can interface between the two devices.

Here we will explain how to use a keyboard and mouse with two Macs or a Mac and an iPad. Read on!

What you need for Universal Control

Universal Control lets you use a keyboard, mouse, or trackpad across multiple devices logged into the same iCloud account and that are in proximity to one another. MacOS Monterey version 12.4 or later and iPadOS 15.4 or later are required. You also need to have Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabled.

Universal Control is turned on by default on both your Mac and iPad, but you do need to set up a few things.

• Universal Control arrived in March 2022 in macOS 12.3 or iPadOS 15.4 . In order for Universal Control to work you will need at least macOS 12.3 on your Mac(s) and iPadOS 15.4 on your iPad.
• You will need a compatible Mac(s) and iPad (see compatibility list below).
• You also need Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to be turned on on your Mac and iPad so make sure that they are all on.
• You’ll also need to be signed into the same iCloud account on both devices.
• You’ll also need to move your iPad or secondary Mac within 30 feet/10 meters of your Mac.

Apple offers this detailed setup guide that includes minimum hardware model requirements for Macs and iPads.

Universal Control compatibility

Universal Control won’t work with every Mac or iPad. If you want to operate multiple Macs and iPads with one keyboard, mouse and trackpad you’ll need a recent Mac and a recent iPad, both devices will need to be logged into the same Apple ID, you will also need two-factor authentication, and you will need to be running macOS 12.3 or iPadOS 15.4.

Compatible Macs:

• MacBook Pro (2016 and later)
• MacBook (2016 and later)
• MacBook Air (2018 and later)
• 21.5in iMac (2017 and later)
• 27in iMac (2015 and later)
• 24in iMac
• iMac Pro
• Mac mini (2018 and later)
• Mac Pro (2019)

Compatible iPads:

• iPad Pro
• iPad Air (3rd generation and later)
• iPad (6th generation and later)
• iPad mini (5th generation and later)

This means that if your Mac is from 2015 or earlier it’s not a feature you will be able to enjoy (unless you have a 27in iMac from that era).

Does Universal control work with Intel Macs?

Universal Control will work with some recent Intel Macs.

Does universal control work with iPhone?

Universal Control only connects the Mac and iPad, not the iPhone. The iPhone isn’t really suitable for use as an additional screen in this sort of set up.

How many devices can you link with Universal Control?

Up to three Macs or iPads can be linked this way. But you will need a Mac in order to use this with an iPad – you can’t use Universal Control to link two iPads (yet, anyway).

How to share a mouse and keyboard with two Macs

If you want to use your keyboard and mouse with two Macs follow these steps:

1. Open System Settings/System Preferences on your Mac and select Displays.
2. If using Ventura click on Advanced, otherwise click on Universal Control.
3. Check/tick all three boxes: ‘Allow your cursor and keyboard to move between any nearby Mac or iPad’ (that’s signed into your iCloud account). ‘Push through the edge of a display to connect to a nearby Mac or iPad’. And ‘Automatically reconnect to any nearby Mac or iPad’ which will ensure that your Mac and iPad reconnect next time.
4. Go to the other Mac and select the same three options in System Preferences/System Settings > Displays. (If you don’t do this you won’t see the option to Link Keyboard and Mouse under Add Display in the next step.)
5. Click on the drop-down beside Add Display. You’ll see the option Link Keyboard and Mouse and the name of your secondary Mac underneath. You will need to make sure that these displays are set up in the same way as they are on your desk.
6. Now drag your mouse to the second Mac and you will see the cursor appear on that screen. Click on a document and you’ll be able to type with the keyboard.
7. Drag the displays into a location that matches the setup on your desk so that you can find each display.

Now when you drag your cursor over in the direction of your secondary Mac screen, when you get to the edge of the screen your cursor will move to the other screen and you will be able to use your keyboard and mouse to control the secondary device.

So for example, if you want to use FaceTime on your MacBook you can still use the mouse and keyboard usually associated with your Mac mini. You are using the FaceTime app on the MacBook, not the Mac mini.

How to share your mouse and keyboard with an iPad

On your iPad follow these steps:

1. Go to Settings > General.
2. Go to AirPlay & Handoff.
3. Make sure Cursor & Keyboard is selected.

Now on your Mac follow these steps:

1. Open System Preferences/System Settings > Displays.
2. Click on Add Display.
3. Under Link Keyboard and Mouse you should see your iPad.
4. Select your iPad (If it disappears just unlock your iPad or wake it up!)
5. You can click on the screens in the window (as seen above) and move them to a position that matches the setup on your desk so that you can easily find them!

Note that when we used the Home button on our iPad it stopped Universal Control, so if you do that you may need to start it again in System Preferences > Displays.

How to drag and drop between Mac and iPad

While it was already possible to copy and paste text between your Apple devices thanks to Universal Clipboard, it’s now really easy to drag and drop files and other things between your iPad and Mac and vice versa.

Prior to Universal Control if you wanted to copy a file or photo to an iPad from a Mac (or vice versa) you could use AirDrop (see: How to AirDrop on Mac, iPhone and iPad), you could Message or Email from one device to the other, or you could save to iCloud where you could access it on either device, for example, anything saved to your Desktop can be accessed on any of your Apple devices if you subscribe to iCloud+ (see: How to iCloud Drive to sync files between Mac, iPhone and iPad).

