connect 2 lcd monitors to laptop in stock

Whether in the office, home office, or for gaming – two screens are better than one. However, setting up dual monitors depends somewhat on available connections and cables. Read on to find out how to connect a second screen to a laptop or PC.

When splitting your Windows screen no longer suffices, you’ll need an additional monitor. Added screen space is easier on the eyes and simplifies working with several applications simultaneously. Gamers can enjoy high-resolution graphics by installing an additional monitor.

If you only want to view videos or pictures on a larger screen, you don"t need to install an extra monitor. With Windows Miracast, for example, you can easily connect your PC to a TV.

The majority of modern laptops and PCs support connecting a second monitor by default. All you need to consider are the ports on your end device and which monitor you’d like to connect. Before you head out to purchase one, be sure to check the type and number of ports on the laptop or PC.

HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) is one of the most common connection types of modern monitors and many TV users will already be familiar with it. The connection type is compact and transmits video and audio signals. A modern HDMI connection is suitable for 4K resolutions and a frame rate of 60 Hz. If your monitor and laptop or PC have one or two HDMI ports, you just need a single HDMI cable. If you want to connect two monitors but only have one HDMI port, use an HDMI splitter. Be sure that the splitter has the same refresh rate as the HDMI cable.

USB-C is a USB port format that’s often found on new, slim laptop models. The advantage of USB-C is that it can be used for charging while also supporting the transmission of audio and DisplayPort signals with Alternate Mode. DisplayPort refers to monitor interfaces for image and sound signals and high transfer rates. The USB-C downstream and DisplayPort Alternate Mode can be used to link several monitors. If you only have a few USB-C ports, use a USB-C dongle. Ideally, a USB-C donglehas at least two HDMI interfaces for monitors. Alternatively, a dongle can be paired with a HDMI splitter.

DisplayPort is similar to HDMI and transmits audio and image signals at high frame rates. Thus, the connection is particularly suitable for 4K. Laptops often have a DisplayPort or miniDisplayPort and can be connected to monitors that have a DisplayPort port. For monitors without DisplayPort, a corresponding adapter is required. Thanks to multi-stream transport, multiple monitors can be connected via DisplayPort and coupled to a laptop via a splitter or adapter.

DVI and VGA are analog, older connection standards that only transmit image signals. If the monitor and end device have DVI or VGA ports, they can be connected via the corresponding DVI or VGA cable. With the appropriate DVI-HDMI or VGA-HDMI adapter, older monitors can be connected to laptops and PCs to transmit HDMI signals. Modern connection standards are preferable in any case, as they offer better resolution, refresh rates, and color values.

Even if your laptop only has a single HDMI or USB-C port, you can connect dual monitors. Using a suitable HDMI splitter, a USB-C dongle, or a USB-C dongle with HDMI interface, you can easily connect two or more monitors to your laptop.

Once you connect one or more monitors to your laptop, you can set up two or more monitors in Windows and specify which monitor you wish to use as the main one. Windows usually detects display devices connected to the laptop or PC automatically and assigns numbers to them. The main monitor is designated number 1. All others are numbered in ascending order.

Step 2: Under “Display” and “Multiple displays” you will see display devices detected by Windows, e.g. one or more additional monitors. Click “Detect” if none are visible.

Step 3: Go to “Advanced display settings” to make changes to the arrangement and order of the connected monitors. Adjust further settings such as the screen resolution, for example.

Step 4: The easiest way to change the use mode of the connected monitors is to use the shortcut [Windows] + [P]. Settings such as “Duplicate” let you mirror desktop content. With “PC screen only” or “Second screen only” you determine whether you only use one of the connected screens. Use “Extend” to create a connected desktop from connected monitors. These options can be found in the “Display” menu under “Multiple Screens”.

Another problem could be that Windows displays a second monitor as the main monitor. If you want to keep the PC or laptop as your main monitor, go to “Settings” > “System” > “Display Device” and select the “Rearrange Display Devices” option. Then click on “Identify”. You should be able to see the assigned digit on each screen. If you wish to change the order, go to “Advanced display settings”.

This article was co-authored by Luigi Oppido and by wikiHow staff writer, Sam Browning. Luigi Oppido is the Owner and Operator of Pleasure Point Computers in Santa Cruz, California. Luigi has over 25 years of experience in general computer repair, data recovery, virus removal, and upgrades. He is also the host of the Computer Man Show! broadcasted on KSQD covering central California for over two years.

We all know that multiple monitors can extremely improve our productivity and bring a great experience, especially when you’re using a laptop. But how to connect external monitors to a laptop? You’ve come to the right place. This article introduces an easy and clear guideline toconnect two external monitors to your laptop.

Note: the instructions below apply to adding multiple monitors for laptops, but it also works if you want to add external monitors to your PC/desktop.

Generally speaking, most Windows laptops now support dual monitors, at least. But you need to make sure your laptop is capable to add two external monitors. And that depends on your Windows operating system, the capability of your graphics cards and drivers.

First of all, you may need to make sureyour graphics card supports multiple monitors. Normally, every graphics card provides at least two outputs, but you will need to check the graphics card properties on the manufacturer’s website, find your graphics card and check the specificationsto see if it supports adding two external monitors.

For example, if you are using the NVIDIA GeForce graphics card, you can check it out on the official website, and click your graphics card, and check the specification, then you will see if it supports multiple monitors.

If it does not support adding multiple monitors, you may need to buy and install a correct graphics card (e.g GeForce RTX 30 Series) before you keep processing.

You can check the ports on the back or on the sides of your laptop. In addition to the ports on your laptop, the monitors should have the corresponding ports as well. That will save your time and money to connect them. Otherwise, you will need to buy an extra adapter, such as a

If the ports on your laptop are not the same as the connectors in your monitor cables, or there are not enough ports, don’t give up. There is a workaround! You can try one of the methods below to continue:

Plug the cable of the first external monitor to the correct video port on your laptop. So I plug the VGA cable of the first external monitor into the VGA port on my laptop.

