Content

• Steps
• Advice
• Warning

This wikiHow teaches you to add a second monitor to your laptop or desktop computer. Setting up a second monitor is possible on both Windows and Mac, but you need to make sure your computer supports multiple monitors before you proceed.

Steps

Method 1 of 2: On Windows

1. 

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

2. 

   . Click the gear icon in the lower left of the Start window. The Settings window will appear.

3. 

   
   
   . Click the Apple logo in the upper left corner of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear.

4. 

   Click System Preferences… (Customize system). This item is at the bottom of the drop-down menu. The System Preferences window will appear.

5. 

   
   
   Click Displays. The option has a monitor icon located in the System Preferences window. A window will pop up.

6. 

   
   
   Click the card Arrangement (Assembly). This tab sits at the top of the Displays window that just pops up.

7. 

   
   
   Extend the desktop on the second monitor. If you want to use the second monitor to enlarge the main monitor, uncheck the "Mirror displays" box at the bottom of the window.
   • Skip the above step if you just want to use the second monitor to mirror what's on the main screen of your Mac.
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Advice

• Usually the cable is bought online because it is cheaper than the store.
• When using the second monitor to extend the main monitor, push the mouse pointer all the way to the right on the first screen so that the pointer moves to the second.

Warning

• If the computer does not allow using multiple monitors, you need to install a graphics card with at least two video outputs.