Whether you’re at the office, at home or gaming, two screens are better than one. However, setting up dual monitors depends to some extent on the connections and cables you have available. Read on to find out how to connect a second screen to a laptop or PC.
Benefits of connecting two monitors
When Windows screen splitting is no longer enough, you need an extra monitor. The additional screen space is easier on the eyes and makes it simpler to work with several applications at the same time. Gamers can enjoy high‑resolution graphics by adding an extra monitor.
Requirements: a suitable connection
Most modern laptops and PCs support connecting a second monitor as standard. The only thing you really need to consider is the ports on your device and on the monitor you want to connect. Before you go out and buy a monitor, check the type and number of ports on your laptop or PC.
Additional screens can be connected using the following types of connector:
- HDMI
The HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) port is one of the most common connection types for modern monitors, and many TV users are already familiar with it. This type of connection is compact and carries both video and audio signals. A modern HDMI connection supports 4K resolutions at a frame rate of 60 Hz. If your monitor and your laptop or PC each have one or two HDMI ports, you only need a single HDMI cable. If you want to connect two monitors but only have one HDMI port, use an HDMI splitter. Make sure the splitter supports the same refresh rate as the HDMI cable.
- USB-C
USB‑C is a USB port format commonly found on newer slim laptop models. The advantage of USB‑C is that it can be used for charging and at the same time supports audio and DisplayPort signal transmission in Alternate Mode. DisplayPort refers to monitor interfaces for image and sound signals with high data transfer rates. USB‑C downstream mode and DisplayPort Alternate Mode can be used to link multiple monitors. If you only have a few USB‑C ports, use a USB‑C adapter. Ideally, a USB‑C adapter should offer at least two HDMI interfaces for monitors. It is also possible to combine an adapter with an HDMI splitter.
- DisplayPort
DisplayPort is similar to HDMI and transmits audio and video signals at high frame rates. This makes it particularly suitable for 4K. Laptops usually have a DisplayPort or miniDisplayPort and can be connected to monitors with a DisplayPort input. For monitors without a DisplayPort, a suitable adapter is required. Thanks to Multi‑Stream Transport (MST), several monitors can be connected via DisplayPort and linked to a laptop using a splitter or adapter.
- DVI/VGA
DVI and VGA are older analogue connection standards that only transmit video signals. If both the monitor and the end device have DVI or VGA ports, they can be connected using a suitable DVI or VGA cable. With the right 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, higher refresh rates and improved colour performance.
Connecting a second screen to a laptop when only one port is available
Even if your laptop only has a single HDMI or USB‑C port, you can still connect two screens. By using an HDMI splitter, a USB‑C adapter or a USB‑C adapter with suitable HDMI interfaces, you can easily connect two or more monitors to your laptop.
Using a second screen as a primary or secondary display
Once you have connected one or more monitors to your laptop, you can configure two or more monitors in Windows and specify which monitor you want to use as the main display. Normally, Windows automatically detects the display devices connected to your laptop or PC and assigns them numbers. The primary monitor is labelled with the number 1. All other monitors are numbered in ascending order. Follow these steps to set how monitors are classified and to match the display layout in Windows to the physical position of your screens.
Step 1: Right‑click on an empty area of the desktop and select the “Display” setting.
Step 2: Under “Display” and “Multiple displays” you will see the display devices detected by Windows, for example one or more additional monitors. Click “Detect” if none are visible.
Windows 10: Settings menu with display settings and device detection
In the “Display” settings menu, you can see all connected display devices. Go to “Advanced display settings” to change the layout and order of the connected monitors. Adjust other settings such as screen resolution as required.
Windows 10: “Display” and “Advanced display settings”.
Use “Advanced display settings” to match the arrangement of the monitors to their physical layout.
Step 4: The easiest way to change how the connected monitors are used is the [Windows] + [P] keyboard shortcut. Options such as “Duplicate” let you mirror the contents of the desktop. With “PC screen only” or “Second screen only”, you choose to use just one of the connected screens. Use the “Extend” option to create a single extended desktop across the connected monitors. These options can also be found in the “Display” menu under “Multiple displays”.
Windows 10: Quick menu with options for display devices
You can access the quick menu for display options using the Windows + P shortcut. Click “Extend” to use the desktop across all connected monitors.
Possible problems with two or more monitors
When connecting multiple monitors, Windows may not automatically detect older models. In this case, select “Detect” in the “Display” menu. Another problem can be that Windows treats the second monitor as the primary display. If you want your PC or laptop screen to remain the main monitor, go to “Settings” > “System” > “Display” and select the “Rearrange your displays” option. Then click “Identify”. You should see the number assigned to each screen. If you want to change the order, go to “Advanced display settings”.
