How to connect a second monitor to a laptop

Nowadays, technology has reached great heights and continues to develop rapidly. Almost every inhabitant of the planet has high-tech gadgets. These include smartphones, tablets, laptops ... We will talk about the latter in our article.

This equipment is very convenient to use and allows you to work with documents and programs in any place convenient for you. Mobility and low weight make them indispensable devices for working on the go or traveling. But sometimes people are faced with the need to connect an additional monitor to display information.

How to connect two monitors

Situations when this may come in handy are different: a small screen base; large audience for whom the presentation was prepared. In any case, if such a need arose, then you need to quickly and most importantly correctly connect an additional screen. For convenience, we suggest using step-by-step instructions, with which you can easily cope with the task yourself at home.

First you need to prepare everything you may need:

• A working laptop connected to the network.
• An additional monitor that you wish to install.
• Cable with special connectors.

IMPORTANT: It is worth considering the power of the laptop and the ability to withstand heavy loads, otherwise these actions can lead to malfunctions.

Before proceeding with the connection, it is necessary to properly prepare the equipment. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Unplug your laptop.
2. Set your equipment and additional screen to the desired broadcast location.
3. The screen should also be disconnected from everything.
4. After that, prepare the cable and proceed with the connection.

Everything is ready, you can start the connection in one of the possible ways.

When connecting a second monitor with a cable, there should be no difficulty. This is the easiest and fastest way. To do this, you need to prepare everything, as described above. After everything is done, follow the instructions:

1. When off, start connecting an external monitor.
2. Using a special DVI or VGA port, synchronize the operation of devices.
3. After that, first turn on the power of the external screen. This must be done to avoid checking the connected devices with a recognition system, which is in the computer.
4. Then turn on the main monitor. If there is a slight delay at startup, wait a bit. It happens that additional screens do not start immediately.

After correctly performed manipulations, you should be able to synchronously display information on two screens at once. If everything works properly, the goal has been achieved. If necessary, you should make special settings for debugging the work, which we will discuss in the future.

IMPORTANT: If the laptop and monitor have different connectors, then you should purchase a special adapter. Information on this can be obtained from consultants in the equipment store or in the documentation for the equipment.

If you do not have a cable or cannot connect in this way, then there is another possible option. In this case, you will need to connect the device over the network. Of course, it is impossible to turn on the second monitor as a separate device, but you can combine their work.

Currently, this method is not very developed and is not in great demand among people, therefore its quality leaves much to be desired. In general, the essence of the method is as follows: ensuring collaboration using a local network.

You can use a high-speed Internet connection or a wi-fi network. In this case, you need a high-speed network and a constant connection.

Also one of the available options is to use the Spacedesk system. Install this program, restart the computer, and then you can start connecting. To do this, you will need to go into the program again and establish a connection with an external screen by filling in the IP address field in the corresponding line. For normal operation, adjust the quality using the settings.

This method will ensure the joint display of the picture and the normal presentation of documents and materials. It is perfect in the absence of cables in travel conditions. But unfortunately, this method has several disadvantages. These include the following:

• For normal operation, high power of connected devices is required.
• High power of the network through which the connection occurs.
• Poor image quality.
• Display lag, calculated in seconds, which significantly complicates the work.

If you do not need to expand the workspace, and you just want to duplicate the image on the second screen, then this method is quite suitable. Otherwise, it has significant drawbacks.

If you have already connected an additional tool for displaying information from the laptop to the screen, but its operation is not configured or the picture does not display correctly, you should refer to the special settings menu. In this case, the monitor can work in several modes. It can either simply duplicate what is happening on the main screen, or serve to expand the workspace. Depending on the situation and your personal needs, choose one of the proposed options.

1. When turned on, right-click on the main monitor screen.
2. In the pop-up menu window, select the property item, and then the parameters.
3. Among the proposed options, click on the desired option.
4. If you need a second screen for duplication, select the option of an additional monitor.
5. If you want to expand the workplace, click on the appropriate button.

If during the connection you did everything correctly, but the image is still missing, then you will have to additionally enable everything manually using the keys on the F1-F12 keyboard. One of them regulates the ability to connect a second screen, usually F4. After that, go to the control settings and settings for connecting the screen.

Connect your equipment correctly and enjoy viewing documents on the large screen of several devices at once.