Applies to Windows 8, Windows RT

Connecting multiple monitors to your PC

Connecting another monitor to your laptop or desktop is a great way to get the best out of your PC. You can use one monitor for work (programming, files, work email) and the other for play (chatting with friends, social updates or films).

Connecting another screen to your PC

  • To connect a monitor to your desktop PC, use a video card that has two DVI (or VGA) ports – most PCs today do, and most flat panel monitors have a matching port. If you have a video card with two ports, you can usually plug two monitors into the matching ports. Look on the back of your desktop PC for the video ports and match the cable from each monitor to the corresponding port. These ports connect directly to your video card.

  • If you have a laptop or tablet, plug a monitor into the PC’s DVI, VGA or HDMI port, and Windows 8 and Windows RT will automatically detect the monitor.

In both cases, you might need an adapter to plug a DVI cable into a VGA port or vice versa.

Note

Note

  • If you have a video card with only one port, some PC makers include custom monitor cables that split the signal from one port to two monitors.

Setting up your screens

Once you've plugged in your screen, you can choose your display options.

To set what's on the second screen

  1. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Devices.
    (If you're using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer down, and then click Devices.)

  2. Tap or click Second screen then choose one of these options:

    • Duplicate. You’ll see the same things on both screens.

    • Extend. Your screen is now spread over two monitors, and you can drag and move items between the two.

    • Second screen only. You’ll see everything on the connected screen, and the other one will remain blank.

To control how the cursor behaves when one monitor is a touch screen and the other isn’t

  1. Open Tablet PC Settings on your touch screen by swiping in from the right edge of the screen, tapping Search, entering Tablet, choosing Settings and tapping Tablet PC Settings.

  2. Tap Setup. Administrator permission required  You might be asked for an admin password or to verify your choice.

  3. If you’re given a choice, tap Touch Input. Then follow the on-screen instructions.