Easy Ways How To Use A Laptop As A Monitor

Whether you typically use your laptop for work, gaming, or schoolwork, there may come a moment when you need it to serve a secondary function by acting as a second screen. This article contains everything you need to know about how to use a laptop as a monitor.

In order to use your laptop’s screen as a monitor, you will need to familiarize yourself with the various connection choices and the laptop’s operating system. You also have to make a few screen modifications to use your laptop as an external monitor.

It is regarded as one of Windows 10’s lesser-known features that contribute to its popularity among laptop users.

This best suits you if you are ready to do more with the tools you already have and if you are looking for a way to save money instead of purchasing a separate second monitor. Here are the best practices for using a laptop monitor as a second monitor for your home or workplace.

How This Works On Windows 10

While working on using a laptop as a monitor, the first thing you need to do is obtain the display cable that matches your particular model of the laptop so that you may connect it to a screen.

Your laptop may utilize some cables like HDMI cable or a docking station; therefore, insert the appropriate cable.

After that, go to ‘Settings > Display.’

You can choose between display modes by using the keyboard shortcut “Windows key + P” or by right-clicking on the desktop and selecting “Display Settings” from the popup menu that appears.

If you have properly connected your laptop to your desktop PC, there will be 2 or more screens in the “Select and Rearrange Displays” option of the Settings menu.

If that doesn’t appear, click ‘Detect’ to enable Windows to look for an additional display.

When you simply click “Identify,” you will see a number for each screen you’re unsure about. Once you are finished, click the “Apply” button.

Select the drop down menu next to ‘Multiple displays’ after scrolling down.

You have access to a wide range of options when you are here; however, look for “Extend these displays.” Click it to extend the display to several monitors, and then choose the monitor you wish to use as your primary display.

You can now use several screens simultaneously on your laptop and can even make your laptop work as a second monitor.

Using A Third-Party Program Like Space Desk

Using a third-party application such as Space Desk is a far superior choice that is not constrained by the compatibility issues that you encounter with other tools.

To operate Space Desk, simply install the Space Desk Drive program on your primary computer and the Space Desk Viewer program on the laptop that will serve as an expanded display for your primary computer.

Using Space Desk is very simple, and you can easily get your desktop’s display on your laptop. Follow the instructions that appear on the screen you start the program. With just a few clicks, you will e able to connect the laptop screen with multiple screens.

How To Use A Laptop As A Monitor For Your Desktop PC

1. Press the ‘Start’ button on the Windows laptop’s taskbar.
2. Alternately, you can open the main menu bar by pressing the Windows key.
3. Open the Windows settings menu by clicking the settings icon.
4. Select the option labeled “Projecting to this PC.” This will open the PC’s display projection settings.

To make sure that your desktop computer is always available on protected connections, adjust the first drop down menu to “Always available on secure networks” after connecting it. Additionally, you can create a PIN for verification whenever a request for a connection is made (these settings can be adjusted to your system preferences).

5. Select “Action Center” in the lower right corner of your desktop computer. Then, click the “Connect” button and wait for your laptop to appear on the screen.
6. Allow two displays to connect by accepting the request for connection displayed on the laptop’s display.
7. Go to desktop settings by right-clicking. Choose the display menu and click “Extend desktop to this display.”

What To Do If Your Laptop Doesn’t Detect The Monitor

Try the following solutions if your laptop does not identify your secondary monitor.

• Ensure that the laptop is charged and turned on and that the video connection is firmly connected to both the laptop and the monitor.
• Make sure that Extend these displays is selected in the display settings for the second display.
• If a USB-C adaptor or dock requires power, ensure it has it.
• Try unplugging the cords and reconnecting them.
• Try to restart the laptop.
• Ensure that the monitor is displaying the correct source of input.
• If your monitor has more than one connection that you can use to plug items into, try switching to a different HDMI input port or HDMI output port.
• If the problem persists, try switching to a different cable.
• Make sure they are connected to the same Wi Fi network if you are connecting a wireless display.

Conclusion

If you have ever wondered how to use a laptop as a monitor, the steps listed above should make the process much easier and allow you to accomplish more in less time. Even a dysfunctional Windows laptop can be repurposed as a monitor, which is both an ethical and environmentally friendly way to prevent it from ending up in a landfill.

It makes perfect sense to incorporate the high-tech displays of modern laptops into your workflow. Many modern laptops provide higher resolution, larger screen sizes, and more vibrant images. You can easily use a laptop display as a monitor.

Let us know in the comments if this article helped you use your laptop as a monitor.