Plug the cable of the second external monitor to the other correct port on your laptop. So I plug the HDMI cable of the second external monitor into the HDMI port on my laptop.

You will see three displays labeled with 1, 2 and 3 in display mode. Generally speaking, the display 1 is the monitor of your laptop, and the display 2 and 3 are the external monitors.

Tips: You can click and drag each display (1, 2 or 3) to rearrange the display. You can also change the size of items, display resolution, andorientationaccording to your preferences.

Sometimes the external monitors cannot be correctly detected by your laptop.This can be caused byimproper connection, defective monitor or cables. Ensure all the cables connect correctly, and do some tests with an alternative monitor and another cable.

Automatically– If you don’t have time or patience to manually update drivers, you can do that automatically with Driver Easy. Its free version can detect and download the outdated drivers on your Windows with only a few clicks.

You can update your drivers automatically with either the FREE or the Pro version of Driver Easy. But with the Pro version it takes just 2 clicks (and you get full support and a30-day money back guarantee):

Click theUpdatebutton next to a flagged device to automatically download the correct drivers (you can do this with the FREE version), and install it on your computer.

Or clickUpdate Allto automatically download all the correct drivers that are missing or out of date on your Windows (this requires thePro version– you’ll be prompted to upgrade when you click Update All).

These are the easy instructions to connect two external monitors for your laptop. Comment below if you have any questions, and we will see what more we can do to further help.

We all know that multiple monitors can extremely improve our productivity and bring a great experience, especially when you’re using a laptop. But how to connect external monitors to a laptop? You’ve come to the right place. This article introduces an easy and clear guideline to connect two external monitors to your laptop.

Generally speaking, most Windows laptops now support dual monitors, at least. But you need to make sure your laptop is capable to add two external monitors. And that depends on your Windows operating system, the capability of your graphics cards and drivers.

First of all, you may need to make sure your graphics card supports multiple monitors. Normally, every graphics card provides at least two outputs, but you will need to check the graphics card propertieson the manufacturer’s website, find your graphics card and check the specifications to see if it supports adding two external monitors.

For example, if you are using NVIDIA GeForce graphics card, you can check it out on the official website, and click your graphics card, and check the specification, then you will see if it supports multiple monitors.

If it does not support adding multiple monitors, you may need to buy and install a correct graphics card (e.g GeForce RTX 2080) before you keep processing.

You can check the ports on the back or on the sides of your laptop. In addition to the ports on your laptop, the monitors should have the corresponding ports as well. That will save your time and money to connect them. Otherwise you will need to buy an extra adapter, such as DVI to HDMI adapter to have them match.

If the ports in your laptop is not the same as the connectors in your monitor cables, don’t give up hope. There is workaround! You can try one of the methods below to continue:

Use a switch spillter, such as a Display splitter to have two HDMI ports. This works if you have only one HDMI port on your laptop but you need to HDMI ports.

1) Plug thecable of the first external monitor to the correct video port on your laptop. So I plug the VGA cable of the first external monitor into the VGA port on my laptop.

2) Plug thecable of the second external monitor to the other correct port on your laptop. So I plug the HDMI cable of the second external monitor into the HDMI port on my laptop.

4) You will see three displays labeled with 1, 2 and 3 in display mode. Generally speaking, the display 1 is the monitor of your laptop, and the display 2 and 3 are the external monitors.

Tips: You canclick and drag each display (1, 2 or 3) to rearrange the display. You can also change thesize of items, display resolution and orientation according to your preferences.

Pay close attention to the USB port version required by these devices. Most modern USB video adapters require USB 3.0. You can check the version of your laptop"s USB ports by opening the Control Panel, selecting Device Manager, and expanding Universal Serial Bus controllers. You will see the USB ports listed there.

Before you install the adapter, you"ll need to install the driver software that comes with the adapter for them to work correctly. If the driver software doesn"t come with the adapter, you can download and install it from the manufacturer"s website. The driver software allows your computer to communicate through the USB port to the adapter as though the USB port itself was multiple display ports.

Once the driver software is installed, shut down your computer. Plug the USB end of the adapter into the correct USB port on your laptop. Next, start up your computer and let it fully boot before moving on to the next step.

With the driver software installed, your computer should detect the two monitors. If the second monitors don"t display anything after your computer boots, you may need to step through some troubleshooting steps to determine the cause of the extra monitors not working.

Adjust the monitors so your mouse cursor flows smoothly between your laptop display and the additional monitors. Select the Start menu and type Display. Select Display Settings. You will now see the second and third display. Adjust the display so they are positioned the way they are next to your laptop display. Select Apply to accept the monitor positions.

If you have a newer laptop, you might not even realize you have a special port on your computer called a Thunderbolt port. These ports are available on both macOS and Windows 10 laptops.

This port is usually located near the power adapter port. The latest USB Type-C connector is a small, oval port that packs powerful technology developed by both Intel and Apple. Older versions are more rectangular in shape and might be found on older laptops.

The docking station provides video, audio, power, and even a data connection all through that cable. Most importantly, they provide access to two external monitor ports from that single Thunderbolt connection.

If you don"t want to purchase a full Thunderbolt docking station, you could instead purchase a less expensive Thunderbolt adapter. These extend the single Thunderbolt port on your computer into two external monitors. If your computer also has an HDMI or Displayport port, it means you could have up to three external monitors connected to your laptop in addition to the laptop"s own display.

If you have newer monitors, they may include a Thunderbolt input. In this case you won"t need to purchase either a dock or a hub to attach an external monitor to your laptop. However if you want to connect two external monitors, your laptop will need two Thunderbolt ports.

The process of using a dock or a hub is the same. You simply plug the Thunderbolt cable into your laptop and plug each monitor into the appropriate ports on the device. Then, just adjust the position of each monitor in Display Settings as described in the first section of this article.

Thankfully, newer display port splitter adapters are capable of taking the single HDMI or DisplayPort output from your laptop and extending the video display output across two or more monitors.

Once purchased, just plug the single display port cable into your laptop. Then use cables to connect each of the adapter ports to each of your adapters. Many of these adapters provide plug-and-play installation without any software required. Others may require driver software. Some may also require an external power adapter.

When it comes to adding multiple screens to your laptop, your choice comes down to the hardware capabilities of both your laptop and your monitors. Whether you"re working with older technology or the latest laptop and monitors, there"s a solution to extend to multiple displays.

Setting up a laptop as a monitor in Windows 10 requires both computers to have access to Miracast. Open Settings > System > Projecting to this PC > set drop-downs to Available everywhere, Every time, and Never. Next, select Connect on the casting computer and then set permissions on the receiving computer.

On Windows, open Power Options and look for "When I close the lid," then set "On battery" or "Plugged in" (or both) to Do nothing > Save. On Mac, open System Preferences > Battery > Power Adapter > set "Turn display off after" to Never and check Prevent computer from sleeping automatically when the display is off.

Laptops are great, but as portable computers, they’re always short on screen real estate. Connecting two external monitors to a computer can turn it into a genuine productivity powerhouse, but it’s not always clear how to connect two monitors to a laptop. Depending on your exact model, you have many different options.

If all you want is two monitors total, you can use a single external monitor in addition to the one that’s built-in to your laptop. Of course, this is not the same as connecting two monitors to your laptop, but we know there will be some who just want a dual-monitor setup and didn’t know you can achieve it in this way.

If that’s you, then you’ve found your solution already; simply plug the external monitor in wherever the laptop allows and keep the laptop’s screen open. Both should work side by side.

Some modern laptops have a Thunderbolt 3 port. However, most new laptops have at least a USB-C port. Both technologies use an identical connector. If you need to brush up on Thunderbolt, look at HDG Explains: What is Thunderbolt? for more information.

Thunderbolt 3 devices can be “daisy-chained,” which is also true for Thunderbolt 3 displays. So if you have two Thunderbolt 3 displays, you can plug the first into your computer’s Thunderbolt 3 port and the second into the first monitor in the chain.

This is an elegant solution, but it’s still uncommon, and Thunderbolt 3 monitors are relatively rare and expensive. If you already have one Thunderbolt 3 screen (you should check!), then it’s not too outrageous to buy a second one for a setup like this, but for most people, the total outlay will be too much to justify.

If you own one of the latest Apple M1 computers, there is sadly a limitation on Apple M1 MacBooks, which only allow for a single external display. Apple has promised to address this in a future macOS update, but right now, it’s only possible through third-party workarounds involving specific dongles and display drivers. There is no native macOS solution.

There’s a good chance that your laptop has more than one display output type. For example, the computer this is being written on has both an HDMI port and a Mini-DisplayPort output. The first is wired to the dedicated GPU, and the second is wired to the integrated Intel GPU. It’s possible to connect a monitor to both outputs and have both run at the same time. Both monitors should run alongside the internal display, adding up to a triple-monitor setup.

There are some limitations here to keep in mind. First, the GPU in question needs to support the number of displays required. Modern integrated CPUs usually support up to three displays, so that would cover two external units as well as the internal screen. Dedicated GPUs usually support three or more.

Before you go out and buy monitors, you need to confirm with your laptop’s manufacturer via their web page, manual, or customer support whether your particular laptop supports separate monitors on each display output.

The advent of ultra-thin laptops has also brought us a generation of portable computers that have barely any ports at all. The latest Apple MacBooks only have Thunderbolt 3 ports, starting with as few as two ports on the base models. If you want monitor outputs on these computers, you need a dongle.

If you want to connect more than one external display, you either need a dongle with multiple display outputs, or you need two dongles, each plugged into its own Thunderbolt 3 or USB-C port.

Remember that the M1 Apple MacBooks currently have a one-monitor limit for external displays. For Intel-based Macs and Windows computers, this isn’t usually the case.

Some monitors offer a USB display connection, and there are also many portable USB displays on the market today. This essentially transforms your USB ports into additional display outputs and provides a simple way to add a second external display if your laptop only has a single monitor output.

Several devices on the market offer the option to “split” a single monitor output into multiple ones. How these devices achieve this can differ. For example, some present themselves as a single monitor to the computer and handle spanning the image across multiple screens. With these adapters, it’s not possible to use the dual monitor features of your operating system because it thinks there’s only one screen.

As a consequence, full-screen applications are spanned across all external screens linked to the splitter. It’s still not a bad solution if you use multiple windows snapped to each half of the virtual screen.

Other splitter types are more intelligent than this, but it does depend on the underlying display technology. For example, a DisplayPort hub that offers three ports will register as multiple independent displays on the computer. This is possible thanks to a DisplayPort 1.2 (and newer) feature known as Multi-Stream Transport (MST). With MST, you can daisy-chain numerous DisplayPort displays similarly to Thunderbolt 3 monitors. The hub does this chaining internally, but the actual connection layout is the same as chaining the monitors to each other.

If your laptop has a DisplayPort output that supports MST, then you can buy one of these splitters (known as an MST hub) and solve your external display problem for less cost than Thunderbolt 3 and with a broader choice of monitors.

While using standards such as USB, Thunderbolt and DisplayPort will be good enough for most users, don’t forget that proprietary solutions exist. Many laptops have custom connectors that let you add a docking station (sometimes referred to as a “port replicator”) that works as a native solution. These docking ports often make use of a connection that runs directly to the high-speed buses of the laptop’s motherboard, ensuring a premium experience and compatibility.

These docking stations usually have a multitude of display outputs. For example, the Dell E-Port products allow compatible laptops to easily connect two external monitors, offering multiple DVI and DisplayPort connections. Whether this option is available to you will depend entirely on your specific laptop model.

While there are many legitimate use cases for connecting two external monitors to your laptop, you should evaluate whether you need such an elaborate setup for your needs. If all you want is more desktop space, you may want to consider an ultrawide monitor instead, which only needs a single display output. Check out Ultrawide Vs. Dual Monitor for an in-depth discussion of both options and which is best for you.

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Under System , select Display . Your PC should automatically detect your monitors and show your desktop. If you don"t see the monitors, select Multiple displays , then Detect.

Set the Primary and Secondary MonitorRight-click on your desktop and select "Display". At the top of the resulting dialogue box, your available monitors appear as blue, numbered boxes. Each box represents a monitor (e.g. box "1" corresponds with the left monitor and box "2" corresponds with the right monitor).

Set the Monitor ResolutionRight-click on your desktop and select "Display". At the top of the resulting dialogue box, your available monitors appear as blue, numbered boxes. Each box represents a monitor (e.g. box "1" corresponds with the left monitor and box "2" corresponds with the right monitor).

Set the Monitor Display StyleRight-click on your desktop and select "Display". At the top of the resulting dialogue box, your available monitors appear as blue, numbered boxes. Each box represents a monitor (e.g. box "1" corresponds with the left monitor and box "2" corresponds with the right monitor).

Click the "Multiple displays" drop-down menu and choose from the following optionsSelect "Duplicate these displays" to enable the secondary monitor display to mirror the primary monitor display.

Set the Monitor PositionRight-click on your desktop and select "Display". At the top of the resulting dialogue box, your available monitors appear as blue, numbered boxes. Each box represents a monitor.

To change the monitors" position, click, drag, and place the blue, numbered boxes to your preferred position. If you are unsure which monitor is "1" or "2," click the "Identify" link. The assigned monitor number will then appear on each monitor"s screen.

Check the specifications of your laptop for information regarding the number of displays it can support and the type of connections the laptop has available, such as HDMI, USB, Thunderbolt, etc.

Typically, there will be at least one connection available from the laptop for another display such as HDMI or VGA. You can connect your first external monitor to this connection to get a second display.

For a third display, you will typically need a docking station to add more ports to the laptop. There are universal docking stations that will work with most systems.

You may also need to install drivers onto the computer for the dock to fully function. The dock may include an installation CD, otherwise please refer to the manufacturer’s website for downloadable drivers.

Connect the docking station to the computer. You should hear a jingle to indicate that it has connected successfully and is recognized. Connect the second external monitor that you want to use to the docking station.

You will now see three monitors available to select and arrange. Scroll down until you see the Multiple displayssection to ensure that you have it set to Extend these displays to extend the display across the monitors.

Return to the Select and rearrange displays area and select the Identify button. A large number will appear on each display to correspond to the display settings numbers to identify each monitor. This will help with arranging the monitors in the settings to ensure they are extending properly between laptop and external monitors.

Note: HMDI allows to transmit to only display but also sound. If you have an "HDMI cable with ethernet" it will also convey internet (replaces the ethernet cable)

For example, you can connect a monitor that only has a DVI port to a computer that only has an HDMI port. In this case, the cable has one end with a DVI connection and the other end with an HDMI port.

A benefit is that it allows to plug in various types of connectors, helping in a variety of situations and especially useful when travelling between different offices, each of them having

Sometimes you have only one HDMI port on your computer (typically on a laptop), but need two ports so that you can connect 2 external monitors. In this case:

If available, we definitely recommend to preferably use either the USB-C / Thunderbolt or the HDMI port, as they both convey both video, sound and for some of them data and internet.

If you have a desktop computer, it is likely that you will have different display ports on the computer (for example either several HDMI ports, or one HDMI port and one VGA port). If your monitor

Check the ports available on the computer as well as on the monitor (see above) and source the appropriate cables. You will need two cables: one to connect the first monitor to port no. 1 on your

Check the graphics card properties on the manufacturer’s website, find your graphics card and check the specifications to see if it supports adding two external monitors.

Check the ports available on the computer as well as on the monitors (see above) and source the appropriate cables. You will need two cables: one to connect the first monitor to port no. 1 on

Running dual monitors is relatively easy and requires only a few connections and settings adjustments to complete. The dual monitor setup helps with your workflow by making an easy transition between separate but related tasks.

No more clicking through multiple tabs or toggling between windows. You can drag windows and programs across the monitors and easily use them together. In some cases, a third monitor is also possible and useful. Graphic design professionals requiring multiple programs for a single job will often connect a third monitor or even use a laptop screen in conjunction with the dual monitors.

While the third monitor is rarely necessary for basic office use, the dual monitor system is worth testing to see if it fits your workflow and increases productivity.

Monitors are relatively inexpensive and even easy to find used, making a second monitor an easy decision for increased productivity. Modern monitors come with a variety of ports and will often have several cables included. Make sure you have the power cable and an HDMI cable for the connection.

Not many monitors come with the HDMI cable included and you will likely have to purchase it separately. The cable is effective, however, and makes your setup run smoothly. The monitors may come with VGA or DVI cables but the HDMI is the standard connection for most office dual monitor setups. The VGA can work easily with a laptop to monitor connection, especially with a Mac.

Before you go about setting everything up, position your monitors on your desk. Having two screens changes the perspective while requiring extra space. Slight tweaking to achieve a slight inward angle with your chair positioned somewhat centrally is comfortable. You also need to consider the extra cords, plugs and access required to reach outlets while positioning the monitors.

With the monitors positioned, setup a power strip within easy reach. Plug the power cords into your power strip. Connect the first monitor to your computer through the HDMI port or through a VGA port, if desired.

Do the same for the second monitor. If your computer only has one HDMI port and one VGA port, which is common, find an adapter to complete the connection. Adapters are often sold alongside the cables in retail stores. You don"t need to connect the monitors with the same cable styles to make it work.

Programming the monitors to work as desired varies slightly by your operating system. Regardless, the overall process is relatively simple and straightforward.

On a PC, right click on a blank space on the home screen and choose ​Display Settings​. At this point, you must determine how the displays should work. You can ​Duplicate​ to have two separate displays doing the same thing. Or choose ​Extend Display​ to work between two monitors. Extending is the common choice and you can drag windows between the two screens. Apply the desired settings and you are ready to use the dual monitor system.

On a Mac computer, click the ​Menu​ then ​System Preferences​. Choose ​Display Settings​ to reach the options. Choose ​Mirror​ to display the same screen on both monitors or remove the check from the ​Mirror​ box to extend the display.

Again, extend desktop is the preferred method for working with ​dual screens​ You can open and work on different applications in each monitor. The Mirror screen function does however work well when multiple monitors are used to share the same presentation. Adjust the angles and you can present to a large audience using this method.

Determine the type of video connectors that are available on your computer and the monitors. The number of video connectors depends on the type of graphics card that is installed in your computer. Most graphics or video cards on a desktop computer can support two or more monitors depending on the graphics card and computer specifications. However, laptops can support up to two monitors depending on the computer specifications. To learn more, see the Dell Knowledge Base article How to Connect a Monitor to a Dell Computer.

Once the cables are connected securely, your computer should automatically detect and display the desktop screen on the connected monitors. You can now select the display style that best suits your needs.

Microsoft Windows provides multiple display style options on how the desktop screen is displayed across multiple monitors that are connected to your computer.

Extend - Stretch the desktop across the two displays. The desktop screen of your computer is extended across all the detected monitors and allows you to have a desktop screen that spans across all monitors.

To learn how to change the screen resolution, adjust the refresh rate and change the size of fonts and icons, see the Dell knowledge base articles that are listed below based on the operating system that is installed on your computer:

Laptops are perfect for working on the go, but small displays can often hinder readability and functionality. Hooking up a second, third, or even fourth screen gives you some breathing room and makes your workload more manageable. Of course, the more monitors you add, the faster you drain the battery and the hotter the laptop gets.

Essentially, having multiple displays means you no longer need to flip between applications on one screen. For example, you can display your email client on your laptop’s native screen and run Photoshop on a bigger external monitor. Maybe you have one monitor dedicated to Slack and another for browsing. The possibilities are endless.

This article explains how to add an external monitor to your laptop and configure the display to work the way you want. There are also details on resolution limitations for various connections and advice on finding the correct adapter if your video inputs don’t match. Let’s get started.

Connecting external displays should be straightforward if you own a Windows laptop. The first step is to determine which type of cable you need. Most modern laptops have an HDMI, DisplayPort, mini-DisplayPort, or USB Type-C port capable of display output.

If the inputs and outputs on the monitor and laptop match, you can purchase a cable, such as this simple HDMI cable on Amazon, and hook the two together. If the inputs don’t match, or you’ve tried connecting your PC to your monitor and have no picture, scroll down for more information on adapters and converters.

Once you’ve got your cable, plug it into the monitor and laptop, the Windows side of things is straightforward.On Windows 8, 8.1, or 10, press “WIN + P” to open the “PROJECT” menu, which appears on the right-hand side.

Use the “Duplicate” or “Second screen only” option to display a presentation through a projector or to play a movie. For work or gaming, however, the option you need is “Extend.” This setting allows you to spread your entire desktop over two screens and drag windows and other items from one to the other.

Users of Windows 7 need to follow a different procedure than Windows 8, 8.1, or 10 to duplicate or extend their display.Right-click anywhere on the desktop and select “Screen resolution.”

Note: If your monitor doesn’t display your laptop output automatically, it may be necessary to use the monitor’s controls to switch to the correct input.

By default, Windows positions the laptop’s built-in screen to the left and the external monitor to the right, meaning you have to move the cursor off the internal screen’s right-hand side when navigating to the monitor. If you have things the other way around, you’ll need to adjust the placement position slightly since the external monitor resides on the left side.

In the preselected “Display” Menu, click on a monitor and move it around into position. If it sits to the left of your main screen, position it to the left of the main one, or move it wherever it sits around the built-in/primary monitor.

In the dialog box that appears, click and drag the “screen icons” (screens numbered as 1, 2, etc.) until they’re in the correct order/position as they appear in your workspace. Use “Identify” if needed.

You’ll notice that Windows doesn’t restrict you to just left and right configurations; you can also arrange the monitor to sit above your laptop or below it. You can also fine-tune the screens’ positions so that various windows and other items span across them and match up.

Don’t fear if you have DVI and HDMI, HDMI and DisplayPort, or even VGA and any of the above connections. You can still connect multiple screens using a dual-purpose cable, such as DVI-to-VGA, HDMI-to-DVI, or some other adapter or converter.

An increasing number of laptops use a USB Type-C socket to complicate matters further, carrying data, video, and charging capabilities. USB Type-C is brilliant, but it’s not always obvious what the port on your laptop can and cannot do. You’ll have to check your laptop’s manual for details. Some devices only support USB 2.0 connectivity and power transfer and don’t carry a video signal. Others offer USB 3.0 but won’t let you plug the connection into a monitor. Alas, there’s no way of telling beyond trying it out or checking the specifications for your laptop’s USB controller hardware.

If you attempt to use that same cable to connect your laptop to your monitor, you’ll be out of luck. Again, there’s no way of telling beyond trial and error or buying a specifically video-compatible cable.

Fortunately, cables are generally cheap, even though USB Type-C is a relatively newer standard. But don’t let that statement lead you to believe cheaper is better. You usually get what you pay for, and the capabilities of the cable may have limits, such as 4K versus 8K resolution and a 60Hz refresh rate versus 120Hz.

If you need an HDMI to USB Type-C adaptor, you can get a low-cost converter on Amazon if you don’t mind attaching a small USB Type-C-to-HDMI adapter to the end of your Type-C cable.

However, it’s best to purchase a multi-adapter, which gives you much more flexibility. These connectors are a bit more expensive than one-to-one adapters, but they won’t break the bank, and they provide you with connections for your monitor, your standard USB accessories, and power input all in one.

There is another factor to your choice of cable or adapter, however. Depending on your secondary monitor’s specifications, some video connections may not be capable of displaying images at the monitor’s native resolution.

Although you can still connect the monitor as a secondary display, you may find that the screen gets stretched or appears more blurry than it should be. With many affordable consumer monitors offering WQHD (2,560 x 1,440 pixel) or 4K (3,840 x 2,160 pixel) resolutions, it’s worth making the right choice to get the best quality on your particular device.

