When you connect multiple monitors to your Dell computer, Windows automatically detects the monitor and displays your computer desktop screen. You can then choose how you want your desktop screen to appear and customize the display settings such as display style, screen resolution, color depth, and more. Windows 11, Windows 10, or Windows 8 or 8.1 support multiple monitor setup.
Are you trying one of the following multiple monitor setup? Find information to learn how to set up multiple monitors with your laptop or desktop computer.
Learn How to Connect a Monitor to a Dell Computer.
Here is A Guide to External Ports and Connectors on a Dell Computer.
Most desktop computers have video ports to connect to at least two external monitors. Most laptops have at least one video port, and some laptops may have a second video port.
Figure 1: Video Ports
Numbers reference the image above | |
VGA Connector | |
HDMI Connector | |
Mini DisplayPort Connector | |
DisplayPort Connector |
Figure 2: Connecting Multiple Monitors Using DisplayPort Video Cables to a Desktop
Figure 3: Connecting Multiple Monitors Using DisplayPort Video Cables to a Laptop
Figure 4: On-Screen Display (OSD) Example (English Only)
Figure 5: Connecting Multiple Monitors Using Different Kinds of Video Cables to a Desktop
Figure 6: Connecting Multiple Monitors Using Different Kinds of Video Cables to a Laptop
After connecting the monitors, you can adjust the settings for each one.
If you have multiple displays, you can rearrange them. This is useful if you want your displays to look the same as they do in your home or office. Select and drag the display to the wanted location in Display settings. When you are satisfied with the layout, click Apply. Move your mouse pointer across the different displays to ensure that your new layout works as expected.
You will see this option when Windows detects more than one display. Each display is numbered to help you identify them more easily.
Figure 7: Arrange the monitors in the Display settings window.
In a multiple display setup, one display or monitor must be set as the primary display. The primary display shows the taskbar and other main desktop components such as time, system tray icons, and more. To set the primary and secondary displays, follow these steps:
desk.cpl
and press Enter.Make this my main display.
Keep changeswhen the pop-up dialog box appears.
Figure 8: Setting the main display using the Display settings app in Windows 11.
After connecting your external monitors, you can change settings such as resolution, screen layout, and more.
To see the available settings in Windows 11 or Windows 10, go to the Settings app, select System, and then choose Display.
Windows will recommend an orientation for your screen. To change it in Windows 11 or Windows 10, in the Display settings, under Scale & layout, select your preferred Display orientation.
Figure 9: Scale, display resolution, and display orientation settings under the display settings in Windows 11.
Once the cables are connected securely, your computer should automatically detect and display the desktop screen on the connected monitors. You can now select the display style that best suits your needs. Windows provides multiple display style options on how the desktop screen is displayed across multiple monitors that are connected to your computer.
If you want to | Select |
---|---|
See things on one display only. | PC screen only |
See the same thing on all your displays. | Duplicate |
See your desktop across multiple screens. When you have displays extended, you can move items between the two screens. | Extend |
See everything on the second display only. | Second screen only |
Need help with changing the screen resolution, adjust the refresh rate, and change the size of fonts and icons?
A docking station or port replicator provides a simplified way of connecting multiple devices like keyboard, mouse, printer, external hard drives and one or more external monitors to a laptop personal computer which usually have limited connectivity ports.
Most docking stations or port replicators have video ports to connect two or more monitors, and is similar to connecting your computer to your monitor. You must have the correct video cables. A docking station or port replicator when connected to a laptop allows you to switch off the laptop LCD and use the external monitors instead.
Figure 10: Video Ports
Numbers reference the image above | |
VGA Connector | |
HDMI Connector | |
Mini DisplayPort Connector | |
DisplayPort Connector |
Figure 12: On-Screen Display (OSD) Example (English Only)
Figure 13: Connecting Monitors Using Different Kinds of Video Cables
Dell wireless monitors enable your Windows laptop, Android smartphone, or tablet with Miracast capability to display the screen image to the monitor using a Wi-Fi Direct interface. When you connect the laptop, smartphone, or tablet to the Dell wireless monitor, you can access the mouse and keyboard that are connected to the Monitor and control the devices.
You can either extend or duplicate your Windows desktop wirelessly to one of these monitors and connect your Android 5.0 (and above) tablet or smartphone over Wi-Fi simultaneously through Dual Cast.
See our Guide to Dell Wireless Monitors.
Latest TVs and computers provide a wide variety of video connectivity options. Ensure that the video port on your computer matches an available video port on your TV, like VGA, DVI or HDMI.
Connecting your Dell computer with a TV
If you encounter a problem when trying to connect your computer with a TV:
Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8 or 8.1, and Windows 7 support dual or multiple monitor setups. If you encounter problems with your multiple monitor setup, such as a blank or black screen, no signal to monitor, resolution issues, learn How to Troubleshoot Multiple Monitor Problems on a Dell Computer.
If your Dell computer has encountered a display or video problem with multiple monitors after upgrading to Windows 11 or Windows 10:
Here are some recommended articles related to this topic that might be of interest to you.
Duration: 01:37
When available, closed caption (subtitles) language settings can be chosen using the Settings or CC icon on this video player.
More information and support for your Dell monitor, laptop, or tablet screen can be found on our Monitor Support site.