How to use external monitor with macbook pro11

Support and Help
1

Ubuntu Support Template

Ubuntu Version:26.04 LTS

Problem Description:
trying to connect external monitor using HDMI cable.

I’ve been trying to connect an external monitor to an old macbook pro11, but its not picking up the signal from the laptop.

I’ve tried pressing cmd+F1 to mirror the screen, and tried closing the laptop lid to put it into clamshell mode, but I’m not having any luck with it.

I also went into my Ubuntu settings, and looked for external monitor options but didn’t see anything to allow me to toggle between the laptop screen and the external monitor.

does anyone have any ideas I could try to get it working?

2

What is the output of
sudo lshw -C display
Also if you can switch to Xorg instead of Wayland is it better?

3

sudo lshw -C display

what do you mean by, and how do I switch to Xorg from Wayland?

4

should I connect the external monitor with the HDMI and turn it on, then run that command.

5

Yeah can do. If you can also run
xrandr
and give that output too

6

prem@prem-MacBookPro11-3:~$ xrandr
Screen 0: minimum 16 x 16, current 2880 x 1800, maximum 32767 x 32767
None-1 connected primary 2880x1800+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 762mm x 476mm
2880x1800 59.97*+
2048x1536 59.95
1920x1440 59.97
1600x1200 59.87
1440x1080 59.99
1400x1050 59.98
1280x1024 59.89
1280x960 59.94
1152x864 59.96
1024x768 59.92
800x600 59.86
640x480 59.38
320x240 59.29
2560x1600 59.99
1920x1200 59.88
1680x1050 59.95
1440x900 59.89
1280x800 59.81
1152x720 59.97
960x600 59.63
928x580 59.88
800x500 59.50
768x480 59.90
720x480 59.71
640x400 59.95
320x200 58.14
2880x1620 59.96
2560x1440 59.96
2048x1152 59.90
1920x1080 59.96
1600x900 59.95
1368x768 59.88
1280x720 59.86
1024x576 59.90
864x486 59.92
720x400 59.27
640x350 59.28

I ran the first command again , but it just gave the exact same output.