How to Connect a Laptop in Monitor?

How to Connect a Laptop in Monitor?

1. 1
   Determine your laptop's video output options. Most laptops have a single display connection along the back, though some may be located along the side. There are a few main types of connections that your laptop may have:

   • Windows:
     • HDMI - This port resembles a 3/4 inch, six-sided, tapered port found on most Windows laptops.
     • DisplayPort - Similar to HDMI, but one corner of the port is crimped while the other forms a 90-degree angle.
     • VGA or DVI - VGA ports are colored with 15 holes, while DVI ports are usually black or white with 24 holes and a gap on one side. These ports are only found on older computers.
   • Mac:
     • Thunderbolt 3 (also called USB-C) - An oval port found on the sides of most modern MacBooks.
     • HDMI - A six-sided, tapered port found on some MacBooks.
     • Mini DisplayPort - A six-sided port found on Macs manufactured between 2008 and 2016.
2. 
   
   2
   Determine what your monitor's video input is. Simple computer monitors usually only have one available input, while TV monitors have multiple inputs. You can expect to find HDMI or DisplayPort inputs on the backs of most monitors. Older computer monitors may use a VGA or DVI cable connection.
3. 
   
   3
   Connect the cable to the video output on your laptop. Match the connector on the video cable end to the shape of the video output port on your laptop and insert the cable.
4. 
   
   4
   Connect the other end of the cable to your monitor. Match the shape of the other end of the video connection cable with the port on the TV and insert it.

   • If the monitor requires a different type of connection than is on your laptop, you'll need an adapter cable to connect to your monitor. Some adapters only serve as a bridge between two cable types. For example a VGA-to-HDMI adapter will allow you to connect a VGA cable on one end, and an HDMI cable on the other. Common adapter cables include the following:
     • HDMI-to-DisplayPort.
     • DisplayPort (or Mini DisplayPort)-to-HDMI.
     • Mini DisplayPort-to-DisplayPort.
     • USB-C-to-HDMI (or DisplayPort).
     • VGA-to-HDMI.
     • DVI-to-HDMI.
5. 
   
   5
   Plug in and turn on the monitor. Attach your monitor to a power source (e.g., an electrical outlet), then press the monitor's Power 

   

    button.

   • If you had to buy an adapter (not an adapter cable), you may also have to plug the adapter's power cable into a power source.
6. 
   
   6
   Select the video source on the monitor. If you are using a monitor or TV that has multiple inputs, you will need to select the port you connected your laptop to on the monitor. To select the video source, press the button that says "Input", "Source". or "Video Select" or something similar on the monitor or remote.
7. 
   
   7
   Wait for your laptop's screen to appear on the monitor. Once you see your laptop's desktop and icons (or some variation thereof) appear on the monitor's screen, you can proceed with setting up your laptop's display settings.

   • If you're hooking up a VGA connection, which is a blue connection and has 3 rows of holes, you will likely need to switch displays. You can do this by pressing a function key on your keyboard.^[1]
   • If your desktop does not appear on the monitor, see Method 2 to detect a display using Windows, and Method 3 to detect a display using Mac.

Method2

Detecting a Display in Windows

1. 
   
   1
   Click the Windows Start menu 

   

   . It's the button that has a Windows logo in the taskbar. By default, it is usually in the lower-left corner of the screen. This displays the Start menu.
2. 
   
   2
   Click the Settings icon 

   

   . It has an icon that resembles a gear. It's on the left side of the Windows Start menu. This opens Windows Settings.
3. 
   
   3
   Click System. It's the first option in the Windows Settings menu. It's next to an icon that resembles a laptop computer.
4. 
   
   4
   Click Display. It's the first option in the sidebar menu to the left. This opens the Display menu.
5. 
   
   5
   Scroll down and click Detect. It's the grey button below "Multiple Displays" at the bottom of the screen. This makes Windows detect your displays.

Method3

Detecting a Display in MacOS

1. 
   
   1
   Click the Apple icon 

   

   . It's the icon with the Apple logo in the upper-left corner of the menu bar. This displays the Apple menu as a drop-down.
2. 
   
   2
   Click System Preferences. It's the second option in the Apple menu drop-down. This opens the System Preferences window.
3. 
   
   3
   Click Displays. It has an icon that resembles a computer monitor. This opens the Displays window.
4. 
   
   4
   Press and hold Options. When you press "Options", a button that says "Detect Displays" appears in the Displays window.
5. 
   
   5
   Click Detect Displays. It's in the lower-right corner of the Displays window when you press the "Options" key. This makes MacOS detect your displays.

Method4

Adjusting Display Settings on Windows

1. 
   
   1
   Open Start 

   

   . Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen. The Start menu will open.
2. 
   
   2
   Open Settings 

   

   . Click the gear-shaped icon in the lower-left side of the menu.^[2]
3. 
   
   3
   Click System. It's a computer-shaped icon in the Settings window.
4. 
   
   4
   Click the Display tab. This option is on the left side of the Display window.
5. 
   
   5
   Scroll down to the "Multiple displays" section. It's near the bottom of the page.
6. 
   
   6
   Click the "Multiple displays" drop-down box. Doing so prompts a drop-down menu.
7. 
   
   7
   Select a display option. Click one of the following options in the drop-down menu:

   • Duplicate these displays - Show an exact replica of your laptop's screen contents on the monitor.
   • Extend these displays - Use the monitor as a continuation of your desktop space. With this enabled, pushing your laptop mouse to the far-right side of the screen will cause it to disappear from your laptop and appear on your monitor.
   • Show only on 1 - Only show your laptop's contents on your laptop. This turns off the monitor screen.
   • Show only on 2 - Only show your laptop's contents on the monitor. This turns off the laptop screen.

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1. 1
   Open the Apple menu 

   

   . Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear.
2. 
   
   2
   Click System Preferences…. It's near the top of the drop-down menu. Doing so opens the System Preferences window.
3. 
   
   3
   Click Displays. This computer monitor-shaped icon is in the middle of the System Preferences window.
4. 
   
   4
   Click the Displays tab. It's in the upper-left corner of the window.
5. 
   
   5
   Change the monitor's resolution. Check the "Scaled" box, then click a resolution.

   • You can't use a resolution that's higher than your monitor's built-in resolution (e.g., 4K).
6. 
   
   6
   Change the screen scaling. Click and drag the "Underscan" slider that's at the bottom of the page left to show more of your Mac's screen on the monitor or right to zoom in the screen.

   • This will help you fit your Mac's screen to the monitor if the image on the monitor is too large or too small.
7. 
   
   7
   Extend your Mac's screen if needed. If you want to use the monitor as an extension of your Mac's screen (e.g., as space to the right of your Mac's screen), click the Arrangement tab at the top of the window and then uncheck the "Mirror Displays" box below the screen arrangement window.

   • You can also adjust the position of the menu bar here by clicking and dragging the white rectangle at the top of the screen arrangement window left or right.