How to connect a laptop to a monitor
⚡️Fast fix
- Identify your laptop and monitor ports—are they HDMI, USB-C, or DisplayPort?
- Plug in the connecting cable and select the correct input source.
- Use Windows Key + P to toggle display mode.
Laptops are great for portability and convenience, but they often don’t offer enough screen space to work efficiently. You may need to switch back and forth between essential programs and windows, slowing you down. Adding a monitor to your setup can be a game-changer.
With a monitor, you instantly increase your screen space. You can reference documents, emails, and different programs side by side—no toggling required. A monitor will help you be more productive and organized while you work on your laptop. It’s easier to set up than you might think, too.
Asurion Experts have helped millions of people like you set up, troubleshoot, and get more out of their devices. Follow our guide on how to connect a laptop to a monitor.
Check your laptop ports and cables
You connect your laptop to a monitor using a cable. The cable you need depends on the ports on your monitor and the available ports on your laptop.
North American standard cables for monitor connections include:
- HDMI: High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) cables are some of the most common for connecting laptops and monitors. They’re best suited to TVs and gaming consoles, though, so you can use them to connect a laptop to a TV.
- DisplayPort: DisplayPort cables offer higher bandwidth than HDMI, meaning they can transfer more data faster. They’re ideal for professional workstations and multi-monitor setups.
- USB-C/Thunderbolt: Most modern laptops have several USB-C ports, so a USB-C monitor connection is convenient. Thunderbolt is a subtype of USB-C that offers a faster connection than standard USB-C cables, so it's a strong option for monitor connections.
If you plug in your cable and the connection fails, you may want to try a different cable or port. You can also use an adapter if your laptop does not have a suitable port available to connect to your monitor.
Configure your display settings for two screens
Plug one end of the cable into the monitor and the other into your laptop (or the adapter plugged into your laptop). Make sure to connect the monitor to power, too. Use the provided power adapter to plug the monitor into a wall outlet.
Once you connect your laptop to the monitor with an HDMI, USB-C, or DisplayPort cable, turn on the monitor. Your computer should recognize the display. If your laptop is not detecting the monitor, try unplugging and replugging the cables.
Then, set the monitor up to extend or duplicate your laptop screen.
- Extend: The monitor becomes additional screen space you can drag windows onto, so you can look at multiple windows side by side.
- Duplicate: The monitor shows the exact same image as what’s on your laptop screen.
Generally, you’ll want to extend your screen onto the monitor while working. The duplicate option is best for presentations.
On Windows®:
- Go to Start> Settings> System.
- Choose Display.
- Use the dropdown menu to select Extend these displays or Duplicate these displays.
- Make sure the monitor is arranged in the right place digitally. For example, if your laptop is on the left and your monitor on the right, the digital display icons should be in the same order, right to left. Click Identify to see which display is which.
- Drag and drop the icon for a display to rearrange it.
When your displays are arranged properly, your cursor should flow smoothly from one display to the next. You can also adjust the resolution of each display in Settings to fit your preferences. Try the best monitor settings.
On Mac®:
- Go to Apple Menu >System Settings> Displays.
- Select Extend Display or Mirror for Built-in Display.
- Adjust the monitor’s brightness, color profile, and resolution.
If you want to use two external screens with a laptop, follow these same steps to set up both monitors at the same time. External monitors can be lifesavers when you’ve cracked your laptop screen or are dealing with computer monitor display issues. You’ll still be able to see what you need on your monitor while using the processing power of your connected laptop.
Troubleshoot if your monitor isn’t working
You may encounter some issues when using an external monitor with your laptop. If the monitor’s not working, try these troubleshooting steps:
- Make sure the monitor is on, the connecting cable is plugged in tightly, and you’re using the right input.
- Unplug the monitor from power, wait 30 seconds, then plug it back in.
- Restart your laptop.
- On a Windows laptop, update your graphics driver in Device Manager.
Fixing a monitor that’s not working is often as simple as unplugging and replugging the connecting cable.
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