How to Run Two Monitors on a PC?

Are you looking for a second monitor to increase productivity? Want to play games with greater immersion? Multiple monitors may be beneficial. There are a few things to consider before diving into a multiscreen world. Dual screens are great for multitasking and are simple to set up.

To run two monitors on a PC, you need two HDMI Cables, an operating system and a PC/Macbook with two ports. Here are ways to make implementing this easier

Check out our step-by-step instructions for setting up dual monitors on a computer.

Setting up Dual Monitors:

Verify the connections on your computer:

An appropriate output on your PC is necessary for any twin monitor setup. It implies that your device should have two HDMI outputs at the very least or one HDMI output in addition to a DisplayPort.

The number of connections on a PC with a specialized graphics processing unit (GPU) can reach four. For instance, the GeForce RTX 3070 features three DisplayPort outputs with one HDMI output. The motherboard is where your display connectors are located in computers without a graphics processing unit (GPU). You should only utilize the dedicated GPU's outputs, not the motherboard's, if your computer has one, to connect monitors.

Make sure there are two accessible ports on the PC for external screens, regardless of the kind.

Running DisplayPort from the PC to HDMI on the second monitor is a frequent need. A DisplayPort to HDMI adaptor cable is necessary for this. The 6-foot C2G cable is ideal for most installations if you don't already have one. This cable is unidirectional, which is something to keep in mind. Only data travels from a GPU-connected DisplayPort end to an HDMI input on display.

If the second output from the computer doesn't correspond to any inputs on the second display, don't panic. There is often a wire for everything!

Find the display settings.

Once your twin monitors are linked in a dual monitor arrangement, you should configure them. Given that Windows performs an excellent job of managing the setup automatically, this may be as simple or complex as you'd like. Any additional screens connected become secondary displays, and the first screen it recognizes becomes the primary monitor. It will establish the resolution and set the Scale and Layout to 100% by default.

Use the following path to get Windows' Display settings: Start > Settings > System > Display

Re-adjust your displays:

The "Rearrange your displays" window is located at the very top. A big "1" and "2" stand in for your twin displays. To arrange the monitors in the appropriate configuration, click and drag them into this window. You may place them as you want—side by side, atop one another, etc. The way you scroll between them depends on this.

Click the Identify button if you're not sure which display is which. On each one, a box will appear with the numbers "1" and "2" inside it.

You may also make specific adjustments by choosing a monitor in the Rearrange pane. Blue will be highlighted to show you the option you have chosen. You may now experiment with features like Windows' Night Light, enable or disable high dynamic range (HDR), alter the resolution, and more.

You may choose which screen is the main display by clicking the button at the bottom.

Make necessary changes to "Multiple displays":

You can select a setting under Multiple Displays towards the bottom of the Display window. The default choice, "extend these displays," is what you want for most uses. As a result, you can utilize the second monitor as an addition to the first.

The monitor's image is mirrored onto the secondary one by selecting "Duplicate these displays." Your choice of "Show only on 1" or "Show only on 2" will disable the other display.

Make use of the larger screen:

Configuring a multi-monitor configuration in Windows is quick and easy. Choosing the wires for the connections is the most challenging task. After this, you may relax and soak in your enhanced views.

Start by moving several programs to the new monitor to clean your primary screen. You'll soon wonder how you ever survived with only one display!

How does a Computer Recognize a Second Monitor?

It ought to be a plug-and-play process, depending on the PC you're using. As soon as you connect the HDMI/Displayport to your computer, a second display ought immediately to appear. If not, you should troubleshoot by using the procedures below.

For PC:

For a PC, first, check that the cable is inserted into the slot designated for your graphics card and not your CPU.

• Right-click on your desktop in Windows
• Select "Display Settings."
• Verify that your second monitor appears as a display.
• Scroll down to Multiple Displays, select to duplicate or expand screen.
• Ensure Windows is updated and the graphics card has the most recent firmware if it's still not showing up.

For Mac:

Follow the step-by-step instruction from Apple to attach a second monitor to a Macbook.

• Click the Apple icon
• System Preferences
• Displays
• Click Arrangement.
• To align displays with their physical orientation, click and drag them into the desired location.
• Click the Detect Displays button (use the Option key if you can't see it) to find your new monitor.
• Choose Extend Display (there is a Mirror Display option, too). You may alter the resolution by selecting the desired scaled option.

What Screen Size Should You Purchase?

Although you'll probably want some consistency, you may mix and match the screens you have at your workplace. Although 27-inch screens are becoming more and more frequent, 24-inch screens are still the most popular. It will be symmetrical to have screens of the same size. Just be mindful of resolution while making a purchase. It can appear too blurry on a 27-inch display with a 1080p screen.

Will a splitter for HDMI work with two monitors?

The purpose of an HDMI splitter is to duplicate one output image. For instance, if you use an HDMI splitter to connect a desktop computer to two displays, the same image would appear twice. The display won't be able to be extended. With an HDMI converter, you may extend your desktop with two additional displays to create a twin monitor arrangement.