If you have a wider workspace in your office, or even at home, you may want to consider having a dual screen set-up. However, most dual screen setups are done with desktop computers. But what if you’re using a laptop? Here’s how to use a second monitor with your laptop.
You might somehow have difficulty in doing multiple works on a handy laptop (single workspace), which often lags or hangs up due to multiple tabs and applications you use. As a result, it may cause you to delay and lessen your work productivity. However, a laptop is still efficient as a computer; so, it is possible for you to expand your workspace with a handy laptop.
There are numerous methods to expand your workplaces, such as just purchasing another computer or laptop, which is effective yet expensive. However, there is a much affordable way to expand your workspace, and it is to extend your screen with a second monitor or screen. If you’re wondering how to use a second monitor or screen with your laptop, we’ll go through that in this article.
Expand Your Workspace with Your Laptop
We have provided here ways on how to use a second monitor or screen with your laptop. Also, the methods presented here will still be dependent on the laptop you use, as some laptops do not support multiple displays while others do.
However, most of the laptops produced nowadays support multiple displays. Also, if ever your laptop does not support multiple displays, you can still use external devices or internal programs to extend your screen or workspace.
Attach the Second Monitor Connector to Your Laptop.
Most of the recent laptops have a connection or ports for the second display connectors to be attached to. Also, the different types of display ports that there are in laptops are; HDMI, DVI, DisplayPort, VGA, and USB C.
Now that you have identified the several types of display ports on your laptop, you should also know the connector of your second monitor or screen to determine which of the different display ports you should connect it to. However, if the display connection of your second monitor does not fit on any of the display ports on your laptop, then, you will most likely need to purchase and use an adapter or display connector, which will match one of the display ports.
Use the USB Port.
If your external display does not have a specific slot on your laptop, you may use a USB port, which is typically available to all devices, particularly laptops. The USB-C connector is the one to utilize to connect your second display. It’s as simple as plugging your phone or external disk into your laptop.
However, if you do not have USB-C Ports on your laptop or cable for your external display, then you can use the old familiar type of USB Ports, such as A and B. Also, remember that not all laptops support multiple screens through USB ports. This is the same for connectors since some of them are only used to transfer files.
Make Use of Your Tablet or Phone as a Second Screen.
One of our affordable tips on how to use a second screen or monitor with your laptop is making use of your tablet or phone as a second screen. Yes, you read it right. You can use your tablet to expand your workspace!
If you have several important tasks to do and need to be completed on time, this method is ideal for you, especially if you lack the means to enlarge your workspace. With the use of a USB connector from your Table/Phone and a USB Port on your laptop, you’ll be able to do this and finish your work on time.
Portable Display
Don’t you think that it would seem inconvenient if you have to carry a large external display just to do multiple tasks with your laptop while traveling? Actually, it is, so portable displays are invented to extend the screen of a laptop easily.
Portable displays are handy external displays designed to be secondary laptop displays, which can be attached to the back of a laptop. The connection used for portable displays can both be USB-C and HDMI.
How to Use a Second Screen or Monitor with Your Laptop: Setup
Since we’ve already discussed the connection for using an external monitor with your laptop, let us now proceed to the setup in your laptop so that you could fully utilize your second monitor.
To set up your second screen first, go to your laptop’s “Display settings”. You can find this in the settings, or you can simply put “Display” into the system’s search box. Once you are in the Display settings, search for multiple displays settings or duplicate displays. Then, the whole display set up for your second screen will be presented.
After that, the multiple display settings will give you two options about what to display on both or each of the two screens, depending on your desired display setup.
The two display options are:
Duplicate
The Duplicate setup is like mirroring in which you will let the external or second screen display the same display that is appearing on the laptop. This setup is frequently used for presentations, lectures, conferences, and more.
Extended
The display on your laptop will be stretched onto your second monitor display in this Extended setup, expanding your workspace. Also, you could set up your extended screen differently. You can adjust the resolutions, Hz refresh rate, and even the orientations. This setup is best for those people who usually work on multiple tabs and programs on their laptops.
Conclusion
There are numerous methods on how to use a second screen or monitor with your laptop. However, there may be some structural issues with the laptop or external monitor that you’ll be using. Nevertheless, there are still a lot of solutions available, such as having an adapter or connection compatible with any ports on your laptop.