CrackMacHow to connect a MacBook with a broken screen to a TV or monitor with HDMI
Plug the MacBook into the TV with an HDMI cable, using a USB-C to HDMI adapter on a MacBook Air, and choose that HDMI input on the TV. Then press Command and the Brightness Down key, the F1 key, to mirror the screen. The TV now shows exactly what the broken screen would. If the TV stays blank, connect power and a keyboard and close the lid, and the Mac moves everything to the TV.
Which cable for your MacBook
| MacBook | What you need |
|---|---|
| MacBook Air, any USB-C model | A USB-C to HDMI adapter or cable |
| MacBook Pro 14 or 16-inch, 2021 and later | A plain HDMI cable into the built-in HDMI port |
| 13-inch MacBook Pro, 2016 to 2022 | A USB-C to HDMI adapter or cable |
| MacBook Pro with Retina display, 2012 to 2015 | A plain HDMI cable |
Not every USB-C adapter carries video, and some cheap ones only manage 30 Hertz at 4K. Which ones work well is in USB-C to HDMI adapters for MacBook.
Step by step, when you can't see the Mac's screen
- Connect power to the Mac. With the lid closed, a MacBook only drives an external display when it's plugged in.
- Connect the HDMI cable and switch the TV to that HDMI input.
- Wake the Mac. Press a key or the power button.
- Mirror. Press Command-Brightness Down, the F1 key. If your top row works as function keys, press Command-Fn-F1. Press it again to switch back.
- Still blank? Connect a USB or Bluetooth keyboard, close the lid, wait a few seconds and press a key. The Mac now uses the TV as its only screen.
- Log in blind if you have to. Type your password and press Return. On a Mac with several accounts, type the first letter of your name and press Return first. The full method is in logging in to a Mac with a broken screen.
The TV shows only the wallpaper and the cursor
This is the most common surprise. The TV is working, but as a second screen, and every window is still on the broken built-in display. Press Command-Brightness Down to mirror, or close the lid with a keyboard connected. More fixes in external monitor shows only the wallpaper.
HDMI not working
- Check the TV input, then try another HDMI port on the TV.
- Try a different cable or adapter. Charging-only USB-C cables carry no video.
- Unplug the adapter from the Mac and plug it back in with the HDMI cable already connected.
- Restart the Mac with the TV connected.
The full checklist is in MacBook HDMI not working on a TV.
No sound from the TV
Open System Settings, Sound, Output, and choose the TV. You may have to set the volume with the TV's remote, because macOS often can't control HDMI volume. If that doesn't help, see no sound over HDMI.
Make it work every day
Once you can see the screen, open System Settings, Displays. Choose mirroring or extended mode, drag the white menu bar onto the TV in Arrange to make it the main screen, and pick a resolution that looks sharp. If text looks zoomed or the edges are cut off, turn off overscan in the TV's picture settings, often called Just Scan, Screen Fit or 1:1. For a permanent desk setup with the lid closed, see clamshell mode.
Wireless instead of HDMI
If the TV supports AirPlay, Control Center, Screen Mirroring also works, but you need to see the Mac's screen to click it. With a broken screen, HDMI and the keyboard shortcut are the reliable route. See mirroring a MacBook to a TV.
Back up while you can see
With the TV working, run a Time Machine backup first. See getting files off a Mac with a broken screen.
If only part of the laptop screen is broken
A monitor is the answer when the whole screen is gone. If only a strip along one edge is damaged, you can keep using the laptop on its own. Here's how to block off the broken part and use the rest.
If the damage runs along one edge, CrackMac can keep windows, menus and the pointer off it. There's a free 30-minute trial.
Quick answers
How do I connect my MacBook with a broken screen to a TV?
Plug an HDMI cable into the TV, using a USB-C to HDMI adapter on a MacBook Air. Select that HDMI input on the TV, then press Command-Brightness Down on the Mac to mirror the screen. If nothing appears, connect power and a keyboard and close the lid.
Why does the TV only show my wallpaper and cursor?
The Mac is using the TV as a second screen, and your windows are still on the broken built-in display. Press Command-Brightness Down to mirror, or close the lid with power and a keyboard connected.
Why is my MacBook not showing on the TV over HDMI?
Usually the wrong TV input, an adapter that doesn't carry video, or a resolution the TV can't show. Try another input, cable or adapter, then lower the resolution once you can see the screen.
How do I log in to a Mac with a broken screen?
Type your password and press Return at the login screen even if you can't see it. On a Mac with several accounts, type the first letter of your account name and press Return first. VoiceOver, turned on with Command-F5, reads the screen aloud.
Is the laptop screen only partly broken?
Then the TV doesn't have to be your only screen. CrackMac blacks out the damaged strip and keeps windows, the menu bar and the pointer on the part that still works, so the MacBook is usable away from the TV again.
- Works on macOS 13 or later, Apple silicon and Intel.
- Free for 30 minutes of use, then a one-time price. No subscription.
- A refund within 7 days, no questions asked.