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How Do I Connect My Laptop to a Monitor
Laptops are wireless, portable, and compact computers that allow you to multitask. However, using more inches for the same tasks can undoubtedly enhance your productivity.
The added space will facilitate the convenience of multitasking.
Moreover, connecting the laptop to the Monitor will also enable you to split the screen, where you can watch the movie on the PC monitor while tweeting on your laptop screen at the same time.
In addition to knowing the steps for making the connection, you should be well-informed about the resolution and then setting the orientation of both the laptop and the Monitor.
Doesn’t that sound cool? If you want to know more about the way of connecting your laptop to the Monitor, it’s worth going through this article.
Recommended steps for connecting a laptop to a monitor
Step 1.
Determine your laptop’s video output options.
Most laptops have multiple video output options, and it is advisable to check the available ports before connecting to a monitor. Now the same video output option is quite different in both Windows and Mac.
Windows:
HDMI port resembles the 3/4 in port and is suitable for most Windows laptops.
A display port similar to HDMI is available, but one corner is crimped, and the other forms a 90-degree angle. The VGA port has 15 pins, while the DVI port, depending on the type, has up to 24 pins.
Mac:
Thunderbolt 3/ USB-C is the oval port available on modern MacBooks. The HDMI six-sided tapered port is also exclusive to MacBooks. Mini DisplayPort is also another.
Step 2.
Determine the video input of your Monitor.
Most modern monitors have multiple input options, such as HDMI and DisplayPort, while older models may only support VGA or DVI.
You can also find the HDMI or display port input on the back of the monitors. However, very old monitors may only have VGA or DVI input ports.
Step 3.
Establishing the connection
Now, you can connect the cable to the laptop video output. For that, match the connector of the video cable to the shape of the output port on the laptop. Then make a connection by inserting the cable.
Once you’ve done this, you can connect the other end of the cable to the Monitor. To do so, match the shape of the other end of your video connection cable to the port on your Monitor and then insert it.
In case your monitor requires a connection different from that of your laptop, you will have to purchase the adaptor cable to connect the monitor.
These adapters will bridge different port types. Common adapters include HDMI-to-DisplayPort, VGA-to-HDMI, and USB-C-to-HDMI or DisplayPort.
Step 4.
Turn on the Monitor
Plugin > Turn on the Monitor. Now Attach the Monitor to a power source>>>press the Power button on your Monitor.
Step 5.
Select the video source on the Monitor.
Once you have the Monitor with multiple inputs, select the port connected to a laptop to the Monitor.
To select the video source, press the “Input,” and “Source.” or the “Video Select” button.
Step 6.
Connect the devices
Wait for the laptop screen to appear on the monitor. If it doesn’t, you may need to configure the display settings on your laptop.
Summing it up
Connecting your laptop to an external monitor is typically straightforward. We have mentioned all the relevant techniques, steps, and requirements for building such a setup.
Now, you can use both screens according to your preferences and get extra space for multitasking.
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