How to connect 2 monitors to a computer: step-by-step instructions, tips and recommendations of specialists

Connecting two monitors to a computer is what you can do right after buying a computer. For those who are thinking about how to connect 2 monitors to a computer, there is good news. Even older models purchased 10 and 20 years ago have such an opportunity, since video cards have three outputs: DVI, VGA and S-Video, which connect two screens or a TV. The latest graphics cards have configurations that support up to 5 monitors, distributing them into two or three DisplayPort ports, one HDMI and one DVI connector.

5 reasons to increase the desktop

The main reason why users choose a second monitor is the need to have open information in real time, without minimizing games with an overview of all the results of work in full.

There are other important aspects of such a system. Of these, five are the main ones that you need to know before connecting 2 monitors to a computer:

1. No alt-tab required. When many programs are open, the user tries to speed up the work using alt-tab. With two devices, this is not necessary. Their presence allows you to have an additional device for demonstrating PC resources using Windows gadgets, as well as messaging applications and a music player, while the main part can be multimedia content. Also, when using Photoshop, the second screen installs a complete toolbar that displays the results of photo editing.
2. Use of old devices. Thanks to the advantages offered by the DisplayPort, HDMI, DVI or VGA are connected to the adapters. Before connecting 2 VGA-monitors to the computer, you can use the old screen, regardless of its characteristics, and use this scheme as an additional panel to view resources consumed by the computer, or for applications that require attention, for example, instant messaging.
3. Sharing horizontal and vertical viewing. Recent monitors include VESA support. This type of support allows you to set the screen in the most convenient position for the user. One can be horizontal and the other at the same time vertical for easy reading of web pages, whose distribution of text tends to be vertical.
4. Monitors are getting cheaper. There is an opportunity to buy a new unit with improved functions and leave the old as a secondary device, which many install for secondary tasks.
5. New experience in video games. Driving experience of a completely different level when playing on multiple screens. Especially in cases where you can interact with one in the first person and see the diagram in front, and with two on the sides you can more conveniently see mirrors or use the other to analyze all aspects of the car in real time. Three devices allow you to see the surrounding game world most fully.

The only drawback of the scheme is that the PC must have enough power to move this amount of information smoothly and with acceptable graphics. At the immersion level, he is not able to achieve complete virtual reality, but the quality of the graphics offered by this solution is higher because it handles higher resolution.

Choosing the perfect monitor size

The right choice of the second monitor is an important condition for the high-quality functioning of the model. You need to know the selection algorithm before connecting the 2nd monitor to the computer. Each device can be focused on a specific use: text, games, design. Ideally, you need to get two devices of the same size. This size depends on your needs: from a 20-inch to a maximum of 29-inch devices.

For designers, the screen size is decisive - the bigger the better. An intermediate size will be sufficient for reading or writing text, and if the screens are not equal, the most practical will be to use a larger one as the main one. Of course, each monitor is a separate world, with different technologies. The latest is IPS LCD, with different refresh rates and with a resolution of 4K and UHD.

It is important that the desktop PC has at least one pair of video outputs on the rear panel: a VGA / D-SUB, DVI, HDMI connection, and this is checked before connecting the 2nd monitor to the computer. If the PC has an independent graphics card, the user will have at least two outputs of these guaranteed types.

The best keyboard control

Knowing a few handy keyboard secrets will never hurt and save a lot of time for users when setting up duplication. The main keyboard shortcuts are used to connect 2 monitors to a Windows 10 computer. To manually determine the screen configuration, open a window, press Win + R, write desk.cpl, press Enter, and the configuration window opens automatically. You can go from the configuration page> "System"> "Screen". In the latest versions of the Windows operating system, the second monitor is detected automatically, but if it is not, then you can try to do it manually.

To do this, go to the "Select and Reorganize Screens" section and click the "Define" button. If Windows 10 cannot recognize the second monitor, you need to check if there is a problem with the cable that connects to the second device, and if necessary, replace it with another one and see if everything is fixed.

You can try connecting the second one to the other PC using the same cable to check the source of the failure. To determine exactly whether 2 monitors can be connected to the computer, go to the "Configuration"> "Update and Security"> "Fix Problems" section and start the hardware a solution that will be responsible for the automatic troubleshooting of devices and equipment.

Interestingly, Windows keyboard shortcuts work without problems even on one screen:

1. Win + Left / Right keys: when pressed for the first time, the window slams to the edge of the monitor and pushes it to the edge of the next monitor.
2. Shift + Win + Left / Right Keys: moves the active window when 2 monitors are connected to the computer.
3. Win + Up Key: expand the current window.
4. Win + Down Key: minimize the current window.
5. Win + P key: switch between display modes.