Now Universal Control has arrived it’s easy to drag and drop from the Mac to iPad, but you do have to show the file where it needs to go on the iPad (it won’t automatically get the correct place).

For example, if you want to copy a photo from your Mac to your iPad follow these steps: 

1. Open Photos on your iPad.
2. Click on the photo on your Mac.
3. Drag it from your Mac screen to the iPad.
4. Drop the photo into the Photos app (if doesn’t seem to work if you just drop onto the Photos icon, you need the app to be open.)

On the other hand, if you want to drag from the iPad to the Mac the process is a lot easier, just drag and drop to the desktop and it will end up there (and if you have Stacks selected it will be in the relevant folder). Read: Clean up a Mac desktop with Mojave Desktop Stacks & other tricks.

Alternatively, drag it to a folder and drop it there.

What to do if your Mac and iPad don’t support Universal Control?

There are alternatives to universal control that will also allow you to use a single keyboard and mouse with two Macs and even an iPad.

How to use a Hardware KVM

Called KVM long ago for “keyboard, video, and mouse,” a KVM switch was an important tool for system and network administrators to avoid the clutter of extra bulky CRTs and keyboards in server rooms and elsewhere. Later, KVMs became handy for those who wanted to dock a laptop next to a desktop setup and use a larger monitor, full-sized keyboard, and mouse, trackball, or trackpad.

Those KVMs had to include a VGA connection, multiple serial and audio connectors, and sometimes USB 1.1.

Today, a KVM can be much simpler: you just need USB Type-A ports and can use USB-C adapters as necessary to connect to your Macs. This $19.99 list price UGreen two-computer switch could fit the bill for many people.

How to use a Software KVM

If you only want to switch among Macs, a virtual KVM might be the path of least fuss. Symless Synergy is just $29 for three computers, with those licenses covering macOS, Linux, Raspberry Pi, and Windows—you can mix and match installations.

Synergy works similarly to Universal Control (before Universal Control existed), letting you trigger movement among devices by sliding your cursor off the edge of one screen and onto another.

Ask Mac 911

We’ve compiled a list of the questions we get asked most frequently, along with answers and links to columns: read our super FAQ to see if your question is covered. If not, we’re always looking for new problems to solve! Email yours to mac911@macworld.com, including screen captures as appropriate and whether you want your full name used. Not every question will be answered, we don’t reply to email, and we cannot provide direct troubleshooting advice.

iPad, Mac, MacOS

If you have multiple Macs you want to use, it can be a hassle to manage multiple keyboards, mice, and other pointing devices. What if you could use a single set of input devices to control multiple Macs—and sometimes iPads?

Since Monterey, Apple has offered Universal Control for Macs and iPads, a solution for sharing keyboards and mice between two Macs. Where Universal Control doesn’t fit, you can try a hardware or software KVM, which can share a set of input devices among multiple computers.

What is Universal Control?

Universal Control will let you use the same keyboard and mouse for all the Macs and iPads you are working on. All you have to do to switch devices is move the pointer until it crosses the edge of the screen. The new feature also makes it extremely easy to copy content between devices using drag-and-drop.

Universal Control builds on the Continuity features Apple added years ago that made it easy to move from one device to another seamlessly. Then with Catalina in 2019 came Sidecar, which made it easy to use an iPad as an additional screen for your Mac. Read: How to use an iPad as a second screen with a Mac.

But Universal Control goes a step further than Sidecar did: rather than turning your iPad display into a secondary Mac display, Universal Control will maintain the iPadOS on the iPad, so that you can interface with the iPad as an iPad, rather than as a second screen for your Mac.

Similarly, Universal Control brings a Sidecar-like feature to the Mac, so you can extend the primary screen to the secondary Mac, but you can also choose to use the two Macs independently so that you can interface between the two devices.

Here we will explain how to use a keyboard and mouse with two Macs or a Mac and an iPad. Read on!

What you need for Universal Control

Universal Control lets you use a keyboard, mouse, or trackpad across multiple devices logged into the same iCloud account and that are in proximity to one another. MacOS Monterey version 12.4 or later and iPadOS 15.4 or later are required. You also need to have Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabled.

Universal Control is turned on by default on both your Mac and iPad, but you do need to set up a few things.

• Universal Control arrived in March 2022 in macOS 12.3 or iPadOS 15.4 . In order for Universal Control to work you will need at least macOS 12.3 on your Mac(s) and iPadOS 15.4 on your iPad.
• You will need a compatible Mac(s) and iPad (see compatibility list below).
• You also need Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to be turned on on your Mac and iPad so make sure that they are all on.
• You’ll also need to be signed into the same iCloud account on both devices.
• You’ll also need to move your iPad or secondary Mac within 30 feet/10 meters of your Mac.

Apple offers this detailed setup guide that includes minimum hardware model requirements for Macs and iPads.

Universal Control compatibility

Universal Control won’t work with every Mac or iPad. If you want to operate multiple Macs and iPads with one keyboard, mouse and trackpad you’ll need a recent Mac and a recent iPad, both devices will need to be logged into the same Apple ID, you will also need two-factor authentication, and you will need to be running macOS 12.3 or iPadOS 15.4.

Compatible Macs:

• MacBook Pro (2016 and later)
• MacBook (2016 and later)
• MacBook Air (2018 and later)
• 21.5in iMac (2017 and later)
• 27in iMac (2015 and later)
• 24in iMac
• iMac Pro
• Mac mini (2018 and later)
• Mac Pro (2019)

Compatible iPads:

• iPad Pro
• iPad Air (3rd generation and later)
• iPad (6th generation and later)
• iPad mini (5th generation and later)

This means that if your Mac is from 2015 or earlier it’s not a feature you will be able to enjoy (unless you have a 27in iMac from that era).

