Buzz
In this article, Mytour will guide you on how to use two monitors with a single desktop computer. This setup is possible for both Mac and Windows operating systems. However, for Windows, your computer's graphics card must support multi-monitor functionality.
Steps
On Windows
Ensure your computer supports multi-monitor functionality. The back of the CPU case must have at least two horizontal ports located near the base. These are the connections for your computer's graphics card: you will need them to set up dual monitors.
- You cannot use the default monitor connection (usually a vertical port in the middle of the CPU case) to enable multi-monitor mode.
- Vertical ports are connected to the motherboard, while horizontal ports are linked to the graphics card.
- If you cannot find the appropriate ports on the CPU case, you will need to install a graphics card before setting up a second monitor.
Identify the type of connection you need. Now, you can look at the ports on your graphics card and the corresponding inputs on your computer monitor to determine which of the following connection types you require:
- DVI – A wide plastic connector with multiple small square holes.
- VGA – A colorful trapezoidal plastic connector with multiple pin holes.
- HDMI – A flat, thin hexagonal port.
- DisplayPort – Similar to HDMI but with one flat edge instead of being symmetrical. This is the required connection for 4K monitors.
- Thunderbolt – Found on the back of most iMac monitors, this port has a lightning bolt symbol below it. You can connect adapters for any of the above video connections to a Thunderbolt port (e.g., from VGA to Thunderbolt).
If you don’t already have them, purchase all the cables you need. For instance, if your computer’s graphics card requires a DisplayPort cable, you’ll need to buy this cable for both monitors.
- If your monitor doesn’t support the type of cable your graphics card uses (e.g., DisplayPort), you’ll need to use an adapter or a dual-ended cable (e.g., DisplayPort on one end and HDMI on the other).
Turn off your computer. It’s best to power down your computer to avoid any issues while connecting the second monitor.
Connect the first monitor to a port on the graphics card. To do this, you’ll typically need to disconnect the monitor from the vertical motherboard port it’s currently connected to and plug it into a horizontal port on the graphics card.
- If the first monitor’s motherboard connection differs from the graphics card connection, you’ll need to use a different cable.
Connect the second monitor. Plug the second monitor’s cable into another port on the graphics card and connect the other end to the back of the second monitor.
Power up the second monitor. Use the power cable that came with the monitor to connect it to a power source, such as a wall outlet.
Turn on your computer and monitors. Press the "On" switch for both the computer and the monitors.
Click System. This is the computer screen icon located within the Settings window.
Click on the Display tab. This option is located at the top-left corner of the window.
Click the "Multiple displays" dropdown box near the bottom of the window. A new menu will appear.
- You may need to scroll down to find this option.
Select a display option. From the dropdown menu, choose one of the following options:
- Duplicate these displays – Mirrors the content of the first screen onto the second screen.
- Extend these displays – Expands the content from the first screen to the second screen.
- Show only on 1 – Displays content exclusively on the first monitor.
- Show only on 2 – Displays content exclusively on the second monitor.
Click the Apply button below your selected display option. Depending on your choice, the second monitor will now display either a portion or all of the content from the first screen.
Click Keep changes when prompted to save your settings. You can now use both monitors simultaneously.
On Mac
Identify the type of connection you need. To connect an additional monitor to an iMac, you’ll need to use a cable compatible with the iMac’s rear ports. Look for one of the following ports on the back of your iMac:
- Thunderbolt – A small square port with a lightning bolt symbol above it. A Thunderbolt-to-Thunderbolt connection is the simplest way to link two Mac monitors. However, you can also purchase adapters for other computer ports if needed (e.g., Thunderbolt to VGA).
- HDMI – A wide, thin hexagonal port. HDMI is the industry standard for audio and video connections, so most monitors support this format.
If you don’t already have them, purchase all the necessary cables. For example, if the second monitor requires an HDMI cable, you’ll need to buy one.
- If you’re using a monitor that only supports older video standards (e.g., VGA), you’ll need to purchase an adapter to convert from Thunderbolt (or HDMI) to the compatible port, such as Thunderbolt to VGA.
Connect the monitor cable to the back of the iMac. If you’re using an adapter, first plug the adapter into the back of the iMac.
Power up the monitor. Plug the included power cable into a power source, such as a wall outlet.
Turn on the second monitor by pressing the "On" button. The Mac display will appear.
Click on System Preferences… at the bottom of the dropdown menu.
Click on Displays. This is the computer screen icon located within the System Preferences window.
Click on the Arrangement tab at the top of the Displays window.
Choose your preferred display mode. If you want your Mac to use both screens to display content, uncheck the "Mirror Displays" box. Check it if you want the same content to appear on both screens.
Move the menu bar if needed. To place the menu bar (the gray bar at the top of the screen) on the second monitor, click and drag the white bar over the first monitor’s image to the second monitor.
Exit System Preferences. Close both the Displays and System Preferences windows. You can now use the second monitor alongside your Mac’s primary display.
Tips
- Most laptops support HDMI (Windows, Mac), USB-C (Windows, Mac), and/or Thunderbolt (Mac only). To connect a second monitor to your laptop, simply plug the monitor’s cable into the laptop’s video output port. You can then follow the same setup process as you would for a desktop computer.
Warnings
- If the second monitor has a significantly higher resolution than the first, issues like screen cropping or other graphical glitches may occur when switching between displays. Therefore, if possible, purchase a monitor with a resolution that matches your primary display.
