How to: Add a second monitor to your computer

by CNET
Technology
Published: 3 years ago
|Updated: 3 years ago

If you're feeling constricted using just one laptop screen or desktop monitor, Donald Bell is here to show you how to add more visual real estate to your computer setup. The step by step process will clearly show you how to add an external monitor to your laptop setup or use two monitors with a desktop computer. To do so you need just a minute and nothing more than an extra cable. Here, we’ll demonstrate the process using a Windows 7 laptop. You can do the same with any updated Windows version.

17

Tasks

Check whether your laptop or the desktop contains a VGA or HDMI port.

Once

Ensure that your second monitor has a VGA, DVI, or HDMI port.

Once

Pick up an HDMI to DVI adapter if your monitor does not have any HDMI input.

Once

Turn on your laptop or the desktop.

Once

Connect the second monitor to the laptop with the adapter and switch it on.

Once

Set the Source control to the input that you're using.

Once

If you don’t see your desktop on the second installed monitor yet, go to the Start Menu.

Once

Select the Control Panel and then type “monitors” into the search box.

Once

Click on the “Set up computer to use multiple monitors” option under the Display section.

Once

Hit the “Detect” button and you’ll see a panel with 2 displays next to each other.

Once

Next, go to the drop down menu from “Multiple displays” and select “Extend these displays”.

Once

At last, click on the “Apply” button to activate the monitors.

Once

Fix the resolutions of the monitor or other settings if needed.

Once

For Mac: Use a cable or adapter that goes from mini DisplayPort to DVI or HDMI and connect your Mac to the second monitor using that cable.

Once

Now, go to the Apple menu, select “System preferences”, and then “Displays”.

Once

Then do the specific settings such as Color, Resolution, and Arrangement.

Once

Check the “Mirror Display” box from the primary monitor for better presentation.

Once

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