How to Set Up Two Monitors on Your Windows or Mac PC

 Two displays are very helpful for so many reasons; you can open different documents together, so you don’t have to switch between too many windows. Also, most streamers nowadays use two displays for gaming so that they can interact with other important things on a separate display without minimizing the game running. Two displays are also very useful to video creators and editors, as the software they use takes good use of as much space as they can get on the monitor.

Set Up Two Monitors

Below you will find the step-by-step process of installing a second monitor to your Windows and Mac devices.

Set Up Two Monitors on Windows


1. Make sure your computer supports two displays.


  • First, you have to check your computer’s compatibility for connecting two monitors. Look at the back of the cabinet and see the display connections for your monitors.
  • Your main monitor is connected to one port, so look for any other ones on the back like VGAHDMI, or DisplayPort.
  • If you don’t have any extra port except the one you are currently using, then you have to buy a new display adapter or a graphic card, which usually comes with two or more display ports.
  • After you have installed a graphic card in your PC, you should be able to connect at least two monitors to your computer.


2. Determine the type of connections you will need for your monitors.


  • Let’s learn about the different types of connectors you see on the back of your PC.
  • DVI – It looks like a long plastic socket with square holes in it.
    • VGA – This port is one of the most used ports. You can identify it as the blue port with many circular holes in it. Some motherboards come with a black color VGA port.
    • HDMI – This looks like the big version of the Micro-B port, which was the standard on mobile before the USB Type-C. It’s hexagonal in shape with a long straight cut out in between.
    • DisplayPort – This port is made in pentagonal shape and has a flat side on one end instead of being symmetrical like HDMI. This is mostly used for 4K displays.
    • Thunderbolt – Thunderbolt is the proprietary port that comes on most Mac computers.
  • Now you need to check that the monitor display sockets are the same as on your motherboard and graphic card.
  • If your monitor supports HDMI, then there should be an HDMI port on the back of your PC, and the same for other ports.
  • Buy the necessary cables for your needed ports.


3. Connect the monitors to your computer.

If you have followed and checked for everything mentioned above, you are now ready to connect your monitors to the computer.

  • Turn off your computer and wait for the CPU to power down fully.
  • Now connect the first monitor to a port at the back of the CPU.
  • Then look for an empty port and connect the second monitor to it.
  • Make sure if you are connecting a high-resolution display with a high refresh rate, you are connecting the display port to take full advantage of the monitor.
  • Connect both monitors to the power source and turn on the full system.
  • Click on the Start button on the Taskbar and open Settings.
  • Click the System option.
  • Make sure you are on the Display tab on the left side.
  • Find the Multiple Displays option and click on its menu.
  • Select from the display options explained below, as per your need.
  • Duplicate these displays: This option will replicate your main monitor on the second display.
    • Extend these displays: The second monitor will act as a part of the first one. You can move things seamlessly between the two monitors.
    • Show only on 1: Show content only on Monitor 1.
    • Show only on 2: Show content only on Monitor 2.
  • Click Apply and tap Keep Changes to finish the setup of your two monitors.


Set Up Two Monitors on Mac


1. Determine the type of connection.


  • The iMac comes with two types of ports, HDMI and Thunderbolt. So, look for them at the back of your iMac.
  • Now for connecting an extra monitor on the iMac, you will be needing a cable that can connect both to your monitor and your iMac.


2. Buying the necessary cables and adaptors.


  • If you have a monitor that supports older ports such as VGA or DVI, you will need to buy an adaptor to convert one port to another.
  • Now buy an HDMI or a Thunderbolt cable as per your need.


3. Connect the monitor to the iMac.


  • Put one end of the cable in one of the ports behind the iMac.
  • Connect the other end to the back of the monitor.
  • Connect the power source of the monitor and turn on both devices.
  • Now in your iMac, open the Apple Menu.
  • Click the Apple logo to open it. Select System preference in the drop-down menu.
  • After that, select the Displays option.
  • Now go to the Arrangement tab and uncheck the Mirror Displays option to use the second display as the extended one.
  • You can close the System menu now and use your second display.

Source:- https://balharainfotech.com/how-to-set-up-two-monitors-on-your-windows-or-mac-pc/

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