How to Set Up Dual Monitors on a Windows PC

Authored by: Support.com Tech Pro Team

1. Introduction

When you work with a lot of documents at once, or find yourself with a lot of windows open, it can become welcome, if not necessary, to have more display room for your work all at once on your computer. Rather than buy a single, larger monitor, you can use a second one to display either the same or different windows.

This guide will take you through the basics of setting up a second monitor for your computer.

2. Setup and Hardware Requirements

Our first step is to be sure we have all the necessary physical hardware available.

On Your Desk

• Make sure there's enough space for both monitors.
• Make sure you can still reach your keyboard and mouse comfortably.
• Make sure you can see both monitors when you sit down.

For Each Monitor

Each monitor will need the following:

• A power cable or adapter, and an outlet to plug it in.
  

• A cable to connect to your computer that fits one of the ports on your monitor.
  
  Desktop
  

• 
  Laptop
  

For Your Computer

• A port for each monitor.
  

• 
  
  
•  Graphics cards and laptops may have multiple monitor hookups.
•  
• The ports on your computer must match the cables coming from both your monitors.

For DisplayPort, you can 'daisy chain', or connect one monitor through another if both the computer and one of the monitors supports it.

For laptops where you intend to use the built-in display as one of your monitors, you only need one place to plug in the second monitor on the laptop.

Adding another monitor adds, at minimum, two more cables to your computer setup. Please be sure these cables will not be caught or snagged by your chair, desk, or people walking by.

3. Connect Monitor

1. Connect the video cable to your monitor.
   

1. Connect the other end of the video cable to your computer.
   

1. Connect power to your new monitor:
2. One connector (1) plugs into the monitor.
3. The other connector (2) plugs into a power socket.
4. And sometimes, a third (3) connector plugs into the supply itself.

1. Turn on your monitor.
   

1. Turn on your computer.
   

4. Version Check

For the next steps, we'll need to determine which version of Windows you're running.

1. On your keyboard, hold the Windows key then tap Pause/Break.
   

1. A System Properties window will appear with your version of Windows.
   

1. System Properties will also show which edition of Windows you have. Pictured below is Windows 10 Home Edition.
   

5. Manage Settings

Screen Resolution Settings

To manage your monitor settings, right click on a blank area of your desktop and click on Display Settings.
.

Detect Monitors

Your monitors should both show up automatically.

If you monitors don't show up automatically click the Detect button to scan for changes.

Identify Monitor

If you're unsure which monitor is which, you can Identify the monitor by clicking Identify.

You will see the monitor number show up in the bottom left corner of the screen.

Positioning Your Monitor

You can position your monitors by dragging the monitor to rearrange how they show up.

Monitors can be positioned both vertically and horizontally.

Set Monitor Resolution and Orientation

1. Make sure you have selected the correct monitor from the Display menu.
   

1. Select the resolution you want for your monitor from the Resolution Menu.
   

1. Choose the orientation or your monitor.
   

Manage Monitor Functionality

1. Make sure you have selected the correct monitor from the Display menu.
   

1. Choose how you would like your additional monitor to function from the Multiple displays menu..
   

1. 
   
   ExtendAllows you use your additional monitor for additional screen.MirrorWill duplicate the contents of another monitor.
   
   If you choose to extend your display, you can pick your primary monitor by clicking the box that says Make this my main display.
   

6. Manage Settings

Screen Resolution Settings

To manage your monitor settings, right click on a blank area of your desktop and click on Screen Resolution
.

Detect Monitors

Your monitors should both show up automatically.

If you monitors don't show up automatically click the Detect button to scan for changes.

Identify Monitor

If you're unsure which monitor is which, you can Identify the monitor by clicking Identify.

You will see the monitor number show up in the center of the screen.

Positioning Your Monitor

You can position your monitors by dragging the monitor to rearrange how they show up.

Monitors can be positioned both vertically and horizontally.

Set Monitor Resolution

1. Make sure you have selected the correct monitor from the Display menu.
   

1. Select the resolution you want for your monitor from the Resolution Menu.
   

1. .

Manage Monitor Functionality

1. Make sure you have selected the correct monitor from the Display menu.
   

1. Choose how you would like your additional monitor to function from the Multiple displays menu..
   

1. 
   ExtendAllows you use your additional monitor for additional screen.MirrorWill duplicate the contents of another monitor.
   If you choose to extend your display, you can pick your primary monitor by clicking the box that says Make this my main display.
   

7. Manage Settings

Screen Resolution Settings

To manage your monitor settings, right click on a blank area of your desktop and click on Screen Resolution
.

Detect Monitors

Your monitors should both show up automatically.

If you monitors don't show up automatically click the Detect button to scan for changes.

Identify Monitor

If you're unsure which monitor is which, you can Identify the monitor by clicking Identify.

You will see the monitor number show up in the center of the screen.

Positioning Your Monitor

You can position your monitors by dragging the monitor to rearrange how they show up.

Monitors can be positioned both vertically and horizontally.

Set Monitor Resolution

1. Make sure you have selected the correct monitor from the Display menu.
   

1. Select the resolution you want for your monitor from the Resolution Menu.
   

1. .

Manage Monitor Functionality

1. Make sure you have selected the correct monitor from the Display menu.
   

1. Choose how you would like your additional monitor to function from the Multiple displays menu..
   

1. 
   ExtendAllows you use your additional monitor for additional screen.MirrorWill duplicate the contents of another monitor.
   
   If you choose to extend your display, you can pick your primary monitor by clicking the box that says Make this my main display.