It is one thing working on your laptop and it is another thing working on a laptop with connected shared screens via two external monitors. Not only does it enhance your productivity, it can further improve your overall performance and get work done without any kinds of delay. Especially for games, you can use the best laptop for minecraft under $300 and then connect it to two other monitors to further amplify your gaming experience.
But, the question that everyone has is how can one do it? Well, there are a few different ways that you can use to achieve this in no time at all. And, we have sorted them out for you.
What should you check before starting the process?
The majority of the Windows laptops that are available in the market now support dual monitor support. However, if your laptop isn’t the latest one, there are a few important things that you need to follow along.
The possibility of being able to connect two monitors to your laptop is dependent on multiple factors, including the operating system, the capacity of your graphics card and the involved drivers.
Following are some of the factors you need to be mindful of:
The Graphics Card
Before you considering connecting two monitors to your laptop, you need to check the graphics card. If the integrated graphics card doesn’t support multiple monitors, there is no point in going ahead with the process. The majority of the graphics card provide with at least two outlets but just cross-check for your sanity.
You should get this information on the official website of the graphics card brand that is integrated into your laptop. So, check there directly.
Check the ports in your laptop
Once you are sure that your graphics card supports the connectivity options, the next thing you need to do is check the availability of the port in your device. Four possible ports can help with the connectivity, including Display port, Digital Video Interface port, Video graphics array port, and HDMI port. The majority of these ports are available on the side or the back of the laptop, so make sure that you check thoroughly.
In case the ports that are available in your laptop don’t match with the ones in your desktop monitor, don’t worry. There are workaround ways that can help out with the issue.
One of the easiest ways to solve the issue is by using an adapter like the HDMI to DVI adapter or use a switch splitter to make your life a lot easier.
How to set up two Monitors for Connectivity?
Before you connect your two monitors to the laptop, you need to ensure that you set up the monitors too. This part is crucial because if you don’t set up the monitors first and work with the settings, you are going to face issues.
Here’s what you need to follow. Also, keep in mind that these procedures are similar for every type of laptop, including the best gaming ones or the best budget laptops for music production.
- Start by switching on your laptop and keeping it aside.
- Plug the cable of the first external monitor to the required port in your laptop. Ideally, you should start with the VGA cable port.
- Plug the cable of the second external monitor to the correct port in your laptop, ideally the HDMI port for better connection.
- On your laptop, right click on your desktop and click on Display settings or Screen resolution, depending on the Windows OS you are using.
- Once you click on it, you will come across three displays labelled as 1, 2 and 3. The display 1 is the display of your laptop, and 2 and 3 are that of the two external monitors.
- Start with DISPLAY 2 and then select the “Extend desktop to this display” under “Multiple Displays” and then click on Apply.
- Do the same with DISPLAY 3 as well.
- Once done, you can click on OK and then finalize the settings and you can use three monitors, one of the laptop and the other two of the external monitors.
What happens when I can’t find the PLUGGED in monitors?
Unless you are tech-savvy and know your way around with laptops, you are going to face issues handling this. So, you have followed the steps we mentioned above but you still can’t see the plugged monitors. What do you do then?
Sometimes, it happens that the external monitors aren’t detected by the laptop due to connectivity issues or defects in the monitor or cables. If the same is happening with you, don’t worry because the fix is simple.
The easiest way to clear up the issue is with a driver update. There are two ways to do it:
Manually
The easiest way to update the printer driver is by searching for the latest version that is compatible with the Windows OS that you are using. You can find it on your laptop manufacturer’s website. You can download the file from there and then install it to your device.
Automatically
If you don’t have the patience to update your drivers manually, there are third-party applications that can help you with that. However, we’d still recommend that you stick to the manual updates only.
What if I have an OLD generation laptop?
Just because you have an old laptop doesn’t mean that you can’t connect external monitors to it. This is one of the biggest misinformation that people have. While older laptops don’t come with HDMI or Thunderbolt ports, they do come with the savior known as Digital Splitter Box.
Most of the older laptops only have a single video-out option. So, in such cases, you need to reach out to a third-party tool like the digital splitter boxes. They convert the single video out option into multiple ones with docks on them, making your laptop viable for usage with multi-monitor connectivity.
Since they are ideally used for older laptops and aren’t easily found, you might have to end up paying more than you anticipate. However, every penny is worth spending, especially if you are desperate about finding the right connectivity options.
Connecting two monitors to a laptop is not as complicated as many people make it out to be. Just ensure that you keep a check on the processes we have mentioned and follow them religiously. Also, if you have an old laptop, we have shared a workaround way for that as well.
FAQs
Can I connect two monitors to my laptop?
To answer your question in short, you can connect two monitors to the laptop. Majority of the latest laptops come with a variety of ports that make the connectivity possible and without any complications.
Can you run two monitors on one HDMI port?
Not necessarily. But, if you want, you can use a switch splitter to convert the accessibility of one HDMI port into two so you can make the most use out of it without any complications.
Is it worth connecting two monitors to a laptop?
If you are into extensive gaming or creative work like designing and editing, connecting two monitors can make your work a lot easier.
What are the things you need to check when connecting two monitors to a laptop?
Before you try to hook two monitors to your laptop, you must check the graphics card of your laptop to see whether it supports multiple monitors. The good thing is most graphics cards provide at least two outlets. You will find this information on the official site of the graphics card. Other than that you must check the ports on your laptop. You will need at least four compatible ports to connect to two monitors.
Does using a second monitor affect the performance of your laptop?
In case, you didn’t know using a second screen affects the performance of your laptop. Connecting a second monitor means your laptop will have to render more graphics. This requires more computing power. How well your laptop should handle a second monitor depends on the monitor you are using.
Why do people connect two or more monitors to their laptops?
There could be so many reasons why you will want to connect two monitors to your laptop. This is mainly done by gamers to improve their gaming experience. However, you can also try it to boost productivity. But to connect multiple monitors, you must have a powerful laptop.
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