How to connect two or more monitors to one computer: from theory to practice. Two monitors - for active PC users How to connect a second monitor to a computer

Hello everyone, my dear friends. Today, more and more people prefer to work with two displays on one computer. I suppose you have often wondered how to connect two monitors to one computer. That is why I decided to raise this topic today. Go!

Connecting to an additional connector

Today, most modern video cards are equipped with at least two connectors for connecting monitors to them. It can be either VGA, DVI or HDMI. In this case, everything is banal and simple. You simply plug the cable into the second connector and enjoy.

Of course, you need to take into account that the connectors are different, and one video card can have both DVI and VGA, or DVI and HDMI. But if suddenly the second port does not suit you, the problem can be solved with the help of adapters. Fortunately, there are plenty of such things in computer stores.

Installing a second video card

This option is more tedious, complex and expensive. Not only do you have to buy a graphics adapter, but you also need to have a suitable video card. which has two connectors for them.

Therefore, this method will cost you a pretty penny, but in its defense I can say that it is the most productive, because each card works separately, which means that no characteristics are compromised and everything works to its fullest.

Using a splitter

This is a fairly simple and absolutely inexpensive method. Its essence lies in the fact that you use a splitter, which is essentially an adapter for two or more branches. Thus, a common cable goes into the computer, and the other ends are connected to the monitors.

Of course, this method is good, but there are pitfalls. Due to the fact that you are using two displays on one graphics card, all the power is "cut", resulting in lower performance for each of the screens.

Display settings

Well, now that we somehow managed to connect everything as it should, we need to configure the display on two displays. This information is relevant for Windows 7, 8 and 10.

You can do everything very simply. Press the key combination WIN+P(You can read more about the Win key), after which the projector connection panel will appear on the right side. Here you just need to select one of the parameters, which I will talk about below. Only instead of duplication there is a mode "Repetitive", but I think you already guessed it.

Windows 7/8

To do this, you will need to go to the screen options. You can do this as follows: Enter “” and select “Screen”, or right-click on the desktop and select "Screen resolution".

In any case, below the resolution settings you will see an item "Multiple Screens", where you can select any of the display modes:

• Duplication. In this mode, the image on both monitors is exactly the same, and everything that happens on one display will certainly happen on the other. There is only one BUT. It is best that the monitors have the same resolution, otherwise the display quality may be different, and if one of them is 4:3 and the other has a 16:9 format, then it is generally unpleasant for the eyes.
• Expand. In this case, your two displays will work as one. That is, if you move the mouse cursor outside one display, it will immediately come out on the second, continuing its movement. By the way, this mode is awesome for making presentations, so I recommend giving it a try.
• Display on the first or second monitor. Well, everything is simple here. You simply choose where the image will be shown and where it will not be used at all.

Windows 10

Everything is a little different here, but I assure you, there is nothing complicated here. You just need to right-click on the desktop and select "Display Options", after which a new window will open for you, where in the parameter "Multiple displays" you will again select one of the above display modes.

By the way, the same actions need to be performed if you use a projector instead of a second monitor. After all, in essence it performs this function.

Well, now I can complete my article today with a clear conscience. I hope you liked it and you won’t have any problems connecting two monitors to one computer. And if you still haven’t subscribed to my blog, I recommend that you do so. I look forward to seeing you again as a guest. Good luck to you. Bye bye!

Best regards, Dmitry Kostin

If you are an active user, then you have at least a couple of personal computers that have accumulated over time. And this whole home office takes up quite a lot of space. And if you consider that the second computer is becoming something like a home server, which practically does not require a monitor, then it’s time to think about upgrading the management of both PCs at the same time.

One monitor - two computers

Thanks to some technical solutions, it has become possible to connect two or more system units with one monitor. This method has long been practiced by system administrators and service center specialists, because with this connection you can not only save work space, but also optimize access to several PCs at once.

To organize the connection of one monitor and several system units, you will need a small device called “KVM Switch” or “KVM switch”.

KVMSwitch (abbreviation for English "KeyboardVideoMouse")– switch between several computers using one monitor and set (keyboard and mouse). The photo below shows a model from D-Link with USB ports.

