Check Spare Connections

Before you connect your second monitor, you need to confirm the connections available. Usually found at the edges of your laptop, it could be different ports such as VGA, HDMI, DisplayPort, or USB Type C

Supply Appropriate Cable

Once you confirm the port that’s available for you to use, supply the cable that would connect both the laptop and the monitor. While it is common sense to provide a cable that has the same ports on both ends, such as VGA to VGA or HDMI to HDMI, there are scenarios when you need to use a different ended port for the sake of compatibility and availability, corrected by adapters. Such common connectors include VGA to HDMI, USB Type C to DisplayPort, and many more.

Connect the Cable

When you have the correct cable to use, it’s time to bridge the gap between two displays by connecting the cable to each device’s port. Once you’re successful with the connection, you’ll hear a notification tone confirming that the connected device is recognized by the laptop.

Choose to Extend on Windows 8 or 10

Because you’re looking to use two monitors once you have them connected and working, keep in mind that you need to extend your display. After you hear the notification in your laptop, press and hold the Windows Button, then press the P key. Doing so will open the “Project” option from the right-hand side of the screen where you could choose to use either one of the screens you connected, or you could Duplicate, and Extend.

Choose to Extend on Windows 7

If you wish to extend your screen on Windows 7, you simply right click anywhere on the Desktop screen. Click the “Screen Resolution” option, all you’ll be brought to the screen with the monitors numbered 1 and 2. Under the “Multiple Displays” option, click “Extend these Displays” then you’ll see your screens project wider or click “Apply” in case there’s no automated process going on. Click “Okay” when you’re done.

Fine Tune Extended Monitor Settings

When the screen has been extended, Windows usually set things by default when it comes to placing which monitor is the main and the sub. While some are fine with the said automated configuration, others are comfortable with switching the extended monitor either to the left or the right of the laptop screen. To change it, just right click anywhere on the desktop screen and it should bring options for you to choose. It would be “Screen Resolution” for Windows 7 and “Display Settings” for later OS models.

Clicking on screen 2 gives would show the option “Make this my main display” underneath “Multiple displays”. Once you click the check box, your screen 2 becomes screen 1.

And that’s it. You’re now able to use both screens for your laptop where you can enjoy doing many things at the same time. Because Windows makes it easy for users to add multiple screens, even those who aren’t familiar with doing the said procedure won’t spend too much time tweaking stuff or fixing problems in case things doesn’t work for them.

One word of advice. If you’re quite the critic when it comes to setting resolutions before doing anything with your new setup, just sliding the resolutions up or down should do the trick.