How to Add a Second Monitor to Your PC or Laptop

Learn how to add a second monitor to your PC or Laptop. This tutorial will help you learn about the various types of video ports on old and new computers and monitors, plus learn about the adapters and cables necessary to hookup your devices.

You'll also learn about making changes to your computer's display settings so that your monitors are configured exactly the way you want them, including the actual physical arrangement of your monitors on your desk, video resolutions and more.

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[ttothed]

Such thorough instructions! To telework with less frustration, I really need to add my old monitor.
I feel very empowered to try now. I can’t thank you enough! 👏🏽👏🏽

[Beksangs]

Perfect! Thank you. Just what I needed to know to connect my laptop to my new monitor and have both displays different. Easy because I know very little about connecting electronics.

[RobertDGordon]

I need to increase my productivity by 2300%...

*Logs in to Netflix

[dmarie]

I've been limping along with a second monitor that kept cutting out to the point that I gave up and ended up using only my laptop and just endlessly toggling through my day. This is the first video I've found to fix my problems. I wanted to echo what others have commented on what an excellent job you did of explaining this! It really has changed my work day immensely. Many thanks:)

[yayfilms]

Your video was one of the most informative and easy-to-understand computer set-up videos I have ever watched. Thank you for including just the right amount of information at a steady and appropriate pace. I have never understood the multiple displays idea until now!! You have a new fan!

[rubatoxiss]

I love how he shows a closeup picture of everything he explains, so helpful!

[derekstill]

You Sir, are a great teacher, and a very well informed computer enthusiast. Best video I've found on setting up an extra monitor. Well done, and thank you.

[NerdSidekick]

Thanks everyone for the kind comments! I am so glad this video has helped so many people during this challenging time. Millions of people are suddenly working from home, and need some help to make their home computer better. This video can help!


Some people have asked what to do if they don't have two video ports on their computer. If you have a desktop, you can always upgrade your video card. If you have a laptop, that's probably not an option, so you may be able to use a USB port as your second video port. To do that, you'll need a USB video adapter that converts output from a USB port to a video signal you can they connect to a second monitor. Here's an affiliate link to many different adapters. You will need to know which version of USB (USB 2 or 3) port you will be plugging into and what type of monitor cable connection you are plugging in.

[Toppitmanilikeit]

This is a very helpful lesson Fred. Thank you for your very professional approach and interesting in-depth information. Keep up the good work!
Very worthwhile.
Best regards, Mike (in England).

[tbibzy]

I am so glad to have found this video! I always wondered how this was done and you explained it so easily. You are a very good teacher--thanks for sharing this!

[lauragonzalez]

Thanks a lot, I had to work from home after years not doing so and setting my monitor with your instructions just made my frustrating day, definitely the cherry on the top of the cake

[paulamclaughlin]

Within 4:04 seconds of this video, you helped me. You're fantastic. Thank you.

[ninawhaling]

For a beginner on using a 2nd monitor, this is the only video I found that helped me understand and able to set everything up. Very detailed and informative. Thank you, and more power to you Nerd Sidekick.

[fc_]

This is the only video that actually meets my needs and helps me, so I’m subbing

[robinbrooks]

Thank you!!! I've been WFH and only have a small laptop computer. Trying to toggle between 4 or 5 different pages was so bothersome on a tiny laptop screen! I had an old monitor that I wasn't using. I watched your video, bought the necessary hook up at Target and I'm up and running with two screens! Woohoo! My life just got so much easier!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

[md.showkatmahmud]

Thank you very much for explaining it so simply. I had my monitor lying around for 4 months since I bought a new laptop. Surely gonna give it a try now.

[tammydavid]

I love it he explained it very well and finally I get to screens!!

[muddymudskipr]

Just for clarification, one practical reason for offsetting your monitors like he's doing @ 12:24 is to make it easier to use the Snap feature (if you're using Windows). I'd love to hear other reasons if anyone has any. Thanks for submitting this great video

[Pgonzo]

I really appreciate this video. I had just put away a 22" monitor because I am now using a laptop. I added the monitor to my laptop and you are right. I have three programs open and performing extra work because of it. Thanks again for this video. I also had a HDMI to HDMI connection which made it super easy. Thanks for the great video.

[dragemort]

So So helpful. Adding labels under each port is Fantastic. I’m visual and finally I was able to understand and visualize VGA, HDMI ports etc. Bravo.