How to Set Up Two Computer Monitors (with Pictures)

Table of contents:

How to Set Up Two Computer Monitors (with Pictures)
How to Set Up Two Computer Monitors (with Pictures)

Video: How to Set Up Two Computer Monitors (with Pictures)

Video: How to Set Up Two Computer Monitors (with Pictures)
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This wikiHow teaches you how to use two monitors on the same desktop computer. You can follow these steps on both Windows and Mac computers, but you'll need a computer with a graphics card that supports dual displays if you're using Windows.

Step

Method 1 of 2: On Windows Computer

Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 1
Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 1

Step 1. Make sure the computer supports dual monitors

On the back of the computer's CPU case, you should see at least two horizontal ports on the bottom of the box. These ports are the computer graphics card connections required to install two monitors.

  • You cannot use the built-in monitor connection which is usually a vertical slot in the center of the CPU case to set up and attach two monitors.
  • The vertical port is connected to the motherboard, while the horizontal port is connected to the graphics card.
  • If you don't see the appropriate ports on the CPU box, you will need to install a graphics card before setting up or setting up a second monitor.
Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 2
Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 2

Step 2. Determine the type of connection required

Look at the graphics card ports and inputs on each monitor to see what kind of connection is required:

  • DVI – A wide plastic port with several small square holes in it.
  • VGA – Trapezoidal colored plastic port with multiple pinholes.
  • HDMI – Small, flat hexagon-shaped port.
  • DisplayPort – Similar to HDMI, but has a flat angle on one side (not symmetrical). Required for 4K resolution displays.
  • Thunderbolt – This port is found on the back of most iMac monitors and has a lightning icon underneath. You can connect an adapter to one of the video connections above to a Thunderbolt port (eg a VGA-to-Thunderbolt adapter).
Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 3
Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 3

Step 3. Buy a cable that is not already available at home

If your computer's graphics card input requires a DisplayPort cable, for example, you'll need to purchase one for both monitors.

If your monitor doesn't support the graphics card's cable type (eg DisplayPort), you will need to purchase an adapter or cable that has two connections (eg a DisplayPort connection on one end and an HDMI connection on the other)

Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 4
Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 4

Step 4. Turn off the computer

It will be easier for you to connect a second monitor without experiencing problems when the computer is off.

Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 5
Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 5

Step 5. Connect the first monitor to the first graphics card port

You may need to disconnect the monitor cable from the vertical motherboard port it is still connected to, and plug it into the horizontal graphics card port.

If the motherboard connection of the first monitor is different from the connection of the graphics card, you will need to use a different cable

Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 6
Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 6

Step 6. Connect a second monitor

Plug the second monitor cable into another graphics card port, then connect the other end of the cable to the back of the monitor.

Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 7
Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 7

Step 7. Connect the second monitor to a power source

Use the power cord that came with the monitor purchased to connect the monitor to a power source (eg a parallel plug or wall outlet).

Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 8
Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 8

Step 8. Restart the computer and both monitors

Press the “On” button on the computer and each monitor.

Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 9
Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 9

Step 9. Open the “Start” menu

Windowsstart
Windowsstart

Click the Windows logo in the lower left corner of the first monitor screen.

Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 10
Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 10

Step 10. Open “Settings”

Windowssettings
Windowssettings

Click the gear icon in the lower-left corner of the “Start” window.

Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 11
Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 11

Step 11. Click System

This computer monitor icon is in the “Settings” window.

Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 12
Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 12

Step 12. Click the Display tab

It's in the top-left corner of the window.

Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 13
Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 13

Step 13. Click the “Multiple displays” drop-down box

This box is at the bottom of the window. A drop-down menu will be displayed.

You may need to scroll through the screen to find this option

Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 14
Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 14

Step 14. Select a display option

On the drop-down menu, click one of the following options:

  • ” Duplicate these displays ” – This option “copys” the display of the first monitor to the second monitor.
  • ” Extend these displays ” – This option extends the display of the first monitor to the second monitor.
  • ” Show only on 1 ” – This option only displays computer content on the first monitor.
  • ” Show only on 2 ” – This option only displays computer content on the second monitor.
Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 15
Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 15

Step 15. Click Apply

This button is below the selected view option. The second monitor will then display some or all of the content on the first monitor, depending on the display options you selected.

Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 16
Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 16

Step 16. Click Keep changes when prompted

Settings will be saved afterwards. Now you can use the second monitor with the first monitor.

Method 2 of 2: On Mac Computer

Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 17
Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 17

Step 1. Determine the type of connection required

To connect another monitor to your iMac, you'll need to use a cable that attaches to the back of the iMac's monitor. Look for one of the following ports on the back of the iMac monitor:

  • Thunderbolt – Small square port with a lightning icon above it. The easiest way to connect two Mac monitors to each other is to attach a Thunderbolt-to-Thunderbolt adapter, but you can also purchase an adapter for another computer port (e.g. Thunderbolt-to-VGA) if necessary.
  • HDMI – Small and wide port. HDMI is the industry standard audio and video connection, so the monitor you buy usually supports that connection.
Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 18
Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 18

Step 2. Purchase a cable that is not yet available

If the second monitor requires an HDMI cable, for example, you will need to purchase an HDMI cable.

If you purchased a monitor that only supports the older standard video connection (e.g. VGA), you'll need to purchase a Thunderbolt-to-[old connection port] or HDMI-to-[old connection port] adapter (e.g. Thunderbolt-to-adapter). VGA)

Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 19
Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 19

Step 3. Connect the monitor cable to the back of your iMac

If you are using an adapter, first attach the adapter to the back of the iMac monitor.

Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 20
Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 20

Step 4. Connect the monitor to a power source

Plug the power cord that came with the monitor purchased into a power source (eg a power outlet or parallel plug).

Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 21
Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 21

Step 5. Turn on the second monitor

Press the power or “On” button on the monitor to turn it on. Now you can see the Mac computer desktop on the monitor.

Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 22
Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 22

Step 6. Open Apple menu

Macapple1
Macapple1

Click the Apple logo in the upper-left corner of the main monitor. A drop-down menu will appear after that.

Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 23
Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 23

Step 7. Click on System Preferences…

It's at the bottom of the drop-down menu.

Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 24
Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 24

Step 8. Click Displays

This computer monitor icon is in the “System Preferences” window.

Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 25
Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 25

Step 9. Click the Arrangement tab

This tab is at the top of the “Displays” window.

Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 26
Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 26

Step 10. Determine the type of display you want

If you want to use a second monitor to expand your Mac's display on both displays, uncheck the " Mirror Displays " box. If you want to display the same content on both monitors, check the " Mirror Displays " box.

Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 27
Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 27

Step 11. Move the menu bar if necessary

If you want to place the menu bar (the gray bar at the top of the screen) onto the second monitor, click and drag the white bar that is in the image of the first monitor onto the second monitor.

Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 28
Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 28

Step 12. Exit the “System Preferences” window

Close the “Displays” and “System Preferences” windows. Now you can use the secondary monitor with the Mac computer's primary monitor.

Tips

Most laptops support HDMI (Windows, Mac), USB-C (Windows, Mac), and/or Thunderbolt (Mac only) connections. To connect a second monitor to your laptop, you just need to plug the second monitor cable into the laptop's video output port. After that, you can set up or set up a second monitor, just like on a desktop computer

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