There are several modifications of kvm equipment, the first with standard input connectors - PS/2, and the second, as in the photo above, with USB. In addition, the number of connected computers can vary (from 2 to 12).

System units are connected to the KVM Switch with a special cable, the branch of which is connected to VGA (video output) and input ports (INPUT). And the opposite side of the “switch” is connected to the monitor, computer mouse and keyboard (OUTPUT).

When assembling, you should pay attention to the correct combination of connecting cables, especially in the case of the PS/2 model. An incorrect connection may disrupt the performance of the KVM Switch or system unit!

After the connection work is completed, you can start starting the computers. The monitor will display the boot of the PC connected first (or the one that is turned on of the two). To switch between multiple workstations, use the button on the KVMSwitch case, or double-press the “ScrollLock” key on the keyboard and the key on the number pad corresponding to the connection order. You can change the keyboard shortcut at your discretion; for this purpose, the kit includes a disk with a utility.

P.S.

There are other possibilities to connect a pair of system units with one monitor, but the method described above sets them off with its practicality. Moreover, the solution is not the most expensive, especially in comparison with buying a second monitor.

If you regularly work with multiple computers or your personal PC is not powerful enough to complete your tasks, there are many options that can make your life easier. Today we will talk about how to connect one monitor to 2 computers and vice versa.

Mechanical method

Depending on your goals and desires, there are various techniques for working with multiple computers from one monitor. If you don't have enough performance from your PC or need a separate workstation to perform long calculations while you do other things, then to connect 2 computers to 1 monitor, you will need a special device - a KVM switch.

KVM (keyboard, video, mouse) is a special adapter designed just for this purpose. It allows you to divide one monitor into two computers without installing additional software and “dancing with a tambourine.”

This device in its simplest form has one input each for a mouse, monitor (projector) and keyboard. It also has two outputs for each of the above devices. That is, we simply place two system units next to each other, connect a KVM switch to them, like conventional equipment, and then connect one set of external devices to it. That's all.

Now you can press the power button on both system units. They will start up and start working at the same time. In order to switch between workstations, you just need to press a certain button on this device.

The only disadvantage of this method is the need to create a local network. Of course, there are switches that also play the role of routers, but they also cost an order of magnitude more.

TeamViewer

This method of connecting one monitor to 2 computers will appeal to those who have the two necessary stations separated by a large distance and no “switch” can reach them with wires. To do this you will need the TeamViewer program.

But there are several nuances to using it. This utility is free only for a personal computer. If you use it for organization, then it may start to be “harmful” and work for a maximum of five minutes with breaks of 2-3 minutes. In addition, it requires an Internet connection, and the faster the better.

In order to share 2 computers connected to one monitor, you will need to install TeamViewer on both stations and remember their IDs and passwords. After this, at your workplace you must launch the program and connect to the second system unit, even if a separate monitor is not connected to it.

Radmin

Another utility that can be classified as a “software method”. In essence, it is no different from the aforementioned TeamViewer and only expands the answer to the question of how to divide one monitor into two computers. If you are not going to buy a switch, then it will be easier for you to download both programs and check in practice which one is more convenient.

What features can be noted in the software method of how to connect one monitor to 2 computers?

1. Ready-made private network between two PCs. You can transfer data between them without unnecessary headaches, watch movies, and so on.
2. The range is not limited. The main thing is that both PCs have Internet.

The only downside is the headache of setting up autorun and scripts so that the program starts itself and is configured to receive it when the PC starts.

Vice versa

Now let's discuss not how to connect one monitor to 2 computers, but a completely opposite situation. Often, the workspace of one screen may not be enough to accommodate all the information. Folders, tables, files - everything is layered on top of each other and interferes with viewing.

In order to deal with this problem, you need to know how to create a computer with 2 monitors. However, this is not such a big problem. After all, it all depends on your requests.

1. If you want to connect a TV or projector to your PC, first check the connectors on the back of the computer. You may need either a regular HDMI cable or the exact same wire you use to connect your monitor.
2. To connect a second monitor, just make sure that the video card has an additional connector for connection, and the cable is of the right shape. In extreme cases, you will have to purchase an adapter, which costs about 200 rubles.