Although there’s no hard limit to the maximum resolution of a VGA connection, laptop graphics cards often top out around 2,048 x 1,536. However, images can look softer and less sharp via a VGA cable as it’s an analog signal rather than a digital connection.

A DVI connection is a better choice, partly because it’s a digital connection, but you still have to be careful. If you want to use resolutions above 1,920 x 1,200, you’ll need a dual-link DVI cable and a dual-link compatible connector on your laptop. Look at the image below to see the difference between a dual-link (left) and a single-link cable (right).

Although the HDMI 1.3 standard added support for monitors and displays that stretch beyond the popular Full HD resolution (1,920 x 1,080 pixels), and HDMI 1.4 and HDMI 2.0 now support up to 4K resolutions, both your laptop and monitor need to support the standard for the connection to work. If you have a portable computer with an HDMI 1.2 or earlier port, you won’t be able to push the secondary monitor resolution higher than 1,920 x 1,200.

DisplayPort is the most flexible connection of the bunch (as is USB Type-C, since it’s merely a carrier for a DisplayPort or HDMI connection). Even the older DisplayPort 1.1 standard supports up to 4K resolutions at 30Hz. That specification limits the onscreen framerate to a jerky 30fps. So, while movies look fine, it isn’t suitable for 4K gaming. DisplayPort 1.2 adds support for 4K at a smooth 60Hz refresh rate.

The most recent standard, DisplayPort 1.3, supports 8K (7,680 x 4,320 pixels). With some laptops and graphics cards, different outputs will support different resolutions and refresh rates. Therefore, it’s worth checking to see which connection is most capable before buying any cables or adapters. If you don’t get the right one, you may get a lower resolution and refresh rate produced by a monitor capable of delivering better quality.

If you’ve got a recent Apple laptop with a Thunderbolt connection, you can use a ‘mini DisplayPort-to-DisplayPort’ cable (or a DisplayPort adapter) to connect to any compatible monitor. The monitor doesn’t need to have a Thunderbolt input. You can pick up a ‘mini DisplayPort-to-DisplayPort’ cable for a few dollars on Amazon.

In many cases, connecting two (or more) monitors to your laptop is as simple as plugging them into several video outputs. Depending on your portable PC’s age and the graphics chipset inside it, hardware limitations may prevent you from doing so. Older laptops may only support one extra display monitor. Newer models often allow as many as three external displays. Other devices, such as Ultrabooks, hybrids, and tablets, may be limited by only having one extra display output or possibly none.

For devices with DisplayPort 1.2 support, you have a couple of options. Firstly, you can buy a DisplayPort hub that splits your single connection into multiple outputs. These splitters aren’t cheap, but they allow an available DisplayPort connection to power two 2,560 x 1,600 monitors and a third 1,920 x 1,200 display simultaneously.

Another option is buying a monitor with daisy-chain functionality: compatible monitors use a DisplayPort output at the rear to allow you to connect multiple monitors via a single DisplayPort connection.

Even if you’ve got an older laptop or a device without any working video connections, you only need a spare USB port to add another display. There are reasonably priced USB-to-DVI, VGA, or HDMI converters on the market. You may need drivers for Windows 7 and earlier, but Windows 8 devices and newer should pick them up automatically.

Whatever you decide to do, ensure you consider the resolution issue we mentioned earlier when connecting multiple monitors. For instance, if you want to run a 4K monitor and a 1,920 x 1,080 monitor simultaneously, you need to link the 4K monitor to the video connection, which allows the highest, and ideally native, resolution. Install them the wrong way, and you won’t get the best out of your display.

In closing, whether you’re connecting multiple monitors to your laptop for work or streaming movies to a more prominent display, there are several ways to accomplish the task. Connecting various screens directly to a laptop has never been easier. Just follow the instructions above, and you’ll be up and running.

It is such a waste to only use the LCD for desktop computers. Connecting it up with a laptop PC has many merits for the user and can also bring out the latent power of the laptop.

Note: Below is the translation from the Japanese of the ITmedia article "The dual display in Windows 7 is now even more convenient" published March 1, 2010. Copyright 2011 ITmedia Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Most laptops have a handy "external display output" port. It can be used in the home to transmit videos played on the laptop to a large screen TV or, in the office, to connect up with a projector for presentations. In fact, there must be many users who already use it like this. However, people tend to use just the laptop in their daily routine and there are probably not so many cases where they use the external display output.

A laptop can be put to more effective use if it is connected to an external LCD. The photograph shows an EIZO 23-inch wide-screen LCD connected by HDMI to a Sony VAIO C laptop (VPCCW28FJ/R).

This time we would like to suggest a style that can be used in both the home and the office, where a laptop and stand-alone LCD remain connected. A laptop already has an LCD, but using it with an additional stand-alone LCD offers various merits. Not only does it make the laptop environment more pleasant and convenient, it also expands the potential of the computer itself, for example by making it possible to use it for new purposes.

Even if the LCD is already connected to a desktop computer and being used for something other than the laptop, most monitors nowadays have two or more video inputs and they tend not to use this capability to the full. It is such a waste to let the laptop"s external display output function and the monitor"s video input function remain dormant, so we would like them to be put to effective use. Of course, we would also recommend the introduction of a new LCD to connect to your laptop.

The biggest merit of connecting a laptop with a stand-alone LCD is that it gives you a large screen and high resolution dual display environment. Standard laptop models usually come with a built-in 13-inch to 15-inch wide-screen LCD with a 1280 × 800 dot or 1366 × 768 dot resolution.

This level of resolution is good enough for basic Windows operations, but it goes without saying that a large, high-resolution computer screen is much more user-friendly. Combining a laptop with one of the latest wide-screen monitors enables you to easily construct a large-screen, high-resolution dual display environment. It is a real boon to dramatically boost the screen size and resolution while continuing to use your familiar laptop.

In particular, the increased vertical resolution makes applications such as web browsers and document display and editing far easier to use. For example, you can do things like check things with the web browser, refer to pdf files, organize data using word processing or presentation software, and create spread sheets and documents without having to change windows.

