How to Set Up Dual Monitors

Run two screens from one computer for more workspace — setup takes 15 minutes and works on both Windows and Mac.

In this guide (5 steps):

1.Check your computer's ports
2.Buy the right cable
3.Plug in the second monitor
4.Arrange the screens in settings
5.Pick a main display

Check your computer's ports

~15s

Look at the back or side of your computer for video ports: HDMI is a small trapezoid, DisplayPort is similar but with a notch, and USB-C is oval. Laptops often have HDMI or USB-C.

Buy the right cable

~15s

Buy a cable that matches both the computer and the monitor. If one has HDMI and the other has USB-C, buy an HDMI-to-USB-C cable or an adapter.

Plug in the second monitor

~15s

Plug the monitor into a wall outlet, then connect one end of the cable to the monitor and the other to the computer. Turn on the monitor.

Arrange the screens in settings

~15s

On Windows, right-click the desktop and pick Display Settings. On Mac, open System Settings, then Displays. Drag the two screen boxes to match how they sit on your desk — this tells the computer which side the mouse should cross over.

Pick a main display

~15s

In the same settings, scroll down to Multiple Displays. Tick the box for Make This My Main Display on the monitor you want as your primary — that is where the taskbar or dock and new apps will open.

You Did It!

You've completed: How to Set Up Dual Monitors

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Two monitors give you roughly twice the workspace. You can keep email open on one screen and a document on the other, or have a video call on one while taking notes on the other. Most people who try dual monitors never go back.

You need a second monitor and a cable to connect it (HDMI, DisplayPort, or USB-C). Setup on both Windows and Mac is automatic — plug it in and the second screen works immediately.

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