How to Connect Two Monitors to Computer (with Pictures)

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How to Connect Two Monitors to Computer (with Pictures)
How to Connect Two Monitors to Computer (with Pictures)
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This article explains how you can use two monitors by connecting them to the same desktop computer. This can be done on both Windows and Mac computers. However, if you are using a PC, you must have a graphics card that supports connecting multiple monitors.

Steps

Method 1 of 2: Windows

Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 1
Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 1

Step 1. Make sure more than one monitor can be connected to your computer

Look at the back side of the PC case, at the bottom there must be at least two ports with a rectangular shape and placed horizontally. These are the video out ports on the graphics card that you will need to use to connect the two monitors to the computer.

  • In this case you do not have to use the default connection port built into the motherboard which is normally placed vertically about halfway up the case.
  • The ports arranged vertically are inherent to all peripherals that are integrated on the computer motherboard, while the ports placed horizontally are related to external peripherals installed on the motherboard which also include the graphics card.
  • If you don't find these ports on the back of your PC case, you will most likely need to install a video card before you can connect a second monitor to your computer.
Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 2
Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 2

Step 2. Determine the type of video connection you need

Examine the video card connection ports and monitor input ports to decide which type of cable to use from those available:

  • DVI - is a rectangular plastic port consisting of several pins with a square shape;
  • VGA - is a door with a trapezoidal shape. It is normally blue in color and has 15 pins;
  • HDMI - is a thin rectangular port with two rounded corners.
  • DisplayPort - has a similar shape to the HDMI port, but in this case there is only one beveled corner, instead of two. This type of connection is required in the case of a monitor with a resolution of 4K;
  • Thunderbolt - is the video port that equips most iMacs. It features a stylized lightning bolt icon. There are adapters that allow you to connect any of the cables listed above to a Thunderbolt port (for example from VGA to Thunderbolt).
Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 3
Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 3

Step 3. Purchase any necessary connection cables that you don't already own

For example, if your computer graphics card has a DisplayPort port, you will need to purchase one for each monitor.

If your monitors don't have the same video port as your computer's graphics card (for example a DisplayPort port), you will need to purchase an adapter or cable that has two different connectors (for example, DisplayPort to HDMI)

Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 4
Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 4

Step 4. Turn off your computer completely

It is better to connect the second monitor to the PC while the latter is turned off in order not to run into technical problems.

Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 5
Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 5

Step 5. Connect the first monitor to one of the video card ports

Your PC's primary monitor will most likely be plugged into the integrated video port on your computer's motherboard, so you'll need to unplug the connecting cable and plug the free end into one of the video card ports. The latter are positioned horizontally, while the video port of the motherboard is placed vertically.

If the integrated video port on the motherboard is different from the video card ports, you will need to use a different cable to be able to connect

Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 6
Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 6

Step 6. Now connect the second monitor

Connect one end of the second video cable to one of the free ports on the graphics card, then connect the other end to the video-out port on the second monitor.

Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 7
Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 7

Step 7. Connect the second monitor to a power source

Use the power cord supplied with the device to connect it to the mains. You can use a wall socket or a power strip.

Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 8
Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 8

Step 8. Now turn on the computer and the two monitors

Press the power button on the PC and the two screens.

Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 9
Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 9

Step 9. Access the "Start" menu

Windowsstart
Windowsstart

Click on the button featuring the Windows logo located in the lower left corner of the desktop displayed on the first monitor.

Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 10
Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 10

Step 10. Access the Settings app

Windowssettings
Windowssettings

It features a gear icon located at the bottom left of the "Start" menu.

Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 11
Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 11

Step 11. Click the System icon

It features a stylized computer monitor and is visible in the Settings app window.

Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 12
Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 12

Step 12. Click on the Display tab

It is listed in the upper left of the window.

Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 13
Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 13

Step 13. Click on the "Multiple Displays" drop-down menu

It is displayed at the bottom of the window. A drop-down menu will appear featuring several options.