Another plus is that you can create the luxury of a "watching while" environment where you run the web browser, for instance, on the laptop"s built-in LCD and watch the video content on the large screen of the external monitor. This can be really useful for hobbies too. For example, while playing a game on the large external LCD screen you can check out strategies on websites, post information on a BBS or communicate with other users.

You can smoothly use multiple applications at the same time in the large workspace provided by a dual display. The photograph shows an EIZO 24.1-inch wide-screen LCD, the FlexScan SX2462W connected to a VAIO C. By supplementing the laptop"s built-in 1366 × 768 dot 14-inch wide-screen LCD with a 1920 × 1200 dot 24.1-inch wide-screen, it is possible to show more data at a time, a huge boost to work efficiency.

With two screens it"s easy to have full-screen display of the video content on one screen while you operate the computer on the other. The photograph shows an EIZO 23-inch wide-screen LCD monitor connected to a VAIO C. The VAIO C has HDMI output and the LCD monitor has HDMI input so visuals and sound can be transmitted by a single HDMI cable. The LCD monitor has full HD screen resolution (1920 × 1080 dot), making it the perfect match for HD video content.

At the office, it is very helpful for presentations to use "clone view" for the laptop"s built-in LCD and the external LCD screen. Clone view means showing exactly the same content on two display screens. It is normally set by a graphics driver function.

When holding small meetings it is certainly very convenient to be able to offer simple explanations of the presentation materials displayed on the external LCD, rather than having to ready a projector. Being able to explain about what is displayed on the screen means fewer documents to distribute, helping your office to "go paperless", which can only be a good thing.

We would like to point out here that you should check in advance the maximum resolution that the laptop"s external display output can handle. This can be found in documents such as the laptop"s specifications chart and support information. This is because, although most laptops can handle output up to 1920 × 1080 dots or 1920 × 1200 dots, some slightly older computers have an upper limit of 1680 × 1050 dots or 1600 × 1200 dots.

Even if the upper limit is 1680 × 1050 dots, the LCD can still display the data if its own resolution is 1680 × 1050 dots or higher. In such cases, it is better to use a monitor that offers dot-by-dot display, which displays the input resolution as it is, or enlarged display, which maintains the screen"s aspect ratio as it is. You do not need to worry because EIZO wide-screen LCDs can handle such display methods (although in some cases they do not function properly depending on the laptop computer or input resolution).

This is an example of a low-resolution display on the 1920 × 1200 dot display SX2462W. Since dot-by-dot display outputs the physical "1 dot" of the LCD and the input resolution "1 dot" without enlargement or reduction, it is shown small in the center of the screen (photo on the left). The display is a little blurred if it is enlarged while maintaining the aspect ratio, but this method is suitable for displaying images as they are shown large with low resolution to make the most of the screen size (photo on the right). Many monitors that cannot handle such display methods enlarge the display to full screen regardless of the input resolution. In such cases you have to be careful as the aspect ratio of the image is altered (for example, people appear to be thinner or fatter).

It is easy to set up a dual display in Windows 7. A menu is displayed when you right-click on the desktop. From "Screen resolution" it is possible to detect and align the external LCD, and set details such as resolution, display method and which will be the main display screen.

The "Screen resolution" menu. If the external LCD is not automatically recognized, click on "Detect". After the monitor has been recognized, you can select the display mode from the "Multiple displays" drop-down menu. Select "Extend display screen" to make the laptop screen and the external LCD into a single display screen (dual display).

Select "Duplicate display screen" from the "Multiple displays" drop-down menu to display the same content on the laptop screen and the external LCD screen (clone view). With this drop-down menu you can also set it to display video on one of the LCDs.

You can also call up a settings menu to decide the display method for a projector or external display by pressing the "Windows" and "P" keys. This is a tip worth remembering as selecting "Extension" for dual display or "Duplicate" for clone view here allows you to switch swiftly between them as necessary.

It is also worth noting that Windows 7 has added functions so that dual display can be used more effectively. An active window can be moved to the screen of another LCD by simultaneously pushing "Windows" + "Shift" + "→" (or "←"). It is also possible to maximize the window by pressing "Windows" + "↑", minimize it by pressing "Windows" + "↓", and shift it to the left or right of each screen by pressing "Windows" + "→" (or "←"). Making good use of these shortcuts should enable the efficient placing of windows in the two screens.

In Windows 7, pressing "Windows" + "Shift" + "→" instantly moves the active window from the left-hand screen (photo on the left) to the right-hand screen (photo on the right). Conversely, you can move the active window from the right-hand screen to the left-hand one by pressing "Windows" + "Shift" + "←".

We would recommend a wide-screen model with a screen resolution of 1920 × 1080 dots (Full HD) or 1920 × 1200 dots (WUXGA) as the LCD to connect to a laptop, so that you can make full use of the advantages of dual display. EIZO has an extensive line up of wide-screen LCDs which can offer many benefits, in addition to the merits of a large screen and high resolution, when used with a laptop for dual display.

One such feature is the flexible stand adjustment. For example, the tilt, swivel and height can be adjusted for the FlexScan SX2462W, a 24.1-inch WUXGA model, and the FlexScan EV2333, a 23-inch full HD model. This enables users to adjust the screen position for easy viewing according to their own posture, which not only boosts work efficiency but also reduces physical strain.

The SX2462W stand. The simultaneous adjustment of its tilt, swivel and height enables the optimum screen position to be aligned for its operating environment.

The SX2462W is also equipped with vertical display function, turning the screen through 90 degrees. Vertical display is really handy when viewing elongated documents, graphics or web pages. In addition, when used as a standard horizontal screen, a 24.1 wide-screen, with its 518.4 × 324.0 mm display area, can display two A4 sheets, in other words one A3 (420 × 297 mm) in actual size. As well as being very useful in areas such as graphics or desk top publishing, this is also bound to come in handy when checking large business or accounting documents.

