If you're looking to set up multiple/external monitors on your laptop or desktop, Micro Center has you covered!
Please check out our other helpful articles on this subject:
- Setting up an external monitor for a Laptop
- Setting up external monitors using a Docking Station
- Using an external monitor with a closed Laptop lid
- Setting up Dual Monitors for Desktops - With a Video Card
Your desktop may or may not have a video card inside it. If your desktop computer does have a video card, then you need to use the ports of the video card to receive any video signal.
You can usually tell if there is a video card in your desktop if you see the video ports are horizontal and are usually found away from the USB Ports on the back of the computer. You may need to add a video card if your desktop computer doesn’t have enough visual ports or non-compatible ones
Locating Video Ports without a Video Card on your Desktop:
1. Find the Video Ports you have on the back of your Desktop, they should be close to where the USB ports are on the back. In the example picture, this desktop has a DVI, a VGA and an HDMI port:
If you do not know which ports your desktop computer has, please check this chart:
If you see additional ports in the middle on the back of the computer, please check our guide for connecting to a desktop with a video card.
2. Connect the Video Ports on the back of your computer to your monitors, then turn on the system and sign in.
NOTE: When at the sign in screen, only one monitor will display. Once signed in to your PC, you should get your multiple monitors but they may not be set up correctly just yet.
Now, we need to set up some settings for the multiple monitors. Right click anywhere on your desktop and select Display settings from the list of options on the right-click menu.
3. In case your monitors are mirroring each other and not one combined workplace/separate displays, you will want to scroll down to the setting for "Multiple displays" and select Extend these displays from the drop-down window.
4. You should now be in your Display Settings on your PC and should be seeing rectangles equal to the amount of monitors you have connected.
Next, you want to click Identify and it should show numbers (1, 2, 3...etc.) on your monitors, using these numbers drag the monitors with the corresponding number into the formation you have your monitors.
Then click on Apply when they are in the proper position. In my example, my monitor that has the number 1 is on my right side, but your system may vary from our example settings.
5. One of your multiple monitors will be the “Main Display” where programs will open up on by default and where most of your programs' shortcuts will be placed. Select the monitor you want as your main, it should Highlight Blue. Then scroll down to "Multiple Displays" and select Make this my main display.
That's it, now you should have additional displays up and running. Keep in mind you can drag/arrange the monitors here in Display Settings at any time in case it is not set up to your liking.