If you’re looking to connect your laptop to a desktop or another laptop computer and use it as a second monitor, this article will guide you through the process step-by-step.
Specifically, we’ll be focusing on using a Windows 10 operating system for both the computer and the laptop. While it’s incredibly easy to connect your laptop as a second monitor to your PC as long as you’re using a wireless connection, there are a few things you need to do on both your laptop and desktop PC to get everything ready.
Preparing the Laptop
Before you can use your laptop as a second monitor for your desktop PC, you need to make sure that it is ready to accept projection from another PC. This involves checking projection settings, adding the wireless display feature (if necessary), and adjusting the wireless display settings. Here’s how to do it:
Checking Projection Settings
- Go to the Windows search bar and type “projection settings”.
- On the Projection Settings screen, make sure that the boxes are not grayed out and that you can change the settings.
- If the boxes are grayed out, go back to the Control Panel home and click on the “Apps” category.
- Under the “Apps and Features” heading, click on “Optional Features”.
- Add the “Wireless Display” feature.
- Once the feature is installed, go back to the Projection Settings screen.
Adding Wireless Display Feature
- Go to the Windows search bar and type “projection settings”.
- On the Projection Settings screen, click on the “Wireless Display” link.
- Select “Available Everywhere” or “Available Everywhere on Secure Networks” for the first setting.
- Select “Every Time a Connection is Requested” for the second setting.
- Choose whether or not you want the laptop to be discoverable when it’s not plugged into an AC adapter.
Adjusting Wireless Display Settings
- Take note of the PC name (laptop name) shown on the Projection Settings screen.
- On your desktop PC, right-click on the desktop and click on “Display Settings”.
- Scroll down and click on “Connect to a Wireless Display”.
- Select your laptop name from the list of available devices and click on “Connect”.
- On your laptop, go to the notification bar and click on the connection request from your desktop PC.
- Allow the connection and wait for your laptop display to convert into an additional display for your desktop PC.
- Use your laptop as a second monitor by dragging windows from one screen to the next.
By following these steps, you can easily connect your laptop as a second monitor to your desktop PC using a wireless connection.
Connecting the Desktop to the Laptop
Accessing Display Settings
To connect your laptop as a second monitor to your desktop, you need to access the display settings on your desktop. To do this, right-click on your desktop and click on “Display Settings.” This will bring up a panel that shows all the monitors currently connected to your desktop PC.
Connecting to Laptop as Wireless Display
To connect your laptop as a wireless display, scroll down in the display settings panel until you see “Connect to a wireless display.” Click on this option, and a panel will appear on the right side of your screen showing all the available options to connect to as a wireless display. Look for the name of your laptop, which you noted earlier, and click on it.
After you click to connect to your laptop, switch back to your laptop and go to the notification bar on the bottom right of your desktop taskbar. You should see a connection request from your desktop. Click “Allow” to connect to your laptop as a wireless display.
Once connected, your laptop display will convert into an additional display for your desktop PC. You can still use your laptop as normal, and open apps on your laptop by dragging your mouse pointer down to the bottom and waiting for your real taskbar to pop up.
To use your laptop screen as a monitor, you need to figure out where you want it in your setup. In the display settings on your desktop, you can move your laptop monitor to the left, right, or below your main screen. Once you’ve made this adjustment, you can move windows from one screen to the next without any issues.
That’s it! Now you know how to connect your laptop to your desktop or another laptop computer and use it as a second monitor.
Using the Laptop as a Second Monitor
Once you have successfully connected your laptop as a second monitor to your desktop PC, you can start adjusting the display settings on your desktop to make sure that everything is set up correctly.
Adjusting Display Settings on Desktop
To adjust the display settings on your desktop, right-click on your desktop and select “Display Settings.” You’ll see all the monitors that you currently have connected to your desktop PC. Scroll down until you see “Multiple displays” and select “Extend desktop to this display.” This will make every screen an extension of the original desktop screen, so you can move windows from one screen to the next without any issue.
Positioning Laptop Monitor
To use your laptop screen as a monitor, you’ll need to figure out where you want to position it in your setup. In the display settings on your desktop, you can drag the laptop monitor into a different location to the left, right, above, or below your main screen.
For example, if you have limited space on your desk, you can position your laptop monitor below your main screen. To do this, select the laptop monitor in the display settings and drag it to the bottom of the screen. Make sure to hit “Apply” so that Windows knows that the laptop screen is below your main screen. When you move your mouse pointer down below the bottom of your main display, it’ll come down onto the laptop display because it is the fourth monitor and listed as below the main screen.
Now that you have adjusted the display settings on your desktop and positioned the laptop monitor, you can start using your laptop as a second monitor. This setup will allow you to work more efficiently and multitask like a pro.
Conclusion
Congratulations! You have successfully connected your laptop to a desktop or another laptop computer and used it as a second monitor. As we have seen, the process is relatively easy and straightforward as long as you have a wireless connection for both your desktop and laptop.
To get started, you need to ensure that your laptop is ready to accept projection onto its monitor from another PC. This involves accessing the projection settings and adding the wireless display feature if necessary. On the desktop, you need to connect to the laptop as a wireless display and adjust the display settings to extend the desktop to the laptop screen.
Once you have completed the setup process, you can use your laptop as a second monitor just like any other display connected to your desktop. You can move windows from one screen to the next without any issue, and you can even use your laptop for other tasks while it functions as a display.
Overall, using your laptop as a second monitor can be a great way to increase your productivity and multitasking capabilities. Whether you need to work on multiple projects simultaneously or simply want to enjoy a larger display, this setup is an excellent option. So why not give it a try and see how it can benefit your workflow?
Key Takeaways
- Ensure your laptop is set up to accept projection onto its monitor from another PC by adjusting the projection settings and installing the wireless display feature if necessary.
- Connect your desktop to your laptop as a wireless display by selecting your laptop name from the available options and allowing the connection request on your laptop.
- Once connected, use your laptop as a second monitor by extending your desktop to the laptop screen and adjusting the display settings as needed.