Setting the connected monitor into a vertical position is very convenient when displaying elongated web pages and documents or photographs that were taken vertically

With a 24.1 inch wide-screen like the SX2462W, an A3 sheet (two A4 sheets side by side) can be viewed in actual size, particularly effective for paper-based creative work ITmedia LCD Course II, Lesson 3: Which is better, 16:10 or 16:9 ? – "Screen size / resolution / aspect ratio"

We must not forget that EIZO"s wide-screen LCDs have non-glare screens (processed to reduce ambient light reflection). Nowadays the trend is for laptops to have an LCD with glare (glossy) surface treatment. While these can display images in bright color, reflected ambient light can sometimes be distracting.

A laptop screen is not so large and adjusting its angle can avoid the reflection of lights and so on, however it is not so easy with the large screen of an external LCD. When it comes to the large screen of an LCD in habitual use, a non-glare type that is not reflective is probably easier to see, as well as being kinder on the eyes. A large screen, high resolution and non-glare ensure that you can comfortably continue viewing over a prolonged period of time.

The surface treatment of an LCD makes a difference to the background reflection. Glare panels do not diffuse background light, making it easier to achieve high color purity, but easily reflect the user or lights (photo on the left). If the lights are similarly trained on a non-glare panel they do not have much effect, only appearing as a fuzzy brightness (photo on the right).

Another distinctive feature of EIZO wide-screen LCDs is a commitment to energy saving. They incorporate various power saving features that support "EcoView". A pivotal feature is the "EcoView Sense" adopted in the FlexScan EV series, such as the EV2333W.

This is the motion sensor on the front of the LCD. It constantly monitors the user"s movements to automatically take finely-tuned power saving measures. To be more precise, if the user"s presence is not detected for a specified period of time, for example if he leaves his seat, the monitor automatically switches to power save mode, and then automatically switches back when the user"s presence is detected again.

Other features include "Auto EcoView", which automatically optimizes the brightness of the LCD based on ambient lighting, and "EcoView Index", which displays a meter on the screen showing how much power is being saved. All these features can be expected to have a strong energy saving effect and to boost the user"s awareness of power saving, making them particularly useful in the office.

A standard laptop computer switches to sleep mode if the built-in LCD is closed while it is running but, if this function is turned off, a laptop can be treated as a "small desktop computer."

It can be set to use only the connected external LCD and not to react when the laptop"s built-in LCD is closed. The transformation into a small desktop PC is complete if you add a keyboard and mouse connected to the laptop via USB ports, for example. The OS is still running even though the laptop"s built-in LCD is closed, so you can carry out normal operations using the external keyboard and mouse, and also use the laptop"s built-in optical drives.

The idea is to use a large screen, high resolution external LCD at home or in the office, and to use the laptop"s built-in LCD as usual for mobile purposes. This helps to boost the longevity of the laptop"s built-in LCD and many people do use their laptop in this way. If you feel reluctant to use a dual display environment, where the screen is split in two, why not give this a try?

Select "Only show the desktop on 2" from the "Multiple displays" list in the "Screen resolution" menu. The laptop"s built-in LCD will be switched off and the external LCD will become the main display.

In the case of Windows 7, open "Alter power button operation" from the "Power options" list in the Control Panel"s "Hardware and sound", and alter the "Operation when the cover is closed" to "Do nothing".

By making this simple setting your laptop can be used as a space saving desktop computer. Another plus is that the laptop"s built-in LCD will last longer.

Recently some high-end laptop computers, such as the Sony VAIO F, are insisting on good display quality for their LCDs. However, a typical laptop"s built-in LCD does not have as good image quality as a stand-alone LCD. This is only natural since the costs allowed for display quality are completely different for an LCD incorporated into the PC as one of its parts and a specialized LCD.

However, by using an EIZO wide-screen LCD a laptop user can still fully enjoy such benefits of a stand-alone high-quality LCD as excellent color reproduction, a wide viewing angle, more even display and a wealth of items that can be adjusted to improve image quality. This is a crucial point for people who use their computer for photographs and videos in particular.

EIZO"s wide-screen LCDs emphasize color reproduction, and the coloration in sRGB mode has a high degree of accuracy. The standard color gamut used in PC environments and Internet content is sRGB, so you need have no worries about viewing or editing videos and photographs. They can also display images on web pages, such as products in online shops or goods for sale in online auctions, in colors that are very close to the real thing. (This is also influenced by how the seller took the photographs and processed the images, so we cannot say that the colors will always be accurate.)

Furthermore, in addition to sRGB color gamut accuracy, the high resolution-oriented FlexScan SX has the added benefit of covering more than 95% of Adobe RGB. Adobe RGB is a color gamut whose definitions encompass more highly-saturated colors than sRGB. In other words, it can represent a larger number of colors and brighter hues than sRGB.

Adobe RGB is the de facto standard in the publishing field and, closer to home, is used in digital SLR cameras and high grade compact digital cameras. The FlexScan SX series can reproduce the colors of photos taken in Adobe RGB mode with almost perfect accuracy on the screen. Retouching photographs proceeds more efficiently since subtle differences in color can be checked on the screen.

An example of sRGB color gamut image data displayed on a standard laptop and on the SX2462W. The SX2462W"s reproducibility of sRGB mode is of a considerably high standard but the color balance on the laptop has been lost. This would make it difficult to perform rigorous photo retouching.

In this case, if the image is edited on the external LCD with its high color reproducibility and the many tool palettes in the application are grouped in the laptop"s built-in LCD, there is less need to display or hide the tool palettes or to switch back and forth, and the image data to be edited can be displayed in a large form, making for more efficient work.

In this case, if the image is edited on the external LCD with its high color reproducibility and the many tool palettes in the application are grouped in the laptop"s built-in LCD, there is less need to display or hide the tool palettes or to switch back and forth, and the image data to be edited can be displayed in a large form, making for more efficient work.

When doing things like photo retouching, using software where there is a lot of switching between tool palettes it is very handy to display the image data to be edited on the external LCD with its high color reproducibility, and to gather the palette tools to be used on the laptop"s built-in LCD.

Going back to the subject of laptop computers, it is not going too far to say that applications and functions are being spoiled in laptops whose built-in LCD"s image quality is not too good. C