System

After you wire the second monitor to your computer, you must decide what type of connection you want to use. By default, the TV, projector or second monitor will display the same as the main screen of the personal computer. To change this “injustice”, you must press the key combination Win+P.

A window will appear in front of you with options for placing monitors. Select "Expand". Now your desktop will be divided into several screens at the same time. It should also be noted that if the picture does not appear, then the problem may lie in the settings of the second screen. For example, on a TV you will have to find and turn on the required input from which the signal from the computer is supplied.

DisplayFusion

In addition to system built-in utilities, you can use special programs for dividing and expanding the screen, such as DisplayFusion. This software allows you not only to manage windows and monitors, but also to customize each desktop on a separate screen to your liking: change screensavers and wallpapers. By the way, this cannot be done using the operating system. A nice bonus is that the program can automatically change your desktop wallpaper. You only need to specify the folder from which it will draw pictures.

Among the disadvantages, it is worth noting the cost of this program. The price, let's be honest, of a not so necessary utility is $25. At the current exchange rate of the ruble, this is almost 2000. Agree, it’s a lot for a program that duplicates the function of the operating system and changes the picture on the second screen.

Some users will prefer to use 2-3 monitors at the same time. The potential of a modern computer allows for at least 2 displays per video card. In this article I will tell you how to connect 2 monitors (TVs).

You will need:

Cable for video signal transmission (VGA, HDMI, DVI), adapters.

1 step. Let's determine which connector you have on your video card, then the monitor ports:

Typically, all initial computer video cards have 2 connectors. Various combinations of VGA+HDMI and VGA+DVI are also possible. More sophisticated video cards already have 3 connectors. Now let’s determine which ports are present in your monitor, usually there are 2 of them: VGA and DVI. More monitors (TVs) already have HDMI.

Step 2. Adapters

HDMI-DVI adapters

You will probably have to use different adapters to connect at the same time

2nd monitor. Let me explain that if two of your monitors have only VGA ports, and the video card has HDMI and VGA connectors, then you will need these: DVI-VGA and HDMI-DVI.

Step 3.

You're in luck, stores sell special DVI-HDMI cables. Their use will allow you not to connect 2 adapters to each other. Buy a set of adapters and cables.

Step 4 Connection

Connect 2-3 monitors to your video card in your computer and then. (I don’t recommend it for hot connect!) Wait until your operating system finishes loading. Most likely, the same video signal will be supplied to 2 monitors.

Step 5. Select the active display (monitor, TV,)

It is important to know! Not all video cards support 2-channel operating mode. This means that only 1 of the monitors can only be active.

Step 6 Software part of the connection

Now let's look at the situation when 2 monitors operate simultaneously. There are two ways to configure the video transmitted to TVs or displays.

Go to the control panel (this item is located in the “Start” menu), you need to go to the menu called “Appearance and Personalization”.

Step 7 Monitor duplication.

connecting 2 monitors

Now go to the Screen Resolution menu. By activating the “Duplicate displays” function. In this case, 2 monitors will immediately display an identical video image. This function is used when connecting a TV to watch very high definition movies.

Step 8. Expansion of monitors

Select the "Extend these screens" option from the menu. With this setup, connecting 2 monitors, you can synchronously use two screens independently of each other. For example: running a game or browsing websites on one of them, and watching a movie on the second display. Remember that this method will require very powerful resources and is not suitable for “weak” computers. For example: I have a video card connected to: monitor to VGA, TV to DVI, . I got 3 independent desktops, great!

Good luck connecting 2 monitors to your computer!

Don't be afraid of me and join me

Probably many of your friends have seen how two monitors work simultaneously from one system unit. But few people can set it up the same way as their friends. In this article we will learn how to connect two monitors at home. The most important thing to complete your task is support for this function (the presence of two DVI or VGA outputs) in your video card, and, of course, to have two monitors! I would like to note that a modern computer has an HDMI interface.