Does Universal control work with Intel Macs?

Universal Control will work with some recent Intel Macs.

Does universal control work with iPhone?

Universal Control only connects the Mac and iPad, not the iPhone. The iPhone isn’t really suitable for use as an additional screen in this sort of set up.

How many devices can you link with Universal Control?

Up to three Macs or iPads can be linked this way. But you will need a Mac in order to use this with an iPad – you can’t use Universal Control to link two iPads (yet, anyway).

How to share a mouse and keyboard with two Macs

If you want to use your keyboard and mouse with two Macs follow these steps:

1. Open System Settings/System Preferences on your Mac and select Displays.
2. If using Ventura click on Advanced, otherwise click on Universal Control.
3. Check/tick all three boxes: ‘Allow your cursor and keyboard to move between any nearby Mac or iPad’ (that’s signed into your iCloud account). ‘Push through the edge of a display to connect to a nearby Mac or iPad’. And ‘Automatically reconnect to any nearby Mac or iPad’ which will ensure that your Mac and iPad reconnect next time.
4. Go to the other Mac and select the same three options in System Preferences/System Settings > Displays. (If you don’t do this you won’t see the option to Link Keyboard and Mouse under Add Display in the next step.)
5. Click on the drop-down beside Add Display. You’ll see the option Link Keyboard and Mouse and the name of your secondary Mac underneath. You will need to make sure that these displays are set up in the same way as they are on your desk.
6. Now drag your mouse to the second Mac and you will see the cursor appear on that screen. Click on a document and you’ll be able to type with the keyboard.
7. Drag the displays into a location that matches the setup on your desk so that you can find each display.

Now when you drag your cursor over in the direction of your secondary Mac screen, when you get to the edge of the screen your cursor will move to the other screen and you will be able to use your keyboard and mouse to control the secondary device.

So for example, if you want to use FaceTime on your MacBook you can still use the mouse and keyboard usually associated with your Mac mini. You are using the FaceTime app on the MacBook, not the Mac mini.

How to share your mouse and keyboard with an iPad

On your iPad follow these steps:

1. Go to Settings > General.
2. Go to AirPlay & Handoff.
3. Make sure Cursor & Keyboard is selected.

Now on your Mac follow these steps:

1. Open System Preferences/System Settings > Displays.
2. Click on Add Display.
3. Under Link Keyboard and Mouse you should see your iPad.
4. Select your iPad (If it disappears just unlock your iPad or wake it up!)
5. You can click on the screens in the window (as seen above) and move them to a position that matches the setup on your desk so that you can easily find them!

Note that when we used the Home button on our iPad it stopped Universal Control, so if you do that you may need to start it again in System Preferences > Displays.

How to drag and drop between Mac and iPad

While it was already possible to copy and paste text between your Apple devices thanks to Universal Clipboard, it’s now really easy to drag and drop files and other things between your iPad and Mac and vice versa.

Prior to Universal Control if you wanted to copy a file or photo to an iPad from a Mac (or vice versa) you could use AirDrop (see: How to AirDrop on Mac, iPhone and iPad), you could Message or Email from one device to the other, or you could save to iCloud where you could access it on either device, for example, anything saved to your Desktop can be accessed on any of your Apple devices if you subscribe to iCloud+ (see: How to iCloud Drive to sync files between Mac, iPhone and iPad).

Now Universal Control has arrived it’s easy to drag and drop from the Mac to iPad, but you do have to show the file where it needs to go on the iPad (it won’t automatically get the correct place).

For example, if you want to copy a photo from your Mac to your iPad follow these steps: 

1. Open Photos on your iPad.
2. Click on the photo on your Mac.
3. Drag it from your Mac screen to the iPad.
4. Drop the photo into the Photos app (if doesn’t seem to work if you just drop onto the Photos icon, you need the app to be open.)

On the other hand, if you want to drag from the iPad to the Mac the process is a lot easier, just drag and drop to the desktop and it will end up there (and if you have Stacks selected it will be in the relevant folder). Read: Clean up a Mac desktop with Mojave Desktop Stacks & other tricks.

Alternatively, drag it to a folder and drop it there.

What to do if your Mac and iPad don’t support Universal Control?

There are alternatives to universal control that will also allow you to use a single keyboard and mouse with two Macs and even an iPad.

How to use a Hardware KVM

Called KVM long ago for “keyboard, video, and mouse,” a KVM switch was an important tool for system and network administrators to avoid the clutter of extra bulky CRTs and keyboards in server rooms and elsewhere. Later, KVMs became handy for those who wanted to dock a laptop next to a desktop setup and use a larger monitor, full-sized keyboard, and mouse, trackball, or trackpad.

Those KVMs had to include a VGA connection, multiple serial and audio connectors, and sometimes USB 1.1.

Today, a KVM can be much simpler: you just need USB Type-A ports and can use USB-C adapters as necessary to connect to your Macs. This $19.99 list price UGreen two-computer switch could fit the bill for many people.

How to use a Software KVM

If you only want to switch among Macs, a virtual KVM might be the path of least fuss. Symless Synergy is just $29 for three computers, with those licenses covering macOS, Linux, Raspberry Pi, and Windows—you can mix and match installations.

