HDMI splitter for laptop

We all know that multiple monitors can extremely improve our productivity and bring a great experience, especially when youre using a laptop. But how to connect external monitors to a laptop? Youve come to the right place. This article introduces an easy and clear guideline to connect two external monitors to your laptop.

Note: the instructions below apply to adding multiple monitors for laptop, but it also works if you want to add external monitors to your PC/desktop.

Things to check before the start

Generally speaking, most Windows laptops now support dual monitors, at least. But you need to make sure your laptop is capable to add two external monitors. And that depends on your Windows operating system, the capability of your graphics cards and drivers.

Windows XP/7/8/10 all support multiple monitors, so you just need to check the graphics card and ports on your laptop.

1. Check the graphics card

First of all, you may need to make sureyour graphics card supports multiple monitors. Normally, every graphics card provides at least two outputs, but you will need to check the graphics card properties on the manufacturers website, find your graphics card and check the specificationsto see if it supports adding two external monitors.

For example, if you are using the NVIDIA GeForcegraphics card, you can check it out on the official website, and click your graphics card, and check the specification, then you will see if it supports multiple monitors.

If it does not support adding multiple monitors, you may need to buy and install a correct graphics card [e.g GeForce RTX 30 Series] before you keep processing.

2. Check available ports on your laptop

Then you may need to check the ports on your laptop. Generally, a computer or laptop should include any of these four ports:

Display Port can provide an interface with optional audio high-definition content protection.
Digital Video Interface [DVI]is usually color-coded with white plastic and labels.
Video Graphics Array [VGA] is normally color-coded with blue plastic and labels.
High-Definition Multimedia Interface [HDMI] can connect all kinds of video devices and provide sounds through the cable.

You can check the ports on the back or on the sides of your laptop. In addition to the ports on your laptop, the monitors should have the corresponding ports as well.That will save your time and money to connect them. Otherwise you will need to buy an extra adapter, such as DVI to HDMI adapter to have them match.

If you dont have the match ports for your laptop and your monitor

If the ports on your laptop are not the same as the connectors in your monitor cables, dont give up hope. There is a workaround! You can try one of the methods below to continue:

• Use an adapter, such asanHDMI to DVI adapter. This works if you have two different ports for your laptop and your monitor.
• Use a switch splitter, such asa Displaysplitter to have two HDMI ports. This works if you have only one HDMI port on your laptop but you need two HDMI ports.
• Usea docking station, and it works in various circumstances.

How to set up to connect two monitors

Since everything is ready, you can start connecting the two monitors to your laptop.

Note: Connectyour monitors while your laptop is turned on.In most cases, Windows will detect when a new monitor is plugged in.

For example, I have VGA and HDMI ports on my laptop, and my external monitors have cables for VGA and HDMI ports as well:

1. Plug the cable of thefirst external monitorto the correct video port on your laptop. So I plug the VGA cable of the first external monitor into the VGA port on my laptop.
2. Plug the cable of thesecond external monitorto the other correct port on your laptop. So I plug the HDMI cable of the second external monitor into the HDMI port on my laptop.
3. On your laptop, right-click an empty area of your desktop:
   ? If you are using Windows 10, click Display settings.
   
   ? If you are using Windows 8/7, click Screen resolution.
   
4. You willsee three displays labeled with 1, 2 and 3 indisplay mode. Generally speaking, the display 1 is the monitor of your laptop, and the display 2 and 3 are the external monitors.[What if you cant see the plugged-in monitors?]
5. Click the display 2, and select Extend desktop to this display in Multiple displays, and click Apply.
   
6. Click the display 3, and select Extend desktop to this displayin Multiple displays, and click Apply.
   
7. Click OK to finish the settings, and you can now use the three monitors on your laptop.
   Tips:You canclick and drageach display [1, 2 or 3] to rearrange the display.You can also change thesize of items,display resolution, and orientation according to your preferences.

Bonus Tip: What if you cant see the plugged-in monitors?

Sometimes the external monitors cannot be correctly detected by yourlaptop.This can be caused by improper connection, defective monitor or cables. Ensure all the cables connect correctly, and do some tests with an alternative monitor and another cable.

If it still does not work, it seems like yourgraphics card drivercannot properly support multiple monitors display. Adriver updateis necessary.

There are two ways to update drivers:manuallyandautomatically.

Manually You can manually update the printer driver bysearching the correct driverthat is matched with yourWindowsOSon themanufacturers website andinstallit in your computer. This requires time and computer skills.

Automatically If you dont have time or patience to manually update drivers, you can do that automatically withDriver Easy. Its free version can detect and download the outdated drivers on your Windows with only a few clicks.

You can update your drivers automatically with either the FREE or the Pro version of Driver Easy. But with the Pro version it takes just 2 clicks [and you get full support and a30-day money back guarantee]:

1. Downloadand install Driver Easy.
2. Run Driver Easy and click theScan Nowbutton. Driver Easy will then scan your computer and detect any problem drivers.
   
3. Click theUpdatebutton next to a flagged device to automatically download the correct drivers [you can do this with the FREE version], and install it on your computer.
   Or clickUpdate Allto automatically download all the correct drivers that are missing or out of date on your Windows [this requires thePro version youll be prompted to upgrade when you click Update All].
   

These are the easy instructions to connect two external monitors for your laptop. Comment below if you have any questions, and we will see what more we can do to further help.

Feature Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay