By connecting our laptops to an external monitor, we can significantly improve our productivity. Whether you’re a student, a CEO, or just an off-the-cuff PC user, an external monitor will always help you.
Connecting a secondary monitor to a laptop is a simple process, and you can use this external monitor to mirror your laptop screen. Or you can use the external as an extended display of your laptop.
If you also want to connect a secondary monitor to your laptop, you are in the right place. In this article, we are going to explore how to connect a laptop to an external monitor step by step.
Why using an external monitor is better?
Before we dive into connecting a laptop with an external monitor, it’s important to understand why and when we should use an external monitor with our laptop. The benefits of using an external monitor with a laptop are given below:
- Suppose you’re a graphics designer and you do not like to switch between application windows, to collect utilities for your project. In that case, you should consider using a second monitor with your laptop.
- As a coder, you can take advantage of an external monitor more effectively. In general, when we code a website or mobile app, we need to see the output many times. In this case, you can use a second monitor with your laptop.
- Two displays also are ideal for users who got to view a specific piece of data on an internet site on one screen as a reference while writing another piece of content or an email on a second screen.
- Dual displays also can benefit those that got to keep tabs on constantly changing data while performing a special project on another screen.
- If you’re a gamer, two displays expand your game scape visually so you’ll better handle any opponents and attain your objectives.
- If you’re a student writing an essay, you’ll have your Microsoft Word document on one screen and therefore the topics you’re researching on your second screen.
Required Materials for connection
Before getting started, let’s see what we need to connect our laptop to an external monitor. Some components are mentioned below may not necessary for a specific method. For this reason, I have identified those with a flag.
- A proper working Laptop that supports an external monitor. [Required for both methods]
- An eternal monitor that supports at least one Media Interface. [If you want to connect your monitor wirelessly, it should support wireless projection]
- Connecting cable to connect Laptop and external monitor (for example HDMI, VGA, Thunderbolt, or a Displayport cable). [Required for wired method]
- In some cases: you need a dicking station. [If your monitor has a different media port than your laptop]
Connect a Laptop with External Monitor
There are two ways to connect a laptop with an external monitor. The first way is to connect the monitor directly to the laptop using a video cable. Or, the second way is to connect the monitor wirelessly over the network.
In this article, we are going to cover both methods one by one. Then we will see how to configure the Display settings to use our monitor in a preferred way. So, let’s get started with the first method.
Connect a Laptop with External Monitor using a cable
This is the first and easiest way to connect a laptop to an external monitor. To connect an external monitor to a laptop, you need to follow some simple steps like inserting all cables into the right ports and configuring the input source of your external monitor.
Step 1: Plug in the cables to the right ports
In this step, we are going to find out what type of video cable our laptop and monitor have and how to connect those cables properly. There are numerous types of video interfaces available for laptops including HDMI, VGA, Display Port, DVI port, Thunderbolt, etc.
First, check your laptop if it has a media port on it. In general, the media port is located on the left side of the laptop along with the USB docking station. But, sometime it may be located on the right side of the laptop. To identify your fort type take a look at the picture mentioned below.
Pick a proper cable and insert it into the laptop and monitor port. If you noticed that your laptop and monitor have different ports, you can use a media cable converter to connect them. For example, If your laptop has an HDMI port, and your monitor has a VGA port, you can use an HDMI to VGA cable converter.
Now, insert the power cable into the monitor’s dc input port and plug the adapter into a power outlet. Finally, make sure that the monitor is powered on.
Step 2: Configure the Input source of your monitor
On your external monitor, search for a physical button that’s labeled Source. If you discover one, push it repeatedly until the monitor shows the preferred source.
If there’s no such button, open the monitor’s OSD (On-Screen Display) and navigate through the menus to seek out the input source. Then select the input source that you have chosen to connect the video cable.
Connect a Laptop with External Monitor using a wireless connection
In this age, all devices provide Ultra-modern features. Some high-end Monitors have Miracast built-in. Miracast is a wireless technology that connects video cards and monitors without any cable.
If your device supports Miracast, you can connect your laptop to an external monitor without any cable. Make sure your laptop and monitor both support Miracast technology.
To connect your laptop to an external monitor without a cable simply follow the steps below:
- On your main computer, right-click on the desktop and select “Display settings“.
- In the display settings window, scroll down to the bottom and click on “Connect a wireless display“.
- It will bring up a panel on the right side of your screen, from there search for your monitor’s name and click on it.
After clicking on your monitor’s name, it may take a while to connect. After that, you will see your laptop screen mirrored on the external monitor.
Configure the settings for using the external monitor
After successfully connecting the laptop with an external monitor, it is time to configure the Windows setting for the external monitor.
To configure the external monitor, follow the steps below:
- Right clicks on your desktop and select “Display settings“.
- In the display settings window, scroll down to the Multiple displays section.
- Click on the multiple display dropdown and select “Extend desktop to this display“.
Now the external monitor will work like an extended display of your laptop’s screen. By placing the monitor on a side of your laptop, you can open multiple windows at the same time.
Finally, you need to arrange the monitor’s position from the top of the display setting. To do that, click on the display and drag it to your preferred position.
Wrapping up…
Connecting the laptop to an external monitor is a very easy task. You just need to connect your laptop to your external monitor using a video cable and set the input source to your preferred input method from your monitor’s menu.
The process of connecting a laptop to an external monitor is always the same however which brand monitor you are using? Share this article, if you like it. and continuously visit our website for this type of how-to guide.