Synergy works similarly to Universal Control (before Universal Control existed), letting you trigger movement among devices by sliding your cursor off the edge of one screen and onto another.

Ask Mac 911

We’ve compiled a list of the questions we get asked most frequently, along with answers and links to columns: read our super FAQ to see if your question is covered. If not, we’re always looking for new problems to solve! Email yours to mac911@macworld.com, including screen captures as appropriate and whether you want your full name used. Not every question will be answered, we don’t reply to email, and we cannot provide direct troubleshooting advice.

iPad, Mac, MacOS

Apple has unveiled some of the new features coming to iOS in the fall.

Journal – Brand new app that builds on Memories in Photos to bring a new way to relive special moments. New way to remember and write about experiences with text, location and photos and more. You chose what to include. Suggestions API for developers to use in their apps.

StandBy – Borrows from the Apple Watch. Put the phone on a stand at night and see the time with a clock and a range of clock styles. Shuffles through best shots. Uses widgets. You can also see Live Activities, like game scores. StandBy adapts to red light – red tone to help you sleep.

Contact Posters – let you personalise how you appear in calls and on your contact card. You can customise your poster with image, font and colour. This works with Call Kit so it can be used in third-oarty VOIP apps.

Live Voicemail – If someone calls and leaves a message you will see a live transcript as they speak. That way you can see if you want to answer it. When you know what the call is about you can decide whether to take it.

FaceTime – Is getting the ability to leave a message as as FaceTime video.

Messages – will be faster and more convenient. Search filters will let you add terms to a search to narrow the results. Jump to the first message you haven’t seen in a group chat. Swipe to reply on any bubble. Audio messages are transcribed.

You can check in with a family member and friend to let them know you got home. It will recognise you aren’t making progress towards the destination and ‘check in with you’. They can also see your battery level and cell status so they know if you can take a call. Sleek new look so you can see the things you see the most.

Stickers – See all the stickers in one place. All emoji are now stickers. You can peak and stick and resize it. Subjects from photos can be lifted out of photos and turned in to stickers. You can turn live animated photos into moving stickers for Live Stickers. Stickers have been added systemwide wherever you can access emoji.

AirDrop – Change to the way it works. NameDrop means you can bring your phones close together and easily chose the phone numbers and email addresses you want to share and share them must like that. You can also share with and Apple Watch. To share photos just bring phones close together to simply share. You can then step away and the content will continue to share over the internet. This works with SharePlay too, so you can just bring phones together to share.

Keyboard and dictation – Autocorrect will be “more accurate than ever”. Tap the underlined word to get the option to revet to the word you had typed. You can get predictions in line as you type and just tap the space bar to add them.

Dictation – Improvements.

Siri – No need to say Hey everytime! Just the first time.

Photos – can identify cats and dogs that are part of your family.

We will update this story as the news breaks, please reload this page for the latest news.

— Here are the rumors —

Each year Apple releases a major update for iOS, the operating system on your iPhone. The current version, released last year, is iOS 16, and it doesn’t take a genius to predict that 2023 will see the launch of iOS 17. This free software update will bring a raft of interface tweaks, bug fixes, and new features. It’s like getting a new iPhone without paying a penny.

In this article, we discuss everything you need to know about iOS 17. We cover its release schedule and when you can expect the beta and final versions to come out; how to get it when it does; the models of iPhone that are likely to be able to run iOS; and the features we expect and hope to be added in the new OS.

iOS 17 release date: When will iOS 17 arrive?

iOS 17 will be announced and demonstrated at WWDC 2023 on June 5, and then rolled out to iPhones across the world in fall 2023, almost certainly in mid-September. (The last time an iOS update was released outside September was iOS 5 back in October 2011.) It’s likely to follow closely on the heels of the iPhone 15 launch event. There was a gap of five days between the iPhone 14 and iOS 16 update in 2022, and six days in 2021. Over the past several years, the release of the new version of iOS has been fairly consistent:

• iOS 16: Monday, September 12, 2022
• iOS 15: Monday, September 20, 2021
• iOS 14: Wednesday, September 16, 2020
• iOS 13: Thursday, September 19, 2019
• iOS 12: Monday, September 17, 2018

Before this happens, a series of beta versions of iOS 17 will be released to testers, beginning with the first developer beta likely released on the first day of WWDC 2023. Here’s our expected timeline:

• Early to mid-June 2023: iOS 17 is announced at WWDC, and the first developer beta is released.
• July 2023: Apple releases the first public beta of iOS 17.
• June to September 2023: Apple releases a series of additional developer and public betas.
• Early September 2023: The iPhone 15 is announced.
• Mid-September 2023: The final public version of iOS 17 is released.

iOS 17 compatibility: Which iPhones will be able to run iOS 17?

Our best guess is that the iPhone XS and later will be able to run iOS 17. The iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, and the iPhone X which came out the same year, are all on the borderline. They may miss out, or they may squeak through and get another year of software support.

Apple, unfortunately, doesn’t follow a strict system where iPhones lose support after a specified number of years. Some years Apple doesn’t remove any devices from the list of supported devices; last year, by contrast, it removed the 6s and 7 generations in a single stroke. (Optimists may hope that this unusually harsh year will be followed by a more lenient one.) If you’ve got an iPhone 7, 1st-gen iPhone SE, or anything earlier than those devices, however, you definitely won’t be able to install iOS 17 since they aren’t compatible with get iOS 16.