Setting up multiple tables in Windows 10

In order to connect 2 monitors to a Windows 10 computer, you need a special video card. Those that sell today have several outputs, such as HDMI, VGA, and DVI.

Windows has a built-in system that makes it very easy to detect a second monitor, click on the desktop and enter “Screen Settings”. If the user has the devices connected correctly when he clicks Detect, another image will appear automatically.

Software

The latest Microsoft OS makes it easy to connect 2 monitors to a computer. To expand the Win desktop, simply plug it into the appropriate port on your PC. In addition, the system offers other interesting configurations. To access them, press the key combination "Win + P".

Options appear:

1. PC screen only. Win uses only the primary monitor. The rest are not used.
2. Duplicate. Win will show one image at all. The mode is used, for example, for presentation.
3. Expand. Win will expand the desktop, which offers other screens for work.
4. Only the second. Win turn off the main and will use an additional monitor.

To configure in Win 10, go to the menu "Configuration> System> Screen" or click on the desktop and select "Screen Configuration". There you can control the identification of each connected screen, select its orientation, the scale level for each, or set the main one.

Setting up duplication for Lenovo

The expanded screen is an ideal hardware tool for working with various programs and shows a general picture, while each device works independently. Lenovo offers a wide range of tools that are used before connecting 2 monitors to 1 computer. It is in demand for any needs: gamers, professionals, for home and other categories of users. You can choose sizes from 14 to 29 inches and with a resolution of up to 3840x2160 pixels for all types of panels: IPS, LCD, FHD and QHD.

The ThinkVision range has wide screens up to 29 inches with a resolution of 2560 x 1080. Its ultra-wide AH-IPS are closest to the movie theater and provide maximum visibility from any angle. With color gamut, SRGB improves image quality. Before accessing the screen configuration panel, click with the mouse in an empty place on the desktop (Win + P in Win 10 or Win 8) and select “Resolution”, where they choose the order of monitors, the resolution of each of them, orientation and, above all, format: advanced or duplicated.

Multimedia monitors with HP computers

You can use two or more HP monitors with computers that have more than one video output connector with Windows 10/8. The cloning mode shows the same image on both devices. This configuration is commonly used for presentations. The extension increases the viewing area along both. This configuration is usually used to get more visual space.

Algorithm for duplicating the desktop screen:

1. Connect another device. Equipment and televisions have a wide range of video communications. The video connection on the PC must match the setting modes on the TV or monitor.
2. Choose the type of connection of another device (monitor - DVI or VGA cable; TV - video cable (composite) or S-video; high-definition TV - DVI cable to HDMI).
3. Connect the power cord to a TV or monitor.
4. When connected to a TV, its input video signal is changed to match the video source of the equipment (Line-1, Video-1, HDMI).
5. Refer to the documentation that came with the TV for instructions.
6. Depending on the type of TV, the picture quality may not be very good, like a monitor. You should configure the screen for use in presentations or in order to free up space on your desktop.
7. Configure the monitor using the driver.
8. After connecting an additional device, settings are made.
9. Click on the taskbar and select "Settings".
10. On the extended desktop, the home screen is displayed on the main screen.
11. Application tiles for Win 8. On the main monitor, they transfer tiles from one to another.

Cloning Adapters

Any laptop has one or more video outputs for connecting with an additional screen, an analog VGA port, digital like DVI, HDMI or Display Port. The connection to the screen or several will depend on them, although adapters and converters are offered in the industry for organizing such a connection.

The latest and most advanced equipment offers ThunderboltTM 3 connections, an ideal port for connecting one or more monitors with good performance. The device has video, audio, data transfer and power in one cable, as well as compatibility with USB, Type-C ports. Thunderbolt TM 3 is available in 120 versions with 7th generation Intel CoreTM processors, including premium laptops.

The most complete option is the expansion base, which allows you to use several connected peripheral devices, wider connectivity than those offered by the mobile device, and take advantage of the new standards of interaction. In addition to the optional USB or Ethernet ports, they include DisplayPort and VGA analog video outputs to support legacy models.

Utilities for additional equipment

More and more users are thinking about how to connect a second monitor to a computer. The network offers several utilities to optimize the connection process, especially if you need to constantly monitor certain data, since with one screen the space for working with applications is significantly reduced. Also, sometimes there are failures when connecting a second monitor to the computer, because of which it is not detected.

The Conexion Portatil Monitor 2 system allows you to expand the Win taskbar using multiple monitors by choosing Settings> Personalization> Taskbar.

