Q&A for How to Set Up Dual Monitors

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  • Question
    Why is my mouse not moving over to the second monitor?
    Community Answer
    It may be because your monitors are the "wrong" way around (i.e. your system thinks the monitor on the right is actually on the left). Try moving your mouse off the "wrong" side and see if it appears on your second monitor.
  • Question
    What do I do if I can see the pointer on my monitors, but I can't control it?
    Community Answer
    Make sure your mouse is plugged in properly. Sometimes just unplugging it for a few seconds and then plugging in back in gives it a reset.
  • Question
    Can I do this with a laptop?
    Community Answer
    Yes, if there's a DVI, VGA, HDMI/Thunderbolt. You might only be able to hook up one monitor because of your graphics card, though.
  • Question
    How do I make one monitor the primary and the other an extension?
    Community Answer
    Windows+P will bring up the projection settings on a PC. You can then select "extend desktop" and select which you want to be the primary monitor and which the secondary, and drag the monitor position to determine which is the left and which is the right.
  • Question
    What is the cheapest graphic card good for gaming using dual monitor?
    Community Answer
    The best price/performance gaming card is currently the nVidia GTX 1050 / 1050 TI, the 1050 TI has better performance, but costs a small amount extra, if you wish to pay a lower price, i would recommend something along the lines of a GTX 750 ti or a GTX 660
  • Question
    Can I work on separate documents on each monitor and cut and paste between them?
    Community Answer
    Yes, it works just as if it was on the same monitor. Just copy and paste like you would normally, and it will work.
  • Question
    My computer does not detect my second monitor even after connecting a VGA splitter. What's wrong?
    Community Answer
    A VGA splitter does not add an extra display -- it simply duplicates the existing cables. The best way to think of this is to use a river as an analogy: if you have one river, which splits into two, it is still the same water, as opposed to having two separate rivers to begin with.
  • Question
    Can I hook up dual monitors when I only have one VGA and one HDMI port on my desktop?
    Sachin Gaur
    Community Answer
    Yes - you can try a Y cable which will allow you to connect two monitors. In order for this to work properly, you must have good graphic memory on your PC (for smooth performance).
  • Question
    My second monitor is not being detected. I have dual HDMI out slots on my upgraded video card. What can I do?
    Community Answer
    Go to the notifications tab on the bottom right of your screen. Click 'project,' then click 'extend.'
  • Question
    How do I get my mouse to work on the second monitor?
    Community Answer
    You should be able to just drag your mouse to the left or right, depending on what side you placed your monitor, and it should just carry over.
  • Question
    How to move from the right monitor to left monitor?
    Community Answer
    If set up correctly, you can move the mouse off screen, and the mouse will reappear on the other monitor.
  • Question
    Can I have a dual monitor setup like this - I connect one monitor to my laptop via HDMI and then I connect my second monitor to the first monitor via VGA?
    Vinlez
    Community Answer
    No, you need it directly from the "source." I have never heard about that, so I don't think that is possible. either you need an adapter or you have 2 ports -- 1x VGA and 1x HDMI.
  • Question
    I have been using two monitors with different displays, but now they are both showing the same display, and clicking Detect does nothing. How can I fix this?
    Community Answer
    Check your "Project" settings; it seems that yours are currently set to "Duplicate," which I believe is the Windows standard. You always want to set them to "Extend."
  • Question
    If I only have one HDMI port for my laptop, how can I get a second monitor?
    Community Answer
    The easiest thing to do is to buy a docking station with the types of video connections you need for the monitors you have.
  • Question
    How do I access a separate screen on the second monitor?
    Community Answer
    Your mouse will travel across both monitors; access the screens the same way you would as though they were separate windows on the same screen.
  • Question
    How do I connect two monitors to a computer with one VGA cable on the graphics card and one on the computer?
    Community Answer
    You would need an adapter to split the cables.
  • Question
    Will the pointer be on the same place on both monitors when setting up dual monitors?
    Community Answer
    No, it's like you are using only one computer in two monitor. One pointer at a time.
