How to add a monitor to your laptop

First, identify your laptop's ports. Depending on the model, your laptop may have limited port options—in which case you'll need to buy an adapter to connect the monitor.

Look for one of these three types of ports on your laptop:

HDMI: Use an HDMI cable to connect the monitor to your laptop.

USB-C: This port lets you connect to HDMI if your laptop supports it (check with your manufacturer to find out).

DisplayPort: This one looks like an HDMI port, but one side of the connector is flat unlike an HDMI's two slanted sides

On Windows

Once you've plugged the monitor into the computer and a power source, Windows™ should automatically detect it—if it doesn't, click Start > Settings > System > Display. Under the Multiple displays header, click the Detect button.

From the Display interface, select the secondary display, then select Extend these displays or Duplicate these displays from the menu at the bottom of the screen under Multiple displays.

On Mac

The instructions for Mac® are similar to those for Windows 10. The first step is to identify your laptop's ports. Depending on the model of your device, you may have limited port options—in which case you'll need to buy an adapter to connect the monitor.

EXTERNAL DISPLAY CONNECTORS

Depending on the model, you can connect a macOS laptop to secondary displays via these two types of ports:

• Thunderbolt 3 or 4: These use a USB-C connector to allow your Mac to connect to displays that use DisplayPort, Mini DisplayPort, HDMI, or VGA.
• HDMI: Use an HDMI cable to connect the monitor to your laptop

DUPLICATE OR EXTEND DISPLAY FOR MAC

Connect the monitor to your Mac and a power source—your laptop should automatically identify it.

Open System Preferences and select Displays to choose your display settings.

What to do if your laptop doesn't detect the monitor;

WINDOWS

• Make sure the laptop is charged and turned on and the video cable is securely plugged into both the laptop and monitor.
• Make sure you select Extend these displays for display 2 in the display settings.
• If you use a USB-C adapter or a dock, make sure it has power if required.
• Try disconnecting the cables and plugging them back in.
• Extra-long HDMI cords aren't always reversible and have connectors labeled “source” and “TV.” Make sure to put them into the correct device.
• Try restarting the computer.
• Make sure the monitor is displaying the right input source.
• Some monitors have multiple ports for devices to plug into—try using a different port.
• Try using a different cable.
• Plug another device into the monitor to make sure it's working correctly.

MAC

• First, make sure you aren't using more secondary displays than your computer allows.
• Select the Apple menu in the top-right corner > About This Mac.
• Double-click your serial number, then press Command-C to copy it.
• Go to the Tech Specs website, press Command-V to paste your computer's serial number in the search bar, then click Search.
• Click on your Mac's specs—look for the number of displays it supports under Video Support or Graphics.
• Or if you have a Mac with Apple silicon (check this list to see if your Mac has Apple silicon):
• You can connect one display to your Mac using either of the Thunderbolt or USB 4 ports. If you're on an iMac or a Mac mini, connect your display to either of the ports with the Thunderbolt symbol.
• A Mac mini (M1, 2020) lets you connect a second display to the HDMI port.
• Using a dock won't increase the number of displays you can connect.
• If your Mac still doesn't recognize your monitor:
• Restart your Mac, then check for and install any available updates.
• Check your cable and adapters to make sure they're not damaged and that everything is securely connected.
• Open System Preferences > Displays, then press and hold the Option key and click on the Detect Displays button that appears in the bottom-right corner.
• If possible, try swapping out cables and adapters and using different ports on the Mac and the display.
• Confirm that the monitor is on the right source input.