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How to maximize your desktop space by using your MacBook as a second monitor
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The rivalry between MacBooks and PCs may forever rage on, but that doesn't mean the two computers can't still work together! Using your MacBook as a second display for your PC is a great way to mirror or extend your desktop space. This wikiHow article will teach you the easiest ways to use a MacBook as a second monitor for your Windows PC.
What to Know About Using Your MacBook as a PC Monitor
- The simplest option is to use a free app like spacedesk to transmit your PC’s screen into a browser window on your MacBook.
- For better results, you may need to use additional hardware, such as a video capture card, a virtual display adapter, or a specialized dongle (such as Luna Display).
- You can also use paid third-party apps to easily cast from your PC to your Mac.
Steps
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Install the spacedesk driver on your PC. Spacedesk is a screen mirroring or casting app that you can use to extend or mirror your PC’s screen to almost any device. To use it with a MacBook, you’ll need to install the main spacedesk app on your PC and use the browser-based HTML5 viewer on your Mac. Download the driver for Windows 11, 10, or 8.1 here . Open the installation file and follow the prompts.
- Before installing the driver on your PC, check out the system requirements .
- Spacedesk’s basic non-commercial private license is free.
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Verify your setup and installation. Once you install spacedesk, you’ll need to take a few more steps to make sure it’s properly set up and ready to go: [1] X Research source
- Go to Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features and make sure the spacedesk driver is listed.
- Check if you can see the spacedesk System Tray icon at the bottom right side of the screen. If so, click on it to open the console. Go to the Control tab and make sure the radio button next to ON is selected.
- Open your PC’s Control Panel and navigate to Windows Firewall > Allow an app through Windows Firewall > Change settings . Select Allow another app , then browse for spacedeskService.exe . Check the box next to its name, as well as the boxes next to Private and Public . Click OK .
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Make sure your PC and Mac are connected to the same network. For spacedesk to work properly, both devices need to be on the same local network (such as a Wi-Fi network or a wired Ethernet network). Before you proceed, check your network settings and connections on both machines.
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Navigate to http://viewer.spacedesk.net/ on your Mac. There’s no spacedesk viewer app for macOS, but you can use the browser-based viewer on any device. To get started, visit the viewer website in any browser.
- Your browser will need to be up to date for this to work. Check for and install any available updates .
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Select your PC and click Connect . If spacedesk is set up correctly, it should automatically detect your PC. Select your PC from the list of available devices and click Connect .
- If you’re not sure which device is the right one, check your PC’s IP address . Select the device with the matching address in the viewer.
- Once you connect, the viewer should enter full screen mode and display your PC’s screen on your MacBook.
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Adjust your settings from your PC’s Display Control Panel. On your PC, right-click the Desktop and click Display settings in the context menu. This will open your Display Control Panel. From there, you can choose whether to: [2] X Research source
- Duplicate (mirror) or extend your PC’s display
- Select which monitor is your primary display
- Make adjustments to things like the orientation of the display, the size of text and apps on the screen, your screen resolution , and so on.
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Download and install Deskreen on your PC. Deskreen is an open-source application that allows you to turn any computer into a second screen via Wi-Fi. You can download Deskreen from https://deskreen.com .
- While Deskreen is a free app, the disadvantage is that you need to buy additional hardware to get the best results.
- You only need to install Deskreen on your PC, as your MacBook can project your PC's screen via an IP address that Deskreen will give you.
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Find a virtual display adapter. Software like Deskreen relies on the use of a small dongle called a virtual display adapter , usually with an HDMI connector. [3] X Research source These adapters make your computer think an external display is connected. They tend to be very affordable and will make your second-screen experience much smoother.
- You may sometimes see virtual display adapters referred to as display dummy plugs.
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Plug the virtual display adapter into your PC's HDMI port. This adapter will come in handy later when we want to trick Deskreen into thinking an external display is connected.