• iPhone 7, iPhone SE (2016), and earlier: Not compatible
• iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus: Possibly compatible
• iPhone X: Possibly compatible
• iPhone XS, XS Max, XR: Probably compatible
• iPhone 11 and later: Definitely compatible

In April, there were conflicting reports of compatibility. On Twitter, Fame_Monsters reported that the iPhone 8/8 Plus and iPhone X would lose support when iOS 17 arrived, but Anonymous A.S on the Macrumors forums claimed the rumor was “simply incorrect” and iOS 17 would support the same phones as iOS 16.

Even if your chosen device is granted another year of software support, it’s worth noting that older iPhones may not get the full range of new features. Last year, for example, the iPhone 8 and iPhone X missed out on a bunch of cool stuff due to its older processor. For more information take a look at Every version of iOS released so far.

iOS 17: How to install the beta and full version

Once the final release comes out, installing iOS 17 will be a breeze. Open the Settings app on your iPhone and go to General > Software Update; iOS will check for any available updates and guide you through the process of installing them. You simply have to follow the instructions, which we explain in our iOS updating guide. And it’s easier still if you’ve turned on Automatic Updates, which you can do from the same screen.

But you can also install betas both leading up to the main release of iOS 17 and through the year following its release. There are two types—developer betas, which arrive first, and public betas, which generally show up a day or two later.

If you want to install a developer beta, you need, unsurprisingly, to be a registered Apple software developer. This costs $99 a year and will give you priority access to all of Apple’s betas, including macOS, watchOS, and tvOS. A better option for most would be to go for the public beta instead: these come out later than the developer betas, but they are free, and still give you bragging rights with your friends. Apple has changed the way betas are installed in iOS 16.4, and they are now tied to Apple IDs rather than profiles, so the process is a little friendlier than before. You can sign up to receive betas at the Apple Beta Software Program site.

In either case, it’s important to stress that betas are not finished software and are likely to contain bugs. That’s kind of the point of testing them. So be prepared for things to go wrong, maybe catastrophically, and we don’t recommend that you install a beta on your primary device. If that doesn’t put you off, follow our iOS beta installation guide. For more on joining the program read: How to join Apple’s beta program and try out new software.

iOS 17: Rumored new features

After including numerous new features in iOS 16, including a redesigned Lock Screen, unsending iMessages, and the iCloud Shared Photo Library, but early reports indicate that iOS 17 will have ‘fewer major changes’ than usual. However, there are signs that we’ll still get some pretty great features. A report by Mark Gurman in March claims that Apple has shifted its plans for iOS 17 and it is now “expected to boast several ‘nice to have’ features.” He doesn’t offer any specifics other than to say the new features will be among iPhone users’ “most requested features” but will still lack “a tentpole improvement like last year’s revamped lock screen.”

Smart display mode: According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman (a rather reliable source of leaks and rumors), iOS 17 will turn your iPhone into a smart display of sorts when locked and turned to a horizontal orientation. The feature will build on the lock screen widgets work from iOS 16, and use a dark background with bright text to make it easier to read. Apple is also working on a new horizontal iPad interface but that work is slower. Gurman also mentions changes to the Wallet app and its location services, a new journaling app, additions to the Health app, and upgrades to SharePlay and AirPlay.

Control Center: A MacRumors forum member says that iOS 17 will have substantial changes to Control Center, the first in many years. “Website forum member” is not typically strong providence for info leaks, but this same person has previously leaked accurate information about the Dynamic Island before its unveiling.

Camera and Health improvements: In April, a Twitter thread from prolific leaker @analyst941 detailed several new features they claim are from a development team insider. This leak is sketchy, but the individual reported updates are all vague and predictable enough that they seem likely. They include:

• Major changes to the Control Center UI and customization
• New features for the Dynamic Island
• Additional always-on display settings
• More Focus Mode filters
• Health app UI changes
• Camera app changes
• Notification changes and additional options
• Heavily improved Search/Spotlight

Lock Screen sharing: A post on Weibo from an account that accurately predicted the yellow iPhone 14 color (although at a fairly late date) details some supposed improvements in iOS 17. They include:

• Control Center UI changes
• App Library supports custom folders
• Apple Music lyrics on the lock screen
• Apple Music interface improvements
• Infinitely adjustable flashlight brightness
• Sharing lock screen setups
• Font size adjustment for Lock screen and emoji wallpaper

Lock Screen Maps: Analyst941 on Twitter, who has made several prior iOS 17 leaks, shows a new lock screen interface for Maps that shows the time and notifications count, unlike the current full-screen takeover.

iOS 17: New features we hope to see

Since this year’s release is rumored to be more maintenance and smaller improvements than flashy new features, this year’s wishlist is focused on things we want to see improved in iOS 17—little tweaks that will make a big difference in how we use our phones.

Apple certainly doesn’t come to us for advice about this stuff (and it’s too late to make major changes anyway), but it’s instructive to see how well “what we want” lines up with “what Apple delivers.” For what it’s worth, Apple actually delivered several of our iOS 16 Wishlist features, and if iOS 17 brings us more of the changes on this year’s list, we’ll consider that a success. Here’s what we want to see this year:

App Library overhaul

First introduced with iOS 14, the App Library is a good fundamental idea: Let your home screen be cluttered with only those apps you truly use every day and hide the dozens of other apps on your iPhone away from view.

