macOS Sonoma 14.6 Adds Dual External Display Support to M3 14-Inch MacBook Pro

The macOS Sonoma 14.6 update that Apple released today includes dual display support, an important feature specifically for the 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro. With the new software, the 14-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ with M3 chip is able to run two external displays in clamshell mode, aka when the lid is closed.

m3 macbook pro blue
Apple introduced dual display support in clamshell mode for the M3 MacBook Air models when they were released in March 2024, but at the time, the option was not available for the M3 14-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ released back in October 2023. Apple said at the time that it was planning to release a software update that would add multi-display support to the M3 ‌MacBook Pro‌.

The change is mentioned in Apple's macOS Sonoma update support document and in a support document on using dual monitors with the M3 ‌MacBook Air‌ and ‌MacBook Pro‌.

The 14-inch M3 ‌MacBook Pro‌ now supports one external display at 6K resolution when the lid is open, or two external displays at 5K resolution at up to 60Hz when the lid is closed.

Higher-end ‌MacBook Pro‌ models with M3 Pro and M3 Max chips were already able to support multiple displays, so today's change only applies to the 14-inch M3 ‌MacBook Pro‌ model.

Aside from the display update, macOS Sonoma 14.6 addresses a number of security vulnerabilities as outlined in Apple's security support document. None of the vulnerabilities are known to have been actively exploited in the wild, but it is still a good idea to update as soon as possible.

Related Forum: macOS Sonoma

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro Dark Blue and Orange

When Is iPhone 17 Coming Out?

Thursday July 24, 2025 9:11 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone 17 series is expected to debut in September 2025. This release follows Apple's recent trend of introducing new iPhone models annually in the fall. To unveil the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max, Apple is expected to hold its annual iPhone announcement event during the week of September 8, 2025, with September 9 or 10 emerging as the most likely...
iPhone 17 Pro on Desk Centered 1

iPhone 17 Pro Launching in Two Months With These 16 New Features

Saturday July 26, 2025 5:50 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max should launch in late September, and there are plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models, as of July 2025:Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models have a titanium frame, and the iPhone X through iPhone 14...
iPhone 17 Pro on Desk Centered 1

Tipster: iPhone 17 Pro to Feature 8x Zoom, Pro Camera App, and More

Sunday July 27, 2025 7:35 am PDT by
Apple's upcoming iPhone 17 Pro models will have several new camera-related features, according to an anonymous tipster who contacted MacRumors today. The tipster claimed to be familiar with an iPhone 17 Pro commercial that is allegedly being produced by a film company that has publicly listed Apple as one of its clients. MacRumors has not independently confirmed any of the information shared ...
Apple Watch Ultra 2 Complications

Apple Watch Ultra 3: What to Expect

Thursday July 24, 2025 7:08 am PDT by
The long wait for an Apple Watch Ultra 3 is nearly over, and a handful of new features and changes have been rumored for the device. Below, we recap what to expect from the Apple Watch Ultra 3:Satellite connectivity for sending and receiving text messages when Wi-Fi and cellular coverage is unavailable 5G support, up from LTE on the Apple Watch Ultra 2 Likely a wide-angle OLED display that ...
Apple Partridge Creek

Apple Store in Michigan Permanently Closing Next Month

Saturday July 26, 2025 1:51 pm PDT by
Earlier this month, MacRumors was first to report that Apple was planning to permanently close its Partridge Creek store, just outside of Detroit, Michigan, and now the company has announced a closure date for the location. Apple Partridge Creek Apple Partridge Creek's final day of business will be Saturday, August 16, with the store set to close for good at 8 p.m. local time that day. All of ...
iOS 18

Apple Shares iOS 18.6 Release Notes

Thursday July 24, 2025 6:33 am PDT by
While the focus is now on iOS 26, there is still an iOS 18.6 update incoming. As noted by Aaron Zollo, Apple on Wednesday re-labeled iOS 18.6 Beta 4 as simply iOS 18.6, meaning that it is the Release Candidate version. This change effectively confirms that the update will be released to the public next week. Alongside the new label, Apple shared release notes for iOS 18.6, which is a...
iPhone 17 Colors

All 15 New iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro Colors Leaked

Friday July 25, 2025 6:20 am PDT by
We may finally have a definitive list of all color options for the iPhone 17 series, ahead of the devices launching in September. MacRumors concept In a Macworld report this month, Filipe Espósito said he obtained an "internal document" that allegedly reveals all of the color options for the upcoming iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max models. The report...
iPhone 17 Pro on Desk Centered 1

iPhone 17 Pro Launching in Two Months With These 16 New Features

Tuesday July 22, 2025 5:00 pm PDT by
Apple's iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are less than two months away, and there are plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models, as of July 2025:Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models have a titanium frame, and the iPhone X through iPhone 14...

Top Rated Comments

icanhazmac Avatar
13 months ago

I'm wondering who's actually running dual-external display with the lid closed?
Surely you jest?

I run my MBP probably 80% in clamshell at home with 2 monitors and externals versus 20% while traveling as a laptop with my iPad as the 2nd monitor.

Why would I want to use the comparatively tiny screen, keyboard, trackpad while at home versus 2 27" monitors with a full size KB and mouse? And my desktop speakers are way better too.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Sheepish-Lord Avatar
13 months ago
Ahhh yes, the software locked feature that legit made the MBA better than a “pro” model
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bradman83 Avatar
13 months ago

I'm wondering who's actually running dual-external display with the lid closed?

You lose the keyboard, Touch ID, webcam, speakers, trackpad, and obviously the Retina display. So yes, technically, the M3 supports dual external display. But in practical terms, it really doesn't.
I do this with my work laptop (which is a Windows machine so Touch ID isn't applicable). For me the laptop's internal display is a distraction, I'd rather have the two main displays which are the same size, same height, and situated so they line up like one continuous display. I also happen to prefer an external keyboard with numeric keypad when working with a lot of numbers and a mouse versus a trackpad for working with Excel, so the setup works for my use case.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
USB-Adapter Avatar
13 months ago
It would be useful to keep the lid open for the camera and Touch ID.

But it would be too complicated for Apple to let users disable the internal display when the lid is open.

I use a DisplayLink docking station with my M1 MBP and two external displays and have to mirror one of the displays to the internal display and then reduce the brightness of the internal display to zero in order to emulate a disabled internal display and still be able to use the camera, the Touch ID and the Touch Bar on the MacBook Pro.
Every Windows laptop has a dedicated key on the keyboard to switch to this mode without dumb workarounds.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mortenb Avatar
13 months ago

You lose the keyboard, Touch ID
New 'external' Magic Keyboard have Touch ID.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
USB-Adapter Avatar
13 months ago

I'm wondering who's actually running dual-external display with the lid closed?

You lose the keyboard, Touch ID, webcam, speakers, trackpad, and obviously the Retina display. So yes, technically, the M3 supports dual external display. But in practical terms, it really doesn't.
Me, most of the time when I work from home, because I have a USB camera, a Magic keyboard, a Logitech mouse and a Jabra speaker. But when I work in the office, I have to use the MacBook's internal camera and Touch ID.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)