Many video cards have 2 outputs with a DVI connector:

Plus, there is a component video interface - VGA:

It is not uncommon for video adapters to combine these outputs with each other. This is a common occurrence. As we remember, our main goal is to connect our monitors to these outputs. Since the cords connecting the video card to the monitor are different, if something happens, you just buy special adapters from VGA to DVI and the little problem is solved.

We will configure it on Windows XP. So, we will assume that you have connected both monitors and now turn on the computer.
After successfully loading the OS, you need to Right-click on the desktop and go to the line Properties.

Now go to the tab Options.

After that, click on the button Definition, after which we will find out which monitor is considered the main one by default - if necessary, change it.

What does Basic mean? – In this case, all the main shortcuts (my computer, my documents, recycle bin) and the taskbar (start button, toolbar) will be shown on the monitor screen when Windows starts.
To select the main one, check the box Use this device as your main device selecting the desired monitor.

Having marked the second monitor, select the item Extend your desktop onto this monitor.

With this, the main goal has been achieved - two monitors work on one system unit. If you still have problems connecting, then write to our computer forum, specialists will definitely help you, the main thing is to correctly create a topic in the appropriate section.

To their computer, but they are afraid that it is too difficult to do. In fact, connecting two monitors to one computer is very simple and in this article we will talk about how this is done.

If you don't know how to connect two monitors to one computer, the first thing you need to do is make sure you have the right equipment. This is a discrete video card with two (or more) video outputs and, in fact, two monitors.

Almost any will do. The only limitation is two video outputs. It’s better if it is, in this case you can get the perfect picture on both the first and second monitors. But, if the video card is equipped with DVI and VGA video outputs, then it’s okay. This option is also suitable.

If you don't have a discrete graphics card at all (you use integrated graphics) or your graphics card only has one video output (unlikely), then you'll have to buy a new graphics card.

As for monitors, if you plan to use two monitors constantly, it is better that they are the same size and with the same resolution. In this case, using a system of two monitors will be as convenient as possible. But there are no strict restrictions on this; the computer will work perfectly with two completely different monitors.

So, in order to connect two monitors to one computer, you need to connect the video outputs on the video card to the video inputs on the monitor. If the video card has two DVI outputs, then for this you will need two DVI cables, if the video card has DVI and VGA outputs, then accordingly you will need one DVI and one VGA cable.

Connecting two monitors to one computer is a very simple process and should not pose any difficulties. All you need to do is connect the 2 video outputs to two monitors with a cable.

After connecting the monitors and turning on the computer (if it was turned off), you should see your desktop, both on the first and on. Since the screen mirroring mode is used by default, both monitors will have the same picture.

If you need the monitors to complement each other and you can move windows between two monitors, then you need to open the context menu on the desktop (right-click) and select “Screen Resolution”.

After this, a window will open in front of you in which you can adjust the image on the monitors connected to the computer. In order for you to be able to use the second monitor as additional space, you need to change the monitor mode from “Duplicate these screens” to “Extend these screens”.

Select the “Extend these screens” mode and click on the “Apply” button. After this, the monitor connected to the second video output will begin to work as an additional one. You can now move windows and programs between monitors. This is done with a simple mouse movement.

In addition, you can change other settings. For example, by default the first monitor is located to the left of the second. If necessary, you can change the location of the screens relative to each other. To do this, two monitors are shown at the top of the settings window. You can move them with the mouse, as is convenient for you.

After making changes to the monitor settings, do not forget to click on the “Apply” button.

Although the graphical user interface has appeared relatively recently, multiple monitors have been connected to one computer for decades. Weak by modern standards, computers occupying entire rooms were used to solve industrial and scientific problems. As a rule, the results of their work - graphs, tables, modeling data - were displayed on more than one screen. Today, connecting a second monitor to a computer or laptop is a task for a preschooler. Operating systems themselves detect and configure displays - you just need not to confuse the connectors and select the optimal mode for displaying information.

Connect two monitors to your computer - why?

