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Connect a Monitor to a Laptop And Use Both Screens
Laptops are becoming increasingly powerful and innovative. But, there is one thing that you have to compromise with- the small screen.
Unless you want to carry the 17-inch monster, the 11- —to 15-inch screen is difficult to use.
When working at your desk, it is better to keep a large monitor, which will help you perform many tasks and make things more comfortable.
On the other hand, the extra desktop option allows you to multitask on the laptop screen.
Using the portable monitor that you can carry around with the laptop and USB-C port will serve the objective.
Usually, laptops come with multiple connectors for monitors, such as HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-C, and sometimes VGA on older models.
Thin laptops often require adapters because they may only include USB-C ports, which require conversion for HDMI or DisplayPort.
Cables and adapters that can serve for your second screen
Most laptops come with the built-in ability to power the second screen. You have to find the HDMI or display ports to fit the desktop or laptop.
When you have an older computer, you may have to look for the white DVI or another blue VGA socket.
Not all laptops support all four types of ports, but commonly available ports include HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB-C for connecting monitors or projectors.
If you have any of these 4 ports, you can use the proper cable. However, thinner and lighter laptops sometimes lack compatible ports.
So, you have to add the adaptor into the mix.
Setting up the second screen
Setting up the screen is typically straightforward. After plugging in the second monitor, most operating systems will recognize it, but manual configuration may be required.
All you require to do is to follow the optional steps for configuration.
For Windows
Step 1. Managing the setup
You can start using Windows’s configuration on both screens once you connect the appropriate wire between the laptop and the monitor.
In most cases, Windows will automatically start detecting the monitor that is plugged in and turned on.
It will readily start duplicating the contents on the screen.
In case you fail to see anything on the screen, you will have to use the buttons to find the menu and then select the correct video input. It will then automatically switch to the input with the video signal coming in.
Now, you will have to right-click on the Windows desktop>>> choose Display Settings.
There’sThere’s an alternative to it.
Click Start > Settings > System. Then, start finding options like orientation, text size, and resolution.
Step 2. Duplicating or extending the Windows desktop across two monitors
The duplicate option allows the second monitor to mirror the laptop screen’s content. There is an extended menu where the Windows desktop is extended across the two monitors.
The third option shows only 1 or 2. You can click identity for further identification.
You can find another option to do so. You must switch between the modes and look for the function key on the laptop’s top row. It will show you two monitors.
You have to press the Fn and function keys, which will toggle through the various configurations. The configuration here is laptop display, the external screen only, and laptop + external screen.
In every case, you must pick the ”extend these displays’ option to treat the second monitor as a separate desktop.
You can also simultaneously run different applications on the laptop screen and external monitor. Now, you have to drag monitor 2 below the heading to customize your display.
This mechanism will default to the right-hand side of your laptop screen.
When the monitor’s resolution is higher than the laptop’s, its representation in the display settings diagram will appear larger.
It has nothing to do with the actual size of the monitor. You have to drag the monitor icon of the second monitor to allow the bottom edge to line up.
So, you will get an equal area for the top and the bottom. However, it’s good to remember that it will affect the mouse’s movement between the screens.
Step 3. Checking the screen’s resolution
In the next step, you have to go ahead with the procedure of checking the resolution for the display. You have to set the native resolution for each monitor.
Then, you must check the specifications when you don’t know them already.
When you have a screen with a high resolution of around 4K, you will have the option of changing the size of the text, other items, and applications slider.
These entities will make everything more readable.
When you are already happy with the customized settings, you can click on apply and wait for the changes to be implemented.
You can see these changes on the monitor connected to the laptop and start using it as an extended or mirrored display. You can also add additional shortcut icons.
For macOS
Step 1. Managing the setup
Over on macOS, open the Applemenu > choose System Preferences > click Displays.
Now go to the Arrangement tab and start changing the relative positions of the displays. One is available on the left screen, and one is on the right.
Step 2. Setting the resolution of the screen
You can toggle between mirrored and extended mode using the ‘Mirror Displays’ checkbox.
In addition, you can set the screen’s resolution from the same menu.
For Chrome OS:
How to connect a monitor to a laptop and use both screens – Chrome OS
When you are on a computer with the Chrome operating system, you must click the information panel in the lower right-hand corner.
Now, you have to select the cog icon and then go to the settings panel. You can choose this place from there.
From that menu, you can configure whether or not the second display will act as an extension or a duplicate of the first one.
You can now set the display’s resolution and orientation and position them in the virtual space.
Summing it up
When you complete the steps, you can sit back and enjoy using the second screen.
When operating in the extended mode, you will find flexibility in dragging the Windows program between the displays and maximizing them on each screen.
When you disconnect or switch off the second monitor, the operating system typically reverts to the default single-screen configuration.
See Also