Conexion Portatil Monitor 3 for users who need more control and features offers third-party tools, such as DisplayFusion, with a free and commercial version that works with these multi-window systems, ideal for improving desktop performance and allowing you to work with a large number of applications.

Solve connectivity issues

It was discovered by users that the system often does not find a second monitor. To connect 2 monitors to a Windows 7 computer, there are several ways to solve this problem:

1. Reboot the system. This simple procedure usually solves problems with device discovery by fixing reboot errors.
2. If after that the system did not work, there may have been a communication error with the video card. To resolve, make sure their drivers are updated.
3. Go to the Windows device manager> "Adapters and video controllers"> Click on the map> "Update drivers".
4. If the problem persists, reinstall the drivers and restart.
5. If the user is sure that the drivers work well, you can try to detect external equipment manually through the menu "Settings"> "System"> "Monitor" or in another way, open the "Run" window, press "Win + R", and then enter desk. cpl and Enter to access the screen settings.
6. Select “Reorganize screens”, and then “Detect, wait and check the connection between the device and the PC”.
7. Failure can be caused by the cable that connects the equipment or the input port. You can verify this by replacing the cable or connecting it to other equipment, and thus find out if the cable needs to be changed.
8. Windows has support that fixes problems between hardware and software. For access go: "Settings"> "Update and security"> "Solve problems", and the system will be responsible for the automatic search and elimination of problems between computers.

Benefits of installing Monitor

Many may mistakenly think that two screens are intended only for gamers. This is a mistake, since connecting 2 monitors to a computer can significantly increase the performance of any process on a PC.

The advantages of using multiple monitors:

1. Using the OS on each monitor significantly improves performance. To do this, you can use a simple virtual machine in Virtualbox or VMWare. This is ideal for people who work with Linux and Windows and they don’t have another PC to work in several programs at the same time.
2. You can use it for working communication by placing the Slack window, TweetDeck or any program. Thus, the main monitor is focused on the software that is used most often, and in parallel it is possible, for example, to track conversations with colleagues.
3. For programmers: one may be intended solely for the development environment, and the other for reading documentation. In addition, programs such as TeamViewer allow access to computers of other clients. You can control their actions by displaying processes on another screen.
4. Using Skype, it comes to the understanding that having two monitors is really an advantage when the desktop is completely free to work or perform any action during video conferencing in full screen mode.

Experienced Users Recommendations

The second monitor can be used to play a video or movie, as if it were a TV. It is also possible to have a whole screen for playing music. In the case of games, the image is divided between several screens, or they play on one and leave the other free for other programs and applications.

Multiple monitors connected to a PC at the same time greatly facilitate multitasking and interaction between programs.

Thanks to the presence of several monitors, the workspace increases, and the user has more information. It can save a lot of time when copying data.

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Tips & Tricks

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4. Customize your mouse pointer and taskbar. With multiple monitors, finding the mouse pointer can be a problem. A smart trick is to uncheck the “Mouse” checkbox on the control panel in the mouse properties window in Windows 10. Then the location of the pointer will be shown by pressing the Ctrl key.
5. Useful apps for multiple monitors. On large monitors, sometimes you need to arrange the windows in a special way, not like the left or right half of the screen. Users recommend using WinSplit Revolution software for these cases.
6. Use your phone or tablet as a second monitor. To do this, you need an application called iDisplay, which connects the laptop to the tablet via WI-FI. iDisplay runs on Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows.
7. Use an optional monitor for a remote desktop session. Select the "Allow users to connect" checkbox in PC> "Properties"> Remote. Make sure that the account on the PC that needs remote access is correctly configured, and that it has a password associated with the user.
8. Show excellent Winamp renderings. Be sure to install the AVS visualization with Winamp. It also requires the video card to display overlays.
9. Editing graphic files. Most avid Photoshop users use multiple monitors. The most common setting is to move all toolbars and menus to the secondary monitor, while the main working space of the image remains active on the main monitor. This makes Photoshop's workflow very natural.
10. Using the Ultramon Management program. UltraMon is an amazing program for managing windows and taskbars with multiple monitor configurations. For example, the Smart Taskbar feature is great because it provides each monitor with its own taskbar. In addition, UltraMon will retain the position of the icons, as they tend to change position after a reboot in dual-boot configurations.

When it comes to working in a modern workplace, everyone wants to increase their effectiveness and be as productive as possible. One of the best ways to achieve this is to use two monitors while working on a computer. Depending on the computer, you can work with two or more screens at the same time and discover the almost unlimited benefits of investing in a dual monitor in the workplace.