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Open Deskreen on your PC. The homepage for Deskreen will show you a QR code as well as a customized IP address. If you are trying to extend to an iPad or iPhone, the QR code may come in handy. You’ll need the IP address to connect to a MacBook. [4] X Research source
- Before continuing any further, ensure your MacBook and PC are on the same Wi-Fi network.
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Type the IP address into your Mac's browser. Enter the address exactly as you see it on Deskreen, then click Enter .
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Click Allow on Deskreen from your PC. If you entered the IP address correctly, Deskreen should receive notification from your MacBook that it is trying to connect. Allow your MacBook to connect and choose to share your Entire Screen .
- If you only need to project a single application to your second monitor, you can do so at this time and get to work with your dual monitors!
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Choose your second screen from Deskreen's list of options. Once you cast your entire screen, Deskreen should show you two screens: your current desktop as it appears to you, and a blank version of it. This blank version is the extension enabled by your virtual display adapter. Click on it to project it onto your MacBook. You will now see your PC’s screen in the browser window on your Mac.
- When you’ve chosen the view you want, click Confirm in the Deskreen app window.
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Change your PC's projection settings to Extend . With the virtual display adapter plugged in, hold down the Windows and P keys simultaneously, then choose Extend from the options that appear in the ensuing menu. [5] X Trustworthy Source Microsoft Support Technical support and product information from Microsoft. Go to source
- Extending your display allows you to see your desktop across multiple screens, as opposed to mirroring it perfectly on another device. Luckily, with Deskreen enabled, we have a second screen to extend!
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Start working with your dual set of monitors. Now, your MacBook should be functioning as a second monitor for your PC. To test it, drag any window to the edge of the page until it disappears. It should then appear on your second screen (i.e., your MacBook).
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Purchase a USB video capture card. This is a device that you can plug into your MacBook, allowing it to act like a camera that can capture display information from another computer. This option is both effective and fairly inexpensive.
- You can get a decent video capture card for around $20 USD.
- Depending on what kind of USB ports your MacBook has, you may need to buy a USB-C adapter (or purchase a video capture card that comes with one).
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Download OBS on your MacBook. OBS is an open-source broadcasting app that you can use to stream data from your PC to your Mac via the video capture card. Download it from the OBS website , open the installation file, and follow the prompts to install it on your Mac. You’ll need macOS 11 or later.
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Plug the video capture card into your MacBook. Plug it directly into one of your USB ports or use an adapter, depending on what kind of USB ports your MacBook has.
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Connect your PC to the video capture card with an HDMI cable. Locate the video output port on your PC and plug an HDMI cable into it. Plug the other end into the HDMI port on your video capture card.
- If your PC doesn’t have an HDMI port, you may need to use a USB-C or Mini DisplayPort adapter.
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Launch OBS on your MacBook. You’ll be using it to view the stream from your PC.
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Choose Video Capture Device as your input source. Locate the Sources Dock at the bottom of the main app window, then click + . From the list of options, choose Video Capture Device . [6] X Research source
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Select your device from the dropdown menu. A new window should open, prompting you to choose a video capture device. Click the dropdown menu to select it. Your device may have a name like “USB Video.”
- You can also select a custom resolution or choose Use Preset . When you’re done, click OK .
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Switch OBS to full screen mode. Right-click the preview window and select Full screen projector (preview) . In the sub-menu, choose Built in Retina Display . You should now see your PC’s screen on your MacBook!
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Download an app that enables Airplay on your PC. Airplay is a feature that makes it incredibly easy to cast your screen to and from various Apple devices. Although Windows PCs don’t come with built-in Airplay capabilities, there are several third-party apps that can make your PC into an Airplay sender or receiver. While you generally have to pay for these apps, some of them offer free trials.
- Some popular options include AirParrot and AirMyPC.
- Check the documentation that comes with the app to make sure it allows you to cast from your PC to an Airplay device.
- Follow the installation instructions for your chosen app.