Practical applications of connecting two monitors and using dual-screen computer systems are endless. The first and obvious one is to improve user efficiency. A desktop stretched across two displays allows you to keep twice as many windows open at the same time. This is useful for many office workers. And for representatives of creative professions - artists, video editors, composers who write music in virtual synthesizers - it is absolutely necessary. Engineering drawings can be viewed in greater detail and on a larger scale, which is valuable when you need to study the future mechanism as a whole. The execution of many tasks related to processing statistics is significantly accelerated - you do not need to switch applications ten times to compare data from three tables and five graphs. All of them can easily fit into a double “working area”.

The second most obvious - and, perhaps, the first most popular way to connect two monitors on one computer - is games. Multiplayer shooters feel completely different when two characters are in the same location at the same time. And we don’t even have to talk about how much better 3D graphics look on a wide “plasma” than on a small laptop screen.

At least two displays are used by professional programmers. The code and the result of its execution; a documentation file and a disassembled section causing a crash - painstaking work can be annoying and tiring if you need to constantly “blink” windows.

In production and training, it is much easier to install a second monitor that mirrors the main one than to have two people in front of one screen. A visitor at the bank and a schoolchild, to whom the teacher shows the necessary paragraphs from an electronic textbook, can sit comfortably on their side of the table if there are two monitors connected to one computer.

And finally, organizing multi-user work across an office or home is a logical solution if you have a sufficiently powerful PC with a modern multiprocessor graphics system. Two displays using different video streams will forever end the debate “who needs a computer more now?”

How to connect two monitors - step by step

Connecting a second monitor to a computer consists of two stages: “hardware” and “software”. The hardware stage is that there is a free video connector on the computer or laptop case and an adapter is selected, if necessary. Since video connectors are different, an adapter is needed quite often.

Most of the software phase is automated. When connected correctly, the computer and the second monitor “find” each other themselves. In some cases, you need to “hint” at the need for searches - this is done using standard OS tools, through the desktop properties window or the control panel.

To connect 2 monitors to a computer or laptop, you need two connectors.

Most modern video cards installed in desktop PCs have two or more connectors. If this is not the case, there are three ways to solve the problem:

• replacing the video card with one with multiple outputs;
• installing a second video card if there is a free slot on the motherboard;
• using a splitter (splitter).

The last method is the easiest and most budget-friendly, but it can only be used with fast modern interfaces. Since any branching “takes” part of the bandwidth for itself, connecting two monitors to one weak connector will lead to a drop in the permissible resolution and scan frequency. This will be noticeable, for example, when watching HD videos.

As for laptops, replacing the video card in them in many cases is too expensive, and installing a second card is completely impossible. If you plan to use a laptop with an external monitor, it is better to immediately choose a model with one or more fast video outputs. Moreover, the vast majority of such laptops are now - even ultra-thin ultrabooks are equipped with some kind of interface with a wide data transfer channel.

Cable educational program

To connect a monitor to a computer, they must have compatible input and output connectors, respectively. To connect two monitors, of course, you need a double set of compatible inputs/outputs. At the moment, the following interfaces are more or less widespread:

• VGA is an analog connector that appeared back in 1987. Although this standard is obsolete, it can still be found. If you need to connect an old computer with a VGA output to a modern display or vice versa, adapters are used;
• DVI is the most common interface; it supports both analog and digital signals (depending on the connector subtype);
• HDMI is an interface for transmitting a high-definition digital signal. Initially used to connect plasma panels, it is now found everywhere, displacing both VGA and DVI;
• DisplayPort and mini DisplayPort are different formats of the same interface. It has a number of technological advantages over DVI and HDMI - in particular, the cable bandwidth allows you to connect multiple displays with a higher resolution than when using HDMI;
• Thunderbolt is a logical development of DisplayPort. Has record throughput – up to 10 Gb/s; this allows you to connect up to seven displays simultaneously without loss of quality or additional amplifiers. Fully compatible with mini DisplayPort connector. It is quite poorly distributed due to the fact that it was developed only a few years ago and at first did not have adapters that ensure compatibility with other standards;
• USB, a ubiquitous and invincible interface, is not very well suited for real-time video transmission, and monitors with a built-in USB controller are relatively rare. But such displays completely eliminate the problem of connector compatibility - they can even be connected to a netbook, if, of course, its processor can withstand such a load.

