Others offer USB 3.0 but won’t let you plug the connection into a monitor. Some devices only support USB 2.0 connectivity and power transfer and don’t carry a video signal. You’ll have to check your laptop’s manual for details. USB Type-C is brilliant, but it’s not always obvious what the port on your laptop can and cannot do. You can still connect multiple screens using a dual-purpose cable, such as DVI-to-VGA, HDMI-to-DVI, or some other adapter or converter.Īn increasing number of laptops use a USB Type-C socket to complicate matters further, carrying data, video, and charging capabilities. If you have things the other way around, you’ll need to adjust the placement position slightly since the external monitor resides on the left side.ĭon’t fear if you have DVI and HDMI, HDMI and DisplayPort, or even VGA and any of the above connections. Adjust Multi-Monitor Positions in Windowsīy default, Windows positions the laptop’s built-in screen to the left and the external monitor to the right, meaning you have to move the cursor off the internal screen’s right-hand side when navigating to the monitor. Note: If your monitor doesn’t display your laptop output automatically, it may be necessary to use the monitor’s controls to switch to the correct input. Choose “Extend these displays” or “Duplicate these displays” from the “Multiple displays” drop-down menu and click “OK” or “Apply.”.Right-click anywhere on the desktop and select “Screen resolution.”.Users of Windows 7 need to follow a different procedure than Windows 8, 8.1, or 10 to duplicate or extend their display. For work or gaming, however, the option you need is “Extend.” This setting allows you to spread your entire desktop over two screens and drag windows and other items from one to the other.Įxtending/Duplicating the Desktop in Windows 7 Use the “Duplicate” or “Second screen only” option to display a presentation through a projector or to play a movie.On Windows 8, 8.1, or 10, press “WIN + P” to open the “PROJECT” menu, which appears on the right-hand side.Once you’ve got your cable, plug it into the monitor and laptop, the Windows side of things is straightforward. Choose to Extend or Duplicate the Desktop in Windows Extending/Duplicating the Desktop in Windows 8, 8.1, and 10

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