How to use two monitors on your Windows 10 computer

It is now very common to see people using two monitors to perform multiple tasks at the same time, especially for those who need to use their computer to work. Of course this can also be used casually to make your everyday PC use easier. So we've prepared a very detailed tutorial on how you can set up and use more than one monitor on your Windows 10 computer. Just check out our article below:

Using two monitors

To get started, connect the second monitor to your computer or notebook. There is usually always an extra input for an extra monitor, either via an HDMI or VGA cable. If this is not your case, you may need to purchase a specific adapter for what you are missing.

When you connect the second monitor to your PC, Windows will detect the monitor and automatically extend the screen between the two monitors. This means that the main screen will show the desktop normally and open all apps, but you can still drag any open window (which includes virtually any software) to the second screen.

This allows you to watch some video on one screen while writing or talking to your friends on the other, just to name an example. It's important to mention that the first monitor is always considered the main monitor by default, but you can easily change it.

Just right-click on the desktop and choose the "Display Settings" option. This will take you to a window especially to customize the way your monitors should work.

You will see two rectangles (symbolizing each monitor) with the numbers “1” and “2”. The “1” represents the monitor that was already connected and the “2” is the one that was last connected. Their position determines how they work in extended video mode.

In this example we have “1” before “2”, but if my second monitor is to the left of the first, it makes more sense to reverse their position, as we did in the image below:

This way, I simply move the mouse to the right edge of the screen to go to another monitor or to the left when I want to go back to the previous one. The problem is that the original monitor is still the main one, even though I want to use the second one this way. To change this, I select the monitor “2” and click on the option “Make this my main video”.

Now all my apps will open on the second monitor screen, which is what I am using as the main. If I want to use something on another monitor, I just need to drag the software window (like a browser or image editor) to the right edge of the screen so that it appears on the alternate monitor automatically.

This needs to be done whenever you want to use something on the second monitor, as it doesn't open anything by itself, just extends your desktop. Fortunately, it's pretty easy to drag windows and software, so there's no problem with that.

If you just want to project the main computer screen on another monitor, which is common for notebook users, the process is also quite simple. To get started, click the notifications button at the bottom right of the Windows taskbar. You can also use the shortcut Win + P to access the projection menu.

You will see several options, but you should click on "Design". This will open a special tab showing quick settings for use with your two monitors. If you click on “Second Screen Only”, the computer image will be projected only on your alternate monitor and the other will be erased.

If you prefer, you can also click the "Duplicate" option to display the exact same image on both monitors. There is not much practical use for this, but it can be an interesting option depending on what you need to do.

The "Extend" option simply returns to the original configuration, where the two monitors are used separately for multiple tasks. If you want to stop using the second monitor, just unplug it from your PC or notebook and the image will return to the main screen automatically.

Do not forget the video cards

If your computer has a dedicated video card, such as an Nvidia or AMD, as well as setting up both monitors from Windows settings, it's worth opening your card settings to better handle differences in resolution size, colors, positioning, among other factors.

To access the Nvidia Card Control Panel, just right-click on any free area of ​​your desktop and then tap Nvidia Control Panel, as for AMD cards, you can try the same procedure, but If you can't find a solution, go to your system's taskbar (next to the clock in the lower right corner) and look for the Catalyst icon - the AMD graphics card manager -.

So, were you able to configure the monitors?

Could you take our tips on learning how to set up and use two monitors on your Windows computer? Be sure to leave your comment saying if everything went well or if you have any questions about the procedure. Also learn how to find hidden files in Windows!