In most cases, it is physically impossible to connect an unsuitable cable - the plugs have different sizes and number of contacts. If the monitor and computer do not have compatible connectors, adapters are used. I have already talked in more detail about the hardware features of the connection in the article about. If both monitors and the computer have identical connectors, then it is very convenient to connect a special tee-splitter to the computer, and to it - the cables from the two monitors.

Connecting a second monitor to a laptop is also not difficult if the laptop is equipped with an additional VGA output, or some other one through which you can transmit a video image. In this case, you won’t even need any splitters, since it already has one monitor by default.

Another convenient way is to connect a monitor or TV via a wifi extension cable - this will eliminate the need for laying additional wires.

Setting up the connection of two monitors on one computer

In most cases, immediately after connecting the cable, the operating system - either Windows or iOS - detects the second monitor and switches the image to it. In the most popular Windows 7, when you connect a display to a laptop, the same picture is displayed on both screens. When connected to a desktop computer, the desktop is “stretched” by default.

However, sometimes the automatic search does not start for some reason - the new monitor continues to light up with the words “No Signal”. The most common reason for this is simply poor contact. Sometimes the problem is in the OS - the computer identifies the new device, but the data display simply does not turn on. The algorithm for further actions is similar to the process of setting up the interaction of two displays.

In Windows XP, this setting occurs through the “Options” tab of the “Properties” window, which can be opened by right-clicking on an area of ​​the desktop free from shortcuts.

In Windows 7, you can get to it by going to Start > Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Display > Connect to an external display. In Win 8, instead of “Connect to an external display” there is a “Second Screen” module. If your computer has a discrete video card, for example, from nVidia or ATI, then their utilities also allow you to configure an additional monitor.

In all cases, the user can select a display mode - only on one of the monitors, on both in “mirror” mode (that is, the second display will exactly copy the contents of the first), on both in the desktop stretch mode - the screen space will seem to be divided into two parts . The second drop-down list, resolution, is useful if you are using two monitors of different formats. You should use the resolution of the worst of them, otherwise part of the image will appear outside the display with smaller dimensions. Another parameter that is used relatively rarely is the choice of image orientation, landscape or portrait. Windows 8 has two more orientations - inverted landscape and portrait. They are needed for comfortable work with displays that rotate freely around all three axes.

Two monitors - two desktops

In corporate networks, it is not uncommon for many employees to work on the computing power of one server. At the same time, of course, they have their own desktops that do not intersect in any way. Is it possible to implement such work on a home scale?

By and large, no. With only utilities, a splitter and an OS, a multi-screen working system cannot be organized. Because it requires several independent video streams, and this is not possible with every graphics card.

True, if two video cards are hidden under the case at once, it is still possible to arrange independent desktops on separate monitors. It is enough to connect displays to the connectors of different boards and configure the drivers for multi-screen mode. Powerful discrete video cards that have more than one of their own computing cores also allow two screens to work independently of each other - this mode is configured through the manufacturers' utilities.

However, recently a special device has appeared on the market with which you can organize a more interesting configuration of screens and desktops - Matrox DualHead2Go.

Matrox claims that with this adapter, owners of home computers and laptops will be able to connect two displays to the simplest video card they already have with an analog output. If we are talking about a laptop, then it will be possible to attach two displays to it at once, and the main screen of the laptop will show one desktop, and 2 monitors will show another). All that is required is that your video card is modern enough and compatible with DualHead2Go.

The operation of this adapter is simple - it splits the video signal into 2, and a special application, which comes with it on a disk and is installed on the laptop, ensures that the picture is distributed correctly in accordance with the specified settings.

Tablet as a second monitor

What modern technology has come to! Today you can even use a tablet computer as a second monitor. Of course, you will have to use special programs for this.

For example, . It consists of two parts - one program is installed on a computer, the other on a tablet running only Android OS in the first case, or Android and iOS in the second.

First, both devices must be on the same local network. When installed on a computer, it will add an additional virtual monitor to the system. And when installing the second utility on the tablet, in the settings you need to specify the computer’s IP (for this it should preferably have a static address within the local network) and the port to which it will connect. The program allows you to set the same settings as Windows for a real second monitor - duplicate the content of the main one or stretch the desktop. There is also an option for portrait or landscape orientation.

