How to setup duel display monitors

How to add a Second Monitor

Having a second monitor is proven to help you be more productive at work. It can also be more distracting if you don’t manage your browsing habits. At work, I like having a second monitor, but at home, I’m good with just the one for browsing and playing games. Ive seen some crazy setups having managed hundreds of developers but nothing as crazy as my old business partners wall of 8 monitors, you could feel the warmth from the screens.

Fun Fact: An old business partner of mine used to have 8 screens running at once, he basically sat behind this wall of monitors and to talk to him I would have to get up and peak over his monitor wall. We used to run a Security business so we had cameras at various places, it literally looked like the inside of a Casino CCTV room.

Adding a second monitor to your Mac computer is a straightforward process. You can extend your desktop to the second monitor, which gives you more screen space to work with.

Feel the vibe with duel display

Here’s how to set up a second monitor on a Mac:

  1. Connect the Second Monitor:
    • Ensure that your Mac and the second monitor are both powered on.
    • Connect the second monitor to your Mac using the appropriate cable. Most Macs use Thunderbolt, USB-C, or HDMI connections. Make sure you have the necessary adapters or cables if the monitor uses a different connection type.
  2. Configure Display Settings:
    • Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of your screen.
    • Select “System Preferences” from the dropdown menu.
    • In the System Preferences window, click on “Displays.”
    • Go to the “Arrangement” tab.
  3. Detect Displays:
    • Your Mac should automatically detect the second monitor and display it in the Arrangement tab.
    • You can click and drag the monitor icons in the Arrangement tab to arrange them according to your physical setup. This will determine the relative position of the monitors (e.g., whether the second monitor is to the left or right of your primary monitor).
  4. Set Display Preferences:
    • Click on the “Display” tab if you need to adjust the resolution, refresh rate, or other display preferences for the second monitor.
    • Ensure that “Mirror Displays” is unchecked if you want to extend your desktop. If it’s checked, your second monitor will duplicate your primary monitor’s display instead.
  5. Use Your Second Monitor:
    • Once your settings are configured, you can start using your second monitor. Move your mouse cursor off the edge of the primary monitor, and it will appear on the second monitor. You can open applications, windows, and move them between the two screens.
  6. Menu Bar on the Second Monitor (optional):
    • By default, the Mac menu bar appears on your primary monitor. If you want to move the menu bar to your second monitor, go to “System Preferences” > “Displays” > “Arrangement” and drag the menu bar from one screen to the other.

That’s it! Your Mac is now set up to use a second monitor. You can enjoy the extended screen space for multitasking, working on larger projects, or simply increasing your productivity.

For anyone running the Thunderbolt 3 or 4 Here is a helpful overview of duel display.

thunderbolt-3-or-thunderbolt-4-maximum-display-resolutions-apple-silicon

Setting up a second monitor with a Mac laptop, such as a MacBook, is quite similar to setting up a second monitor on a desktop Mac.

Here’s how to do it:

  1. Connect the Second Monitor:
    • Ensure your Mac laptop and the second monitor are powered on.
    • Connect the second monitor to your Mac laptop using the appropriate cable and any necessary adapters. Mac laptops often use USB-C or Thunderbolt connections.
  2. Configure Display Settings:
    • Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of your screen.
    • Select “System Preferences” from the dropdown menu.
    • In the System Preferences window, click on “Displays.”
  3. Detect and Extend or Duplicate Displays:
    • You should see both your laptop’s built-in display and the second monitor represented.
    • In the Display settings, under the “Arrangement” tab, you can choose how you want to use the second monitor:
      • Mirror Displays: This option duplicates your laptop’s display on the second monitor.
      • Arrangement: You can drag the display icons to arrange the monitors according to your physical setup. If you want to extend your desktop, make sure the “Mirror Displays” option is unchecked.
  4. Adjust Display Settings:
    • You can adjust individual display settings for each monitor, including screen resolution, rotation, and more.
  5. Menu Bar on the Second Monitor (optional):
    • By default, the Mac menu bar appears on your laptop’s built-in display. If you want to move the menu bar to your second monitor, go to “System Preferences” > “Displays” > “Arrangement” and drag the menu bar from one screen to the other.
  6. Use Your Second Monitor:
    • Once you’ve configured your display settings, your Mac laptop will now use the second monitor as an extended desktop. You can move windows and applications between the two screens for increased productivity.

That’s it! You’ve successfully set up a second monitor with your Mac laptop, allowing you to enjoy the benefits of extended screen space for multitasking and various tasks.

Here is an accessory guide for home computers.


Setting up a second monitor on a Windows computer is also a straightforward process. Windows provides options for extending your desktop to a second monitor or duplicating the display.

two display monitors is more

Here’s how to add a second monitor to your Windows computer:

Windows 10 and Windows 11:

  1. Connect the Second Monitor:
    • Ensure that your Windows PC and the second monitor are powered on.
    • Connect the second monitor to your PC using the appropriate cable (e.g., HDMI, DisplayPort, DVI, VGA). Make sure you have the necessary adapters or cables if the monitor uses a different connection type.
  2. Configure Display Settings:
    • Right-click on an empty area of your desktop.
    • Select “Display settings” from the context menu.
  3. Detect and Extend or Duplicate Displays:
    • In the Display settings, you should see both your primary and secondary displays represented. Windows should automatically detect the second monitor.
    • Under the “Multiple displays” section, use the drop-down menu to choose how you want to use the second monitor:
      • Duplicate these displays: This option mirrors your primary display on the second monitor.
      • Extend these displays: This option extends your desktop to the second monitor, providing additional screen space.
  4. Adjust Display Settings:
    • Below the “Multiple displays” section, you can adjust individual display settings for each monitor, including screen resolution, orientation, and more.
  5. Identify Monitors:
    • To ensure you know which monitor is which, click on the “Identify” button. Numbers will briefly appear on each screen, helping you identify them.
  6. Apply and Keep Changes:
    • After configuring your display settings, click the “Apply” button to make the changes. If everything looks good, click “Keep changes.”
  7. Use Your Second Monitor:
    • Your Windows PC should now be using the second monitor as an extended desktop. You can move windows and applications between the two screens, which is great for multitasking.

That’s it! You’ve successfully set up a second monitor on your Windows PC. You can enjoy the additional screen space for a variety of tasks, such as working on multiple documents simultaneously, watching videos on one screen while working on the other, and more.

Try this if you want to really impress.

Monitor wall to really impress your friends

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