In order to locate the indicated option, you may need to scroll down the page

Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 14
Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 14

Step 14. Select the view options

Within the drop-down menu that appeared you will find different items, choose the one that best suits your needs:

  • Duplicate these screens - the image displayed on the first monitor will also be replicated on the second;
  • Extend these screens - the image produced by the video card will be displayed on an area made up of both screens of the available monitors.
  • Show only on 1 - the image produced by the video card will be displayed only on the first monitor;
  • Show only on 2 - the image produced by the video card will be displayed only on the second monitor.
Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 15
Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 15

Step 15. Click the Apply button

It's located below the drop-down menu from which you selected the display option you wanted. In this way, the second monitor you connected to your computer will show a part (or the perfect copy) of the image displayed on the main monitor, based on the selection you made.

Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 16
Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 16

Step 16. Click the Keep Changes button when prompted

This way the new settings will be saved and applied. At this point you can use both monitors you connected to the PC.

Method 2 of 2: Mac

Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 17
Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 17

Step 1. Determine the type of video cable you need to connect a second monitor to your iMac

The second monitor will be connected to the video port on the back of the iMac screen. Look for one of the following video ports on the back of your iMac:

  • Thunderbolt - is a square shaped door featuring an icon depicting a stylized lightning bolt. The easiest way to connect two monitors to a Mac is to use a Thunderbolt cable, however if necessary, you can purchase an adapter that allows you to connect a Thunderbolt cable to any existing video port (for example from Thunderbolt to VGA);
  • HDMI - is a thin rectangular port with two rounded corners. HDMI is the standard for audio and video connections used by all industries in the industry, so any monitor you can buy today should have at least one HDMI port.
Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 18
Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 18

Step 2. Purchase any necessary connection cables that you don't already own

For example, if your second monitor has an HDMI video port, you will need to purchase such a connecting cable.

If you have purchased a monitor that only supports an older video connection standard (for example a VGA port), in order to establish the connection you will need to purchase an adapter from Thunderbolt or HDMI to the type of port you have available, for example from Thunderbolt to VGA or HDMI to VGA

Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 19
Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 19

Step 3. Connect the monitor video cable to the port on the back of the iMac

If you've had to purchase an adapter, you'll need to plug it into the iMac's video-out port first.

Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 20
Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 20

Step 4. Connect the second monitor to a power source

Use the power cord supplied with the device to connect it to the mains. You can use a wall socket or a power strip.

Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 21
Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 21

Step 5. Turn on the second monitor

Press the device's power button. After a few seconds the Mac desktop should appear on the screen.

Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 22
Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 22

Step 6. Enter the "Apple" menu

Macapple1
Macapple1

Click on the Apple logo icon visible in the upper left corner of the main screen. A drop-down menu will appear.

Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 23
Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 23

Step 7. Click on the System Preferences… option

It is listed at the bottom of the drop-down menu that appeared.

Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 24
Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 24

Step 8. Click the Monitor icon

It features a stylized computer monitor and is listed in the "System Preferences" window.

Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 25
Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 25

Step 9. Click on the Arrangement tab

It is displayed at the top of the "Monitor" window.

Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 26
Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 26

Step 10. Determine how you want to use the second monitor

If you want to use the new display to extend the Mac desktop, uncheck the "Duplicate monitor" checkbox. If you want the same image displayed on the second monitor as on the main Mac monitor, you will need to select the "Duplicate monitor" check button.

Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 27
Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 27

Step 11. Set the main screen if necessary

If you want the second monitor to become the screen, the one in which the menu bar is displayed, drag the small white bar displayed at the top of the image relative to the first monitor, displayed in the center of the "Layout" tab of the "Monitor" window, on the second screen image.

Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 28
Set Up Two Computer Monitors Step 28

Step 12. Close the "System Preferences" window

At this point you can close both the "Monitor" dialog and the "System Preferences" window. You should now be able to use the second monitor in conjunction with the main Mac display based on the settings you have chosen.

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