You can connect multiple monitors to your laptop to create an immersive workstation for video editing, graphic design, or simply multitasking. Most laptops have the ability to support two monitors at once. Some laptops, such as the Dell XPS 15, can even support three monitors. Heres how to connect multiple monitors to your laptop.
Check Your Laptops Video Outputs
Before you start buying adapters and cables, you need to check what type of video outputs your laptop has. The three most common types of video outputs are HDMI, DisplayPort, and DVI. Most laptops will have at least one of these outputs. To check, look for a label on the side or back of your laptop. The label will usually say HDMI, DisplayPort, or DVI.
If your laptop only has one video output, you can still connect multiple monitors. Youll just need to use a splitter cable that connects to the single output and splits the signal into multiple outputs. This is an inexpensive solution that will work with any laptop, but it will result in a lower quality image on each monitor.
Choose the Right Cables and Adapters
Once you know what type of video outputs your laptop has, you can choose the right cables and adapters. If your laptop has multiple video outputs, you can use any combination of cables and adapters that you want. For example, you could use an HDMI cable to connect one monitor and a DisplayPort cable to connect the other monitor.
If your laptop only has one video output, youll need to use a splitter cable. Make sure to get a splitter cable that has the same type of connector as your laptops video output. For example, if your laptop has an HDMI output, youll need an HDMI splitter cable.
Connect the Monitors to Your Laptop
Once you have the right cables and adapters, you can connect the monitors to your laptop. If your laptop has multiple video outputs, simply connect the cables to the appropriate outputs. If your laptop only has one video output, connect the splitter cable to the output and then connect the cables from the splitter to the monitors.
Once the monitors are connected, they should automatically be detected by your laptop. If theyre not, you may need to go into your laptops display settings and manually enable the monitors.
Adjust the Display Settings
Once the monitors are connected and detected, you can adjust the display settings to your liking. For example, you can change the resolution and refresh rate of each monitor. You can also change the orientation of the monitors, if you want. For example, you could have one monitor in landscape mode and the other in portrait mode.
You can also choose how the monitors are arranged. For example, you can have the monitors side-by-side or one on top of the other. To change the arrangement of the monitors, go to your laptops display settings. The exact location of the display settings will vary depending on your laptop, but you should be able to find it in the control panel or settings menu.
Enjoy Your Multiple Monitor Setup
Once youve connected the monitors and adjusted the display settings, youre ready to start using your multiple monitor setup. You can use the extra monitors for anything you want. For example, you could use one monitor for email and web browsing while using the other monitor for video editing or graphic design.
If you want to use your laptop as a desktop computer, you can connect a keyboard, mouse, and speakers to the laptop and use it as your primary computer. You can even connect an external hard drive to the laptop and use it as your main storage device.
If you have any questions about connecting multiple monitors to your laptop, feel free to leave a comment below and Ill try to help.