If until recently, using two monitors for the computer could prove to be an excessive expense, today almost everyone uses them to work, so that they can better divide the programs and the various windows. Virtually every modern PC can support dual monitors and, if not, we can always mount a video card with a dual video output.
To this we add that, in the latest versions of Windows, we can find many dual monitor configuration support features, which previously required the use of special programs to "split" the signal.
With Windows 10 each monitor can have its own taskbar and the Start button, we can have two different backgrounds or one panoramic view extended on the two screens.
In this guide we will show you the steps to follow to connect two monitors to your PC, starting from the requirements and ending with the settings to be configured on Windows .
READ ALSO: Use your laptop or tablet as a second PC monitor
1) Screen type for dual monitor
To achieve this mode, two LCD monitors are obviously required, which do not have to be the same.
Monitors from different manufacturers can also be used even if, for best results, it is convenient that the two monitors have the same maximum resolution .
Using two monitors with different resolution (one at 1920 × 1080 pixels and the other at 1366 × 768 pixels for example) we will obtain an automatic resizing of windows by dragging them from one screen to another, which could also change the proportions of the contents in a window (for example the text of Word).
If you use two monitors with a different resolution, better to operate them at a resolution supported by both (in the example above, we set both monitors to 1366x768 pixels).
To change the screen resolution, we can open Screen Settings from the Control Panel or go to the path System Settings -> System -> Display in Windows 10.
2) Type of connection between PC and monitor
The second thing to check are the connections on the back of the PC and on the back of both monitors.
There must be two monitor outputs on the computer, which may be available on both the motherboard and the dedicated video card.
The most common types of connection are HDMI, DisplayPort and DVI : make sure that two of these are present on the back of the computer and check that both monitors have at least one DVI port (the "older" among those mentioned).
The two monitors can also have two different types of connection : for example we can connect one monitor with an HDMI cable and the other with a DVI or DisplayPort cable without problems.
Let's avoid using (if possible) the VGA connection, now outdated for most of today's resolutions.
To connect a monitor via HDMI, we recommend using a quality cable such as the one shown here -> Rankie HDMI cable Braided Nylon, 1.8 m (€ 6).
If instead we wanted to use a DisplayPort cable to connect the monitor, we recommend using the cable present here -> Rankie Displayport cable (DP) on Displayport (DP), 4K (6 €).
The monitor in our possession has a few years on its shoulders "> AmazonBasics DVI to DVI cable 2 m (7 €).
In case we have to buy a second monitor, we check that there are DVI and HDMI (or alternatively DisplayPort) so that we can adapt it to any type of computer.
If you work with a laptop, you can connect two monitors by buying a Docking Station, which acts as an intermediary and adds the VGA or HDMI ports for the connection.
READ ALSO: Differences between HDMI and VGA cable, and between DVI and DisplayPort sockets
3) PC graphics card
A good quality dedicated graphics card should have an HDMI port, a DisplayPort port and a DVI port (even if it is no longer inserted lately); on the most expensive video cards we can connect up to 6 monitors on as many ports!
If the graphics card is integrated into the motherboard, almost all modern computers offer DVI and HDMI as video ports: just use these to get the dual monitor.
If we want to add a video card dedicated to our computer, I refer you to our guide -> How to choose the video card for PC graphics .
4) Configure the two monitors on Windows
After making the various connections, it is time to turn on the computer and configure the two screens.
We recommend always starting with only one monitor inserted (the one that we will identify as the main one), then proceed with the connection and configuration of the second one.
After the first configuration we will not have to do anything else: Windows will remember our settings.
As explained in another article in detail, the Settings for working on two monitors with Windows 10 are complete and simple, while in Windows 7 the procedure is the same even if there are fewer options and you do everything from the Control Panel .
If after connecting the second monitor it shows nothing or the images are unpacked, we right-click on the desktop of the first monitor and open the Screen Settings menu.
The primary screen is indicated with a symbol 1 above, while the secondary one with 2.
Then select the monitor you want as primary from the drop-down menu, press on Detect and identify to know if it is actually set as 1 or 2.
After configuring the primary monitor, we press the Windows + P keys together to quickly access the screen configuration window.
For business purposes the item to choose is Extend, that is, an extension of the original desktop is created with a new separate taskbar.
As mentioned above, the screen resolution must be identical on both monitors, even at the cost of sacrificing the quality of the newer one.
If we need to change the size of text and icons, leaving 100% unless you are using a 4K monitor, or change the orientation we can do it on Windows 10 from the Settings menu -> System -> Display, choosing the desired options .
In Windows 10, you can choose how to display the taskbar when the desktop spans two monitors.
The options are found by right clicking on the Windows low bar and clicking on Taskbar settings, in the Multiple screens section.
Note that the Start menu will be seen on both screens, but each program will open on the main screen and, if necessary, will be moved and dragged to the other monitor.
Also in Windows 10 you can choose a panoramic background for both monitors, from the window to select the background (press the right mouse button on the empty desktop and then go to Personalize ).
To have more control and more configuration options (especially on older versions of Windows 10), you can always install free programs to optimize the work on two monitors, already mentioned in another article.