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Enable your Mac as an Airplay receiver. You’ll need to have macOS 12 or later installed on your MacBook for this to work. [7] X Research source
- Go to Apple menu > System Settings and select General from the left menu pane.
- Click AirDrop & Handoff in the main menu on the right.
- Toggle on Airplay Receiver .
- Click the menu next to Allow Airplay for and select Anyone on the Same Network .
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Make sure your MacBook and PC are on the same network. Airplay uses Wi-Fi to connect two devices together, so you’ll need to ensure that both your computers are logged into the same network.
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Open the Airplay app on your PC. With most of these apps, you’ll find the app icon in the System Tray at the bottom right corner of your screen, near the clock. Click the icon to open the app menu.
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Select your MacBook from the list of available receivers. Your Airplay app should now begin casting to your MacBook! Use the tools in the app menu on your PC to select whether to mirror or extend your screen, stream just a specific app to your MacBook screen, and so on.
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Install Duet Display on both your computers. Duet Display is an app that allows you to share your screen by turning your computer into a remote desktop. You’ll need to download and install the software on both your MacBook and your PC to use it, and log in with the same account on both devices. [8] X Research source
- While this app has the advantage of being easy to use and not requiring any additional hardware, you have to pay a subscription fee to use it, although there is a free trial available.
- You’ll need to have Windows 10 or later on your PC and macOS 11 or later on your MacBook.
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Open Duet and log in on both devices. The app must be running and you have to be logged in simultaneously on both your PC and your Mac.
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Locate your Mac in the Connect Devices tab. In the Duet app on your PC, look for your MacBook in the list of available devices. If you don’t see it listed, make sure both computers are on the same Wi-Fi network. You can also go into the Settings tab and make sure Screen Sharing Enabled is checked on both devices.
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Click Mirror or Extend . To extend your PC’s screen to your MacBook, click Extend . To show the same view on both screens, select Mirror instead.
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Click Connect . Your PC should now begin sharing its screen to your MacBook! You can make adjustments to display settings such as the frame rate, performance, resolution, and scale in the Duet window on your PC.
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Purchase a Luna Display dongle. This is an easy and versatile option, but it’s also fairly expensive. To start, you’ll need to buy a Luna Display, which is a dongle that you can plug into a USB-C/Thunderbolt port on your PC. You can buy it here .
- Unfortunately, this dongle doesn’t work with adapters. You’ll need a PC with a USB-C port that supports Thunderbolt or DisplayPort. [9] X Research source
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Connect your PC to your MacBook with an ethernet cable. While you can use Luna Display wirelessly, you’ll get a better performance if you have a wired connection. If you don’t have an ethernet port on your MacBook, you may need to use an adapter or hub to connect your computers.
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Install the Luna Display app on your PC. Luna Display is the app you’ll need to use on your primary computer. You need Windows 10 64-bit or later to run it. Run the install file and follow the prompts to install it on your PC.
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Install Luna Secondary on your MacBook. This is available on the same download page as Luna Display.
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Launch the apps on both computers. They should automatically detect each other, and your MacBook will now be configured as a monitor.
- From here, you can experiment with the settings in the Luna Display control panel to find what works best for you. It is recommended that you enable the Retina Resolution option for the best results.
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References
- ↑ https://manual.spacedesk.net/VerifyifSetupwasSuccessful.html
- ↑ https://manual.spacedesk.net/DesktopExtensionorDesktopDuplica.html
- ↑ https://deskreen.com/lang-en#what-is-display-dummy-plug
- ↑ https://deskreen.com/lang-en#howtos
- ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/set-up-dual-monitors-on-windows-3d5c15dc-cc63-d850-aeb6-b41778147554
- ↑ https://obsproject.com/kb/quick-start-guide
- ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/set-up-your-mac-to-be-an-airplay-receiver-mchleee00ec8/mac
- ↑ https://www.duetdisplay.com/help-center/getting-started-windows-support
- ↑ https://astropad.com/blog/step-by-step-guide-how-to-use-your-imac-as-a-monitor/
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