Connecting an external HDMI HD monitor to a 13" MacBook Pro

I'm doing a family tree and working with a small 13" monitor is difficult. I have a 25" HP Pavilion Monitor I used with my old Windows system. I tried plugging it in and what I see is the opening Orange screen that appears when starting the MacBook from a cold boot. It seems some information is getting thru but will not display the screen I'm working on. There must be setting to allow for a second screen but I can't find it. The external monitor is full HD and the connectivity is VGA HDMI.

David

Use the HDMI connector and not the VGA connector. Depending on what model of 13” MacBook Pro you have, you may or may not have an HDMI port built in.

Assuming yours is old enough that it doesn’t, you’ll want to locate a USB-C or Thunderbolt 3 adapter to HDMI to make that work.

If your MBP is too old to have USB-C ports, then the only way to make this work is to find a MiniDisplayPort (also known as Thunderbolt 2) to HDMI adapter. I know London Drugs sells such an adapter.