  • Question
    I have my Mac laptop connected via HDMI cable to my flatscreen TV, but sound is still coming from the laptop. How do I get it to come from my flatscreen TV?
    Community Answer
    You most probably need to adjust the audio outpuet settings on your Mac; you can find these under the Sound menu in System Preferences. If that doesn't work, you might also need to change the settings on your TV. Finally, if neither of these things work, you may need a separate audio-out cable to connect your Mac to the TV's audio input.
  • Question
    The second screen shows no signal. What do I do?
    Community Answer
    Depending on your graphic card and your screens, there can be many reasons. This question cannot be answered without additional information.
  • Question
    I connected both monitors to my PC using a splitter, both display but in mirror mode. When I check display settings it does not detect the second monitor, even when I pressed 'Detect'.
    Arrogance
    Top Answerer
    That's because you're using a splitter. A splitter splits a single signal and send it to two monitors. Your computers has no way to know there's more than one monitor attached, and no way to send different signals to each monitor.
  • Question
    I have a gaming PC and a monitor already but I would like to use my laptop as a second monitor. How do I do this?
    RigaRiggleMan
    Community Answer
    You have 2 options: Use a USB capture card, like an Elgato Cam Link or a generic 20 dollar HDMI2USB connector. Your other option is an app called Spacedesk, which has a bit of lag, but allows for wireless connectivity to save ports.
  • Question
    Can I use two VGA cables to set up dual monitors?
    jeff deist
    Community Answer
    Yes, as long as you hook one up to the motherboard and the other to the graphics card.
  • Question
    How do I set up the icons on the second monitor?
    jeff deist
    Community Answer
    Right click and drag the ones you want on the second display and click Move Here.
  • Question
    What device do I need to use 2 monitors? How do I know if my graphics card will support 2 monitors?
    jeff deist
    Community Answer
    A graphics card with multiple output connections and maybe an adapter for the monitors. Hook up one using HDMI and the other using DVI. Or, if both monitors have HDMI and your graphics card has HDMI and your motherboard has HDMI as wel,l hook them up that way. In other words, one monitor to graphics card the second monitor to the computer's motherboard. Then go into system > Display click detect (click Extend My Desktop) and a 1 and a 2 will show up on each monitor. If the one you are sitting in front of (primary display) has a 2 on it, simply click on it in the dialog box and drag it to the other side (left) of the 1 display and they will switch. The screen will go black, then click yes to save changes.
  • Question
    I cannot see any "arrangements" option in Displays. Has the process changed in Catalina OS X 10.15.3?
    Community Answer
    The "Arrangement" option only appears when your 2nd monitor is connected and turned on.
  • Question
    There is no "Arrangement" tab in Displays in Catalina (macOSX 10.15). How do I accomplish a dual screen setup?
    Community Answer
    The "Arrangement" tab only appears after the second monitor is connected and powered up. That's how it works on Catalina 10.15.4.
  • Question
    What if both monitors display the same thing when setting up dual monitors?
    Community Answer
    It is because you either did not uncheck the "mirror" checkbox on Mac or if you are on Windows, select "extend" instead of "duplicate".
  • Question
    What do I do if the computer won't detect the second monitor?
    Community Answer
    Try to check whether or not your computer/laptop is compatible. If it is, then check if all ports or wires are fine; sometimes dust or breakage can render a port unusable. If these don't help, have a computer expert friend troubleshoot for you.
  • Question
    What would cause my second monitor to have a "no signal" message? I have tried switching the cables around.
    Community Answer
    1. Check if your computer and motherboard can support dual monitors. 2. Try switching the port connection as well (connect the second monitor to the port that was connected to the first one. 3. Try just connecting the second monitor as a standalone to see if it works. 4. Try the monitor on another system as well to see if it works. 5. It could be software as well; call your device manufacturer's tech support to update your computer's firmware and video drivers.
  • Question
    Should I be able to close a laptop with the other two screens still working when using dual monitors?
    Community Answer
    Yes, provided you change the lid action settings in Windows to prevent the laptop from going to sleep upon lid close.
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