Getting Started: Set Up External Peripherals

Let us give you a quick overview of how to connect external devices such as displays, printers, and webcam to your new Windows PC. 
After you set up your external devices, go to our personalize your Windows page to learn how to customize display settings, change the wallpaper, add users, enhance user account security, and more. 

Helpful links (Show/Hide):

If you need additional help to set up a monitor, go to our monitors or displays page. 
If you need help to fix Bluetooth issues, go to our Bluetooth support page. 
Want to learn more about Phone Link or having trouble with the Phone Link app? Go to the Phone Link app help & learning page on Microsoft Support. 
If you are having issues with webcam not working, go to our webcam support page. You can also watch our webcam troubleshooting video on YouTube. 
Need help with a Dell universal or thunderbolt docking station? Go to our Dell Docking Station support page.

In this video, we’ll walk you through how to set up any external devices you might have for your Dell computer.

Chapter 00: External Display

Need a second display for your laptop or desktop? Here’s how to connect an external display or monitor to your computer. Plug in the monitor’s power cable to both the monitor and a power outlet. Then connect an HDMI, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt, or USB-C cable to both the monitor and laptop. Turn on the monitor and select the correct video source. For example, if the monitor is connected using DisplayPort, set the video to DP or DisplayPort. To learn how to use your monitor’s on-screen menu, consult the product manual. Turn on your laptop and right-click on the Windows Desktop. Select ‘Display Settings’ and set your display preferences.

Chapter 01: Bluetooth Devices

Whether you are connecting to a Bluetooth speaker, headphones, keyboard, or mouse, the steps to pair your device remain the same. First, make sure you enable discovery mode on your Bluetooth device. Consult your device’s manual to learn how to do this. On your computer, click on the Windows start button and navigate to ‘Settings’. Click on ‘Bluetooth & devices’. Select ‘Add device’, and then ‘Bluetooth’. On the ‘Add a device’ page, choose the device you want to connect to. When the pairing is successful, click on ‘Done’.

Chapter 02: Mobile Devices

Did you know you can sync your phone to stay always connected with Windows? From the ‘Bluetooth & devices’ page in ‘Settings’, open the ‘Phone Link’ app or simply search for ‘Phone Link’ in the taskbar search bar. Select Android or iPhone as your device and scan the QR code to complete the set-up. Customize your notification preferences to set it up the right way for you. If you have any questions or want to learn how to get the most out of device syncing, click on the link in the description.

Chapter 03: Printers

It’s easy to connect wired and wireless printers to your Dell computer. If your printer connects using a USB cable, plug the cable into your device and turn on the printer. The device will connect automatically, and Windows will download and install the correct drivers. Windows 11 and Windows 10 support most printers which means you won’t have to install special printer software. Additional printer drivers and support may be available if you update Windows.

To connect a wireless printer, click on the Windows start button and navigate to ‘Settings’. Select ‘Bluetooth & devices’. Click on ‘Printers and scanners’. Click on ‘Add device’. Wait for Windows to find nearby printers, select the one you want to use, and click ‘Add device’. If you want to remove the printer, simply select it, and click ‘Remove’.

Chapter 04: Webcam

If you’re setting up an external webcam, plug the USB cable into your computer. Windows automatically downloads and installs the correct drivers. To test your webcam, click on the Windows start button and click on ‘All apps’. Open Camera and make sure camera access is turned on. If you’re still having issues, check out our webcam troubleshooting video on YouTube, linked in the description.

Chapter 05: Docking Station

A docking station helps gain the benefits of a desktop computer by being able to connect to several devices, without sacrificing the portability of a laptop. Before setting up your docking station, make sure to update your laptop drivers and BIOS. Connect the power cable to the docking station and then connect the docking station to the laptop using a USB-C or Thunderbolt cable. Download and install the latest drivers using Dell Update or Dell Command Update. Connect your external devices to the docking station such as a monitor, keyboard, or mouse. If you’re having issues with the docking station, check out the link in the description.