It’s just a bad design! Apps are stuffed automatically into category folders that don’t always match up with what you’d expect. I have two Fender guitar apps on my iPhone. Fender Tune is in the Entertainment folder where it doesn’t belong, and Fender Play is in Other. Intuitively, these belong in the same folder, which should probably be Creativity. Everyone I know has numerous examples like this.

The folders are represented by four icons, three of which are actual app icons that open the app when you tap on them and the fourth is a group of four more tiny app icons that open the folder. This is an interaction and interface model that doesn’t exist anywhere else in iOS and iPadOS, and it’s not intuitive. Oh, and all the folders and their contents move around and change so you can’t develop muscle memory.

We have a few simple suggestions. Tapping the search box at the top of the App Library gives you an alphabetical list, which is a much simpler and intuitive way to find an app. It should be the default view—or be able to be set as the default view.

At the very least, make the folders in the App Library work like folders throughout iOS. Don’t move them around, make them so you open the folder when you tap on them and never one of the apps within. And maybe incorporate a number showing how many apps are in the folder.

Third-party app stores

A recent report claims that Apple will start to open up the iPhone in iOS 17, allowing the distribution of apps outside of Apple’s own App Store, the use of NFC for touchless payments beyond Apple Pay, browsers that don’t have to use Apple’s Webkit rendering engine, and more. It’s all necessary to comply with the EU’s new Digital Markets Act, and the expectation is that it will only apply to those iPhones running iOS 17 in the regions covered by EU law.

Apple should go ahead and make the changes–whatever they are–global. Naturally, we expect Apple to do the minimum possible to be in compliance with the Digital Markets Act, and we’re probably going to be in for a round of hearings and lawsuits and such saying that Apple isn’t in full compliance.

I still think whatever limited additional choice and freedom the EU iPhone users get will be a good thing, and would be good for users the world over, on balance. Moreover, it might be a smart move by Apple. The company is under antitrust scrutiny in several other markets, including the U.S. It could take a lot of heat off itself by offering the same solution that satisfied EU regulators, possibly preventing even stricter remedies in other regions.

It would also make iOS easier to maintain and test as a single cohesive release, rather than fragmenting iOS into regional variants.

Better Siri

Siri is definitely getting better and got a nice set of improvements in iOS 15 and iOS 16. It finally got offline processing, which speeds things up a lot and improves privacy. It also got a bit smarter and more reliable and is a lot better about understanding what is on the screen and reacting to it.

But Siri simply isn’t getting good enough fast enough. Not a day goes by that I don’t ask my Google Assistant something to which I get a good answer, and then—just out of curiosity—I ask Siri as well, and Siri fails.

The emphasis on new large language models such as ChatGPT is moving the bar for how we expect to be able to converse with AI. Siri needs more than just a “20 percent better than last year!” update, it needs a big forward leap that you can hear and feel every time you use it. It needs to sound better, work better, do more, and be right more often. It needs to truly feel conversational.

Siri kicked off the first generation of smartphone AI and fell behind. Wouldn’t it be great if Siri was the first true “next-generation” smartphone AI?

2FA for all

There’s this awesome feature in iOS that takes 2FA authentication codes you receive via SMS and makes them an autofill option just above the keyboard. This allows you to fill in the code without jumping away from the app or website that requested it and back again.

The only problem is that this only works with 2FA codes from SMS or Apple’s built-in Passwords feature.

We don’t suggest using SMS for 2FA codes unless you have to–they’re not as secure as they should be. Using the built-in password manager to generate codes isn’t a great option either because it really only works well on your iPhone–if you ever need to log in anywhere else, it’s a real pain to jump three layers deep in Settings to get your code. And some businesses mandate the use of certain 2FA apps.

We’d love for Apple to provide a framework for one-time-password code generation apps such as Authy, Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator, and others so they can securely autofill codes when requested just like Messages.

Call screening

Spam calls are out of control, and Apple should be using every tool in its arsenal to solve one of the biggest annoyances plaguing every smartphone user. For some time now, Google Assistant has been able to screen calls from unknown callers on Android phones. It can produce text transcripts and recordings, too.

This seems like a thing Siri should be able to do. In fact, Apple should go a step further and build an iCloud call spam service. These apps and services already exist, but they require you to set up a call-forwarding service–Apple, with low-level access to the operating system, could make this easy and seamless. Just like the iCloud Private Relay service, this should be an obvious feature for a company that bills itself as the “security and privacy” smartphone choice.

More Dynamic Island

The Dynamic Island is a wonderful interface convention that we expect to see on all four iPhone models this year. But it can do more!

New notifications should flow out of the Dynamic Island when they come in instead of just sliding down from the top of the screen, and the option to see how many unread notifications you have would be useful too. Maybe Siri could suggest new Live Activities based on the apps you use.

But most importantly, the Dynamic Island should not be a place for notifications to live, just where they briefly appear when they first come in. The use of this area is clear: it’s for persistent background activities and “here and then gone forever” toasts like the Face ID authentication or AirPods connecting.

Version unification

There’s no good reason for Apple’s ecosystem to have fragmented version numbers that are hard to keep track of. More than ever before, the software is updated in sync with features meant to work together, so why do we have one version number of iOS and iPadOS and tvOS, another for watchOS, and another for macOS?

This is only going to get worse when the Reality headset is released and has xrOS 1 or something similar.