Connect two monitors to a computer Sometimes it is very convenient if several programs are used during the work process. On the first screen you can maintain the main work, and on the additional one open documentation. For fans of on-line communication, a separate monitor can be used for appropriate programs or a browser window with social networks. Many people may like the idea of ​​simultaneously connecting one device for work and another (for example, a TV) for background playback of cartoons for children. If you are “on fire” with such an idea, then please click on the cat where we will tell you about how to connect two monitors to one computer.

The first step is to make sure that the computer is equipped multiple video outputs. Even when using the graphics card built into the processor or motherboard, there are usually several outputs for connecting a monitor and there shouldn't be any problems. Modern laptops similarly have, in addition to their “native” screen, a pair of video outputs to an external screen/projector. In addition to the fact that there is a free connector, pay attention to its type: VGA (D-Sub), DVI, HDMI, DisplayPort,… Ubiquitous Windows makes us talk about setting up picture output to an additional device specifically under this operating system. So let's get started...

How to connect a second monitor? In reality, everything is very simple: you need connect the free output of the video card and the second monitor with a cable. Don’t forget to connect the latter to the power supply or directly to a 220 volt network with a built-in power supply. Please also note that if the PC has a built-in video card and a discrete graphics accelerator installed, the built-in video outputs are usually disabled. Therefore, you need to connect both monitors to an “external” video card (if available). After this, a reboot is sometimes required for Windows to “see” and initialize correctly second monitor, but in modern operating systems there is usually no such need.

The next step is to activate image output on an additional screen and choose from the proposed list what and where to display. To do this, right-click on the desktop and select “Screen Resolution” in the pop-up window. If previously you could configure one device in this window, now there are . Settings " Permission" And " Screen orientation" were present before, but now they have added the items " Multiple screens" And " Make it the main monitor».

The screen that is selected as the main screen always contains the taskbar. Drop-down list " Multiple screens » allows you to define the contents of an additional device: desktop extension, duplicate image, or output to only one of the two connected monitors. Quick access to this setting is opened by pressing the key combination " Win+P" The menu opened in this way contains the following items: “Computer only”, “Duplicate”, “Extend” and “Projector only” (for Windows 7 and later). By projector we mean second monitor.

The use of multiple monitors has long been adopted by computer users, and each of them simply needs to know how to set up a second monitor in Windows 7 or another OS. A person on one of the monitors conducts the main activity, and uses the second for interactivity or multimedia.

Sometimes a laptop or other gadget with a small screen is connected to see the image in good resolution.

Those who have never connected a second monitor may think that this procedure is very complicated and time-consuming, but in fact everything can be done in a couple of steps, which depend on the connection method.

Setting up a second monitor

If you are the owner of the seventh operating system, then you are in luck. Many issues associated with setting up a second monitor have been resolved in this version. So, in your case, you can configure the second Windows 7 monitor as follows:

• First you need to connect the second screen to the video card connector;
• then type the combination “WIN+P” on the keyboard;
• Next you will see a panel on which you will be asked to select the appropriate option.

That's it, the monitor is ready to use!

Let's consider another option for connecting a second monitor

Connecting an external device is often necessary due to the very small monitor of the device. When developing software for mobile devices, the manufacturer takes into account the possibility of connecting a second screen to a laptop, so first use the tools offered by the pre-installed system.

So, you need to find the blue square icon, it is located on the bottom panel. To connect a second Windows 7 monitor, right-click on the icon to be able to configure the graphics adapter. To open the menu, click on an empty area of ​​the desktop.

Click the “Output to” item, then select the appropriate option. If you want two monitors to show the same picture, give preference to the “Display Clone” mode in the settings.

Other methods

Methods that are universal for all versions of Windows are also used. First, open the video card settings panel on your computer, then open the display settings through the screen panel and select the desired image display method. All! Job completed!

As many people have experienced, using two monitors can be useful for different purposes. At work and at home, communicating online, watching movies and much more becomes much more convenient.