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Using Your Laptop as a Monitor
You are looking for an option to extend your desktop display and use your laptop as a second monitor.
Usually, the HDMI port on a laptop functions only as an output and cannot be used for video input. Alternative methods like Miracast or third-party tools are required to use a laptop as a monitor.
Supplies needed to use your laptop as a monitor:
To attain the objective, you must follow a few tips that will perfectly work for Windows-based laptops and desktops.
You will need a primary computer, a laptop for a second screen, and an updated version of Microsoft Windows 10 on both devices.
Method 1. Using a laptop as a second monitor
Enabling your laptop
- Open the Settings app on the laptop you want to use as the second display. Select System. Select Projecting to this PC, and then proceed with the next steps.
- In this step, you will come across one message: Windows PCs and phones can project to this PC. Here, you have to change the settings from ‘always off’ to ‘available everywhere. The other option available is to customize the ‘available everywhere on a secured network option depending upon the network security and location.
- When you see the message after the project to this PC, you have to choose between the first time only/every time a connection is requested options.
- When the system asks for a PIN for pairing, you must create it if you are concerned about other devices projecting data onto the laptop screen. This is a recommended step for public connections and shared devices.
Connecting your laptop
- This is the step where you have to work for the projection. Go to a laptop that you want to use as the primary device > press the Windows key + P.
- Make a selection of the criteria the way you want the screen to be displayed.
- Now, choose to extend it if you want the laptop to act as the second monitor, thus giving you additional screen space.
- Now, you have to see the laptop device name when you are opting for a connection.
- Now proceed towards approval of the action and you can start using both the screens right away.
- Once you have finished using the laptop as the monitor > select disconnect.
Method 2. Using Miracast
The built-in Miracast technology allows you to connect your laptop without requiring additional connectors, cords, or dongles.
You will never need 2nd cable or wire to connect the primary computer to the laptop.
The video ports on a laptop are typically for output only and cannot be used to receive video or audio input from external devices.
- Open the taskbar > click on the icon for Notifications
- Select the button Connect, which you will get in the notifications window.
- The main PC will look for the device available to connect to the screen. When your laptop’s name appears on the screen, you must select it.
- You have to accept the connection request and then look at the laptop to receive the request.
- Right-click on the desktop of the PC you are using and select the display settings option.
- Now go to the display menu > change the section for multiple displays to extend the desktop to this display.
Now that you have successfully set the laptop as your monitor, you can use it to display multiple documents and perform other actions according to your preferences.
Method 3. Using a third-party tool
When you are not satisfied with the two ways mentioned above, you can try the third-party application that will be available for the systems.
To use the Space Desk, you have to download the application from the official website. For the laptop, you have to download the space desk software for the secondary machine.
You can use it as the second monitor. Again, to use it as the main PC, you will need to download the Space Desk drive software for the Windows primary PC.
- Install the software on both systems and then restart it to finish the process.
- You have to make sure that both systems are connected to the same Wi-Fi or LAN network.
- Go to the laptop and then click on the launch of the application.
- The application will automatically detect the primary computer available on the same network.
- It will recognize your system when you have to click on connect.
With these processes, the setup is ready for operation. It can be used to manage multiple tasks and enhance productivity effectively.
Summing it up
When you use your laptop as a monitor, you will reap plenty of benefits. Some of them are that you can use it for multiple purposes and experience increased productivity.
Again, the dual-screen also becomes a huge benefit to marketers in the long run. They can copy and share the media files while posting updates simultaneously.