Just jump everything ahead to 17. Or better yet, version 20. Why not? After all, Apple skipped the iPhone 9 entirely, jumped tvOS to version 17 out of the blue, and kept macOS at version 10 for more than a decade.

Help make it clear for users: the latest release for each device’s OS will have the same version number. The releases might not always happen on the same day, but consumers should be able to easily see that the latest watchOS 20.2 update goes with iOS 20.2, which goes with macOS 20.2, and so on.

iOS, iPhone

While the higher-end MacBooks with M1 Pro and M2 Pro and M1 Max and M2 Max chips support multiple external displays, Apple’s lower-end range of MacBooks that use a standard M1 or M2 processor cannot natively connect more than one external monitor. This is a massive limitation compared to the previous Intel-based generation of Mac laptops that could run two displays when connected to a USB-C or Thunderbolt 3 docking station or hub that we hope will be rectified with the M3.

Here are the external display specs for Apple’s current laptops:

M1 MacBook Air: Maximum one external display

M2 MacBook Air: Maximum one external display

M2 MacBook Pro: Maximum one external display

M2 Pro MacBook Pro: Maximum two external displays

M2 Max MacBook Pro: Maximum four external displays

However, there are ways around this plain M1/M2 limitation, allowing you to run two or more external displays off your MacBook, which we will outline here. In each case, there’s a software download and a docking station, hub, or adapter required. 

With the software workaround, there are some risks involved as you will be required to install third-party drivers, and these might later be unsupported by future updates of the macOS.

External displays: Big problem for M1 and M2 Macs

Apple’s Mac mini, MacBook Air, and 13-inch MacBook Pro were the first Macs to feature the Apple-designed M1 CPU. They received rave reviews for their speed improvements over Intel-based laptops, including here on Macworld.

But if your MacBook setup includes running more than one external display, you have a major problem. Apple’s M1 or M2 chips simply won’t allow it—at least natively. Apple states in the M1 and M2 MacBook Air and MacBook Pro tech specs that they support only “one external display with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz”.

While the M1 and M2 MacBooks natively support just one monitor, the M1 and M2 Mac Mini does natively support up to two external monitors—one via the HDMI port and a second via USB-C. But the M1 models of the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro lack an HDMI port and only support a single external display over Thunderbolt.

Apple has apparently promised to fix the problem in a future macOS update, but the arrival of the later M1 Pro and M1 Max—and more recently the M2—suggest that M1 owners could be waiting a long time. We have this guide to monitors for M1 Macs and what you need to know before buying. We also cover the basics of how to connect your Mac to an external monitor.

Workaround #1: Install DisplayLink software drivers

You can use a combination of display technologies to get around the M1/M2 MacBooks’ single-monitor limitation. This should work with most third-party docks, although some manufacturers, such as Caldigit, don’t recommend it.

Many multi-display docks use a combination of native USB-C Alternate Mode (native “Alt Mode” video output) and DisplayLink technology. This combination serves as a workaround to the M1/M2 platform supporting only a single external display via USB-C.

Note that DisplayLink requires a third-party driver to be installed on the Mac. There are different versions of the DisplayLink driver, and some bring their own compromises to the party. But, in general, setup is straightforward. Some of the docks we review below offer the DisplayLink software when you first connect the dock to your Mac.

The DisplayLink macOS app or DisplayLink Manager app are ways of enabling DisplayLink technology on macOS. The app is available as a standalone installer rather than through the mac App Store.

1. First, download the latest Mac DisplayLink driver. As stated above, some docks, do this for you but it’s always best to use the latest version.

DisplayLink Manager Graphics Connectivity App v. 1.7.0 is compatible with macOS Catalina 10.15, macOS 11 Big Sur, and macOS 12 Monterey. It can be managed via the DisplayLink icon in the Apple Menu bar.

The macOS requires the user to permit “Screen Recording” in order for DisplayLink devices to work properly. This can be found in System Preferences under Privacy in Security & Privacy; navigate to Screen Recording in the list on the left, then tick the Screen Recording permission for DisplayLink Manager after unlocking the padlock using your admin password. You may need to quit and restart DisplayLink Manager afterward.

More in-depth details on DisplayLink Manager under macOS Big Sur, Catalina, and Monterey, on this DisplayLink support page.

Installation is straightforward. Older versions did not support laptops’ closed-display/Clamshell mode, but 1.7.0 does support Clamshell mode if the MacBook is Intel-based running macOS 12 or if the MacBook is M1-based running macOS 11 or 12.

Other limitations include incompatibility with display rotation. Rotation on Apple M1/M2 requires DisplayLink Manager 1.6+ with macOS 12+.

There’s an option in DisplayLink manager to “launch at startup”, or you can drag the DisplayLink Manager to your Login Items in Users & Groups.

2. Then connect the MacBook to a docking station.

3. For the first screen you can connect via the dock’s DisplayPort or HDMI Port, and this will be handled natively by the M1/M2 MacBook.

You could also connect the first external display via the dock’s other display ports or via a Thunderbolt or USB-C to HDMI or DisplayPort adapter.

The HDMI or DisplayPort output uses Alternate Mode (Alt Mode), and as it is basically a pipeline directly to the system’s native GPU, it will behave just like if you hooked up a USB-C to HDMI dongle to your laptop. This requires no user driver installation.

