How To Setup Dual Monitors

Everything you need to know about setting up dual monitors with Windows

Table of Contents Table of Contents

More and more people have multi-monitor setups, so knowing how to setup dual monitors may something on your mind right now. There are a ton of different reasons why you might want to learn how to set up dual monitors for your PC setup. The most common being, you’ve simply run out of screen real-estate and require more to accommodate your needs. Running dual monitors has also become common for PC gaming too – saving you the trouble of tabbing in and out of your favorite games.

Whilst your 24-inch display might seem like enough, it’s rarely the case – with users struggling to optimize their display for multiple windows or tabs. Simply upgrading to something like an 27-inch display may not be enough, either.

Thankfully, the process of actually setting up a dual monitor setup has never been easier – or more affordable, might I add. Windows have created a seamless process in which setting up a second monitor takes only a couple of minutes (providing you have the right cables and hardware).

If you really don’t want to deal with multiple monitors, then we are giving you some ultrawide alternatives to check out too. These allow you to move beyond the standard 16:9 aspect ratio and give a seamless beyond-widescreen experience – which you may feel is worth the price for such superiority.

So, with that in mind, let’s go through the simple process of how to setup dual monitors on your PC.

What Do You Need For A Dual Monitor Setup?

Let’s start off by going through the necessities, the items that you need to make a dual monitor set up work.

Hardware

• A secondary monitor
• A GPU that has multiple display outputs
• A secondary HDMI/DisplayPort cable
• A spare power outlet

Software

• Windows (10 or 11 preferably)

If you have the above hardware, you’re ready to start the dual monitor setup process.

How To Set Up Dual Monitors (With Windows)

Before we start the process, there are a couple of preliminary steps to take beforehand. Whilst these may sound obvious, they’re still worth pointing out for some individuals.

1. Start by setting up your secondary monitor on your desk. Plug the power cable in and connect the HDMI/DisplayPort to an available slot on your GPU
2. Switch the monitor on and you’re ready to go

Setting up Windows

Step

1

Open display settings

Start by accessing Windows Display settings. You can find this tab by selecting Start>Settings>System>Display. Alternatively, you can right click on the desktop and click ‘Display settings‘.

Step

2

Identify monitor

At this stage, your PC should automatically detect your secondary monitor. However, if it doesn’t, simply click the identify or detect button underneath the display icons.

Step

3

Edit multiple displays

If Windows has detected the secondary monitor, simply scroll down and choose an option from the Multiple Displays section that best suits your display needs.

Step

4

Keep changes

Once you have found the correct setup, simply select Keep Changes to save the setup.

And that’s all there is to it. One of the simplest setup tutorials you can learn.

At this stage, you might find that the monitors aren’t positioned correctly. To change the position of the displays, simply drag the display icons (at the top of the settings, under ‘Rearrange your displays’) into the correct position.

Why Choose A Dual Monitor Setup?

As we said in the intro, there are a bunch of reasons why you might want to set up dual monitors for your PC. Here are some of the most common reasons:

• Screen Real-estate & Multi-tasking: The most obvious reason is the lack of screen space. Even though 27-inch monitors are now fairly affordable, many people still make use of 24-inch monitors – especially people that play competitive FPS. 24-inches in today’s market isn’t really a great deal of space, even less if you’re utilizing a 1080p resolution. So, for those people, multi-tasking and using several tabs can feel extremely claustrophobic. Extending to a second monitor will free up a tonne of space and will allow users to game on one display, whilst working on another.
• Twitch & Streaming: As many will know, Twitch streaming has become hugely popular (and lucrative) over the past couple of years – with many running dual monitor setups to allow seamless gaming and interaction with viewers. One way a Twitch stream utilizes their second display is for the Twitch comments feed. They will play their game on one monitor, whilst having comments on another. Meaning they can interact with viewers and still provide top-level entertainment.
• Gaming In General: Sometimes, it’s just nice to have a couple of different monitors for unique gaming scenarios. What I mean is, console gamers probably don’t want to game on a small 24inch monitor. That being said, some competitive gamers (CS:GO players mainly) will die by their 24-inch monitor, saying nothing else comes close. In this scenario, having a dual monitor setup allows people to play competitively one minute and be immersed by console gaming the next. A great way to utilize dual monitors.

What Would Be A Good Secondary Monitor?

Choosing a secondary monitor that is right for your needs can be a tricky process, especially when you consider how swamped the market place is right now. For that reason, we’ve decided to showcase some of the stand-out picks in today’s market.

24-Inch

BenQ GW2480

Size

24″

Refresh Rate

60Hz

Response time

5ms

Panel

IPS

Resolution

1920 x 1080

How We Review

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This nicely designed 24-inch monitor is a great choice for individuals who prioritize aesthetics and price. It has an ultra-slim bezel and comes with a price tag that is both value for money and affordable.

A budget 24-inch monitor that offers a stylish design alongside a very affordable price tag. Great for streamers needing an additional monitor for viewer interaction.

27-inch

Looking to double your already existing 27-inch monitor real-estate? Look no further, this budget offering will do the job nicely.

At an affordable price point, this 1080p monitor offers up good real-estate and excellent color recreation.

Ultrawide Alternative

If dual monitors aren’t your thing, this 49″ monitor will be more than enough to accommodate your needs.

Dell Alienware AW3418DW

Size

34.1″

Refresh Rate

120Hz

Response Time

4ms

Panel Type

IPS

Max Resolution

3440×1440

How We Review

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A superb display that offers up high-end features that make it great for gaming, creative workflows, and pretty much everything in between.

Related Pages

Still struggling to decide which monitor is right for you? Or just want some extra information on monitors? Here’s a selection of our best monitor guides that might be of interest to you.

• Best Gaming monitor
• Best monitor size for gaming
• What makes a good gaming monitor
• TVs vs Monitors
• 1080p Vs 4K monitors
• Cheap Gaming Monitors

Conclusion

So, there you