Connecting a second screen to your laptop
We all know how frustrating it can be when you’re trying to complete multiple computer based tasks; constantly clicking through countless, open tabs. Work could be made easier, however, by connecting a second screen to your laptop so that you have continuous, (and uninterrupted,) access to two separate screens, (a word document and your emails, for example, or, Excel and Powerpoint.)
How to connect a second screen to your laptop
The details
Before doing anything else, you will first need to establish which cable you require to connect a second screen to your laptop. As it happens, the majority of machines manufactured in recent years possess a HDMI, DisplayPort or mini Display Port. Older laptops however, may require a different type of cable, (for example, VGA.) If the connection points on your laptop, (and the monitor or screen you wish to connect to it,) match, then it should be plain sailing: all you need do is connect the two.
If the connection points on your laptop (and the monitor you wish to connect to it) don’t match, however, that shouldn't, automatically, be a cause for concern. Oftentimes, you should be able to purchase a converter to make the two types of cable compatible. If you’re not sure which type of converter you need to purchase, take a quick moment to research TV cable compatibility.
Once you have connected your laptop to your external monitor, (or second screen,) you’ll need to extend your desktop software. This is easily done on Windows 8/8.1. All you need to do is press the WIN-P keys. Pressing these keys will bring up a menu on the right-hand side of your screen, (where the start options usually appear on Windows 8/8.1,) with four screen viewing options. If you wish to play a presentation or film to an audience of work colleagues, select the Second screen only or Duplicate options. If you wish to use two screens, continuously, so as to balance your work, (and to avoid clicking continuously between multiple tabs,) you’ll need to select the Extend option.
If you’re still running Windows 7, you’ll need to do things slightly differently. Right click on your desktop screen, select the Screen resolution option, and then choose Extend these displays from the dropdown menu marked Multiple displays.
Just a quick note: if you don't see anything on the external monitor, (or the second screen,) once you have completed all of these steps, you may need to adjust or check the monitor's settings.