The second and third displays will rely on the DisplayLink software. DisplayLink uses an installed driver and the system CPU and GPU to convert graphics data on the system into data packets. That data is then sent over the cable as data packets and converted back to video information and output to the monitors via the DisplayLink chip in the docking station.

Workaround #2: Install InstantView software

Another third-party software solution is SiliconMotion’s InstantView, which operates in a similar way to DisplayLink and works with three of the hardware hubs and adapters we review below.

The initial setup is easier than DisplayLink with the hubs from Hyper but similar to the Satechi hub—but it suffers the same challenge that Apple’s software updates can disable it, which will entail installing a newer version and allowing the necessary security & privacy settings for screen recording, just as with DisplayLink.

You can download the latest version of InstantView software here.

Neither software solution is complicated and both worked well in our tests as you can read below.

Which docks support DisplayLink and InstantView?

Originally, dock manufacturers did not officially support such a DisplayLink setup for Macs. The solution works, but they rightly warned that this could become unstuck in future versions of the macOS. Whenever there is a new OS update the drivers may need to be updated each time.

However, after some recent testing and improvements Plugable, for example, has updated its compatibility to officially support that configuration. For Mac compatibility, it has validated both Apple and Intel platforms running at least macOS 11. For M2, the company does anticipate compatibility but is awaiting new M2 MacBooks for testing and validation.

Which dock is best?

A docking station connects to your MacBook via Thunderbolt or USB-C. It then offers multiple ports that your laptop now has access to. These can include new display ports, such as HDMI, as well as Gigabit Ethernet for wired Internet access, USB-C/Thunderbolt/USB-A ports at varying speeds, audio plugs, and card readers.

Learn more about the best Thunderbolt docking stations for more details, or you can connect via a simpler USB-C hub. Look for a dock with two or more display ports, preferably ones that can connect to your preferred displays without the need for an adapter. Some, such as the Anker Apex, have two display ports but Anker warns against using it with Macs, even though DisplayLink should work around the problem.

Thunderbolt 4 docks or hubs often have no dedicated display port but three available TB4 ports that can be used to connect directly to a USB-C display or via adapters to HDMI or DisplayPort monitors. While you may have to buy an adapter cable, 40GBps Thunderbolt 4’s port flexibility and backward compatibility are recommended for users of modern Macs such as the M1 and M2 MacBooks.

USB-C docks and hubs are usually cheaper, though.

Docking station and hub manufacturers are now actively marketing their products as solutions to the M1/M2 external display limitation. Each requires either the DisplayLink download or another similar software solution, such as InstantView, but no further hardware adapter except for the dock or hub itself. And of course, these hubs offer the usual multi-port benefits as well as the external monitor solution.

If your hub or dock has just one display port, you could also attach a second or third display via one or more of the spare USB-A ports, using an adapter such as StarTech.com USB 3.0 to HDMI / DVI Adapter. This costs $80 or £80, so needs to be factored in when pricing an M1/M2 MacBook purchase if you require multiple monitors and want to use the USB-A port rather than a display port such as HDMI or DisplayPort. Another option is Plugable’s USB Dual 4K Display Adapter.

This adapter turns an available USB-A 3.0 or USB-C port into one DVI-I or VGA port (DVI to VGA adapter included) and one HDMI output. Each display can simultaneously support the maximum resolution of 2048×1152 at 60Hz. Make sure to use an active HDMI DisplayLink adapter that can support 4K at 60Hz, as some are limited to 4K at 30H

The best multiscreen hubs and adapters for M1 and M2 MacBooks

Below we have gathered the best dedicated hubs and docks for multiscreen M1/M2. Note that these listed (and tested) below use USB-C rather than Thunderbolt, so don’t benefit from the MacBook’s potential 40Gbps data bandwidth. If you require all 40Gbps, go for a Thunderbolt dock and install DisplayLink as instructed above.

Workaround caveats

Whenever there is a new OS update DisplayLink and InstantView drivers may need to be updated each time.

Plugable doesn’t recommend the workaround for gaming, video editing, digital audio workstations (DAWs), and protected content (HDCP) playback. For these workloads, users will want the full throughput of a “bare-metal” native GPU connection—such as provided by the DisplayPort or HDMI port on the dock using Alt Mode.

Caldigit actively recommends against using DisplayLink, as it finds it unreliable and there would be no synergy between the driver and the dock. Because it requires a third-party driver, users are at the mercy of Apple and the third-party developer to support later versions, the company told Macworld.

However, this combination of display technologies does allow M1 and M2 MacBooks to run more than one external monitor, and the M1 and M2 Mac mini to run more than two. And more manufacturers are coming out with docks and hubs that support it.

The only risk is that it could stop working at any time, although it wouldn’t harm your system if it did, and you could simply uninstall DisplayLink.

DisplayLink and InstantView are workarounds with a potentially limited timespan but the likelihood is that compatibility would be restored at some stage if the worst happened and you would get back your multi-monitor setup.

The Hyperdrive dual 4K HDMI hardware solution is the more expensive but stable workaround of the two—but if you want up to three displays you’ll need a dock such as one of those reviewed above and the DisplayLink solution.

Read our M1 MacBook Air review and everything you need to know about the M2 MacBook Pro and M2 MacBook Air.

If you are wanting to use a second display with your Mac and not have your Mac’s screen on, read our feature How to turn a Mac’s screen off. Want to use an 8K monitor? Read How to connect an 8K display to your Mac.

Computer Accessories, Laptop Accessories