How to Set Up Dual Monitors

June 2023 · 5 minute read

This wikiHow teaches you how to set up a two-monitor display for your Windows or Mac computer. Using two monitors for one display effectively doubles the amount of on-screen space with which you have to work. Know that most laptops can...

Part 1 of 4:

Checking Second Monitor Support

  • Picture 1 of How to Set Up Dual Monitors Know that most laptops can support dual monitors. If you have a laptop which has at least one video output slot (e.g., an HDMI port or a VGA port), you can usually use an external monitor in conjunction with the video port.
  • While a few Windows laptops might not support dual monitors, all Apple MacBook computers do—if you have a Mac laptop, feel free to skip ahead to connecting your second monitor.[1]
  • Picture 2 of How to Set Up Dual Monitors Understand that not all desktop computers support dual monitors. Depending on your computer's graphics card and motherboard, you may not be able to run a second monitor at the same time as your first.[2]
  • Again, if you're using an Apple iMac desktop unit, you can use dual monitors.
  • Picture 3 of How to Set Up Dual Monitors Check your computer's video output ports. Most computers have at least two ports for video output, meaning that you'll usually be able to connect a second monitor; however, if the two (or more) ports aren't level with each other, they're most likely not part of the same graphics card and thus not able to be used for dual monitors.[3]
  • For example, if you see two horizontal HDMI ports next to (or on top of) each other, your computer's graphics card probably supports dual monitors. This goes for different outputs as well (e.g., a VGA output next to an HDMI output).
  • Desktop Windows computers normally have these ports on the back of the computer case.
  • If you only see one video output on a desktop computer, your computer's graphics card only supports one monitor at a time. Laptops which have one video output port can usually support multiple monitors.
  • Picture 4 of How to Set Up Dual Monitors Determine whether your motherboard supports dual monitors. Virtually all modern computers' motherboards support multiple monitors, but older machines may not. You can check your motherboard for dual monitor support by doing the following:
  • Find your motherboard's name.
  • Look up your motherboard's name in a search engine (e.g., Google).
  • Select a search result which lists your motherboard's features.
  • Look for a "Multi-Display", "Multi-Monitor", or "Dual Display" feature.

    • Part 2 of 4:

    Connecting the Second Monitor

  • Picture 5 of How to Set Up Dual Monitors Determine your computer's video connection type. On the back of your computer's CPU box (or monitor if you're using an iMac), you should see several ports, one of which is currently being used for your main monitor. Common connection ports include the following:
  • DVI — A wide piece of plastic with numerous small square holes in it.
  • VGA — A trapezoid-shaped piece of colored plastic with several pinholes in it.
  • HDMI — A thin, flat, hexagonal port. These are on most modern computers and TVs.
  • DisplayPort — Similar to HDMI, but has a flat edge on one side instead of being symmetrical.
  • Thunderbolt — Found on the backs of most iMac monitors, the Thunderbolt connection has a lightning bolt icon beneath it. You can connect an adapter for any of the above video connections to a Thunderbolt port (e.g., VGA to Thunderbolt).[4]
  • Picture 6 of How to Set Up Dual Monitors Check the second monitor's connection type. Your second monitor should have at least one of the previously mentioned connection types. You don't have to use the same connection that you use for your first monitor on your second monitor.
  • For example, you can attach the first monitor using a DisplayPort cable and attach the second monitor using HDMI.
  • In some cases, you might be able to set up a second monitor wirelessly. For example, to use an iPad as a second monitor, you can connect it to some computers wirelessly using an app called Air Display.
  • Picture 7 of How to Set Up Dual Monitors Buy any cables or adapters that you don't have. If you don't have the proper cable or adapter that you need to attach your second monitor to the computer, you can find it online or in a tech department store.
  • Especially if you're connecting a second monitor to an iMac, you'll need either a Thunderbolt cable or a port-to-Thunderbolt adapter for the back of the monitor.
  • Picture 8 of How to Set Up Dual Monitors

    Connect the second monitor to the computer. Plug one end of the second monitor's video cable into the back of the computer, then plug the other end into the second monitor.

  • Picture 9 of How to Set Up Dual Monitors

    Connect the second monitor to a power source. Plug your monitor's power cable into an electrical outlet, such as a wall socket or a surge protector.

  • Picture 10 of How to Set Up Dual Monitors Turn on the second monitor. Press the "Power" Picture 11 of How to Set Up Dual Monitors button on the second monitor to make sure that it is turned on and ready to receive the signal from your computer's main monitor. You can now proceed with setting the display preferences for your monitor on Windows or on Mac.

    EXPERT TIP

    Picture 12 of How to Set Up Dual Monitors

    Chiara Corsaro

    General Manager of macVolks, Inc. Chiara Corsaro is the General Manager and Apple Certified Mac & iOS Technician for macVolks, Inc., an Apple Authorized Service Provider located in the San Francisco Bay Area. macVolks, Inc. was founded in 1990, is accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) with an A+ rating, and is part of the Apple Consultants Network (ACN). Picture 13 of How to Set Up Dual Monitors

    Chiara Corsaro
    General Manager of macVolks, Inc.

    In most cases, this is all you'll need to do. Typically, you just have to plug in your second monitor and turn it on, and your dual screen will automatically show up. However, if you want to make any adjustments, you'll just go into your 'System Preference' under 'Display Settings' to change how it's set up.

    • Lesley Montoya Lesley Montoya

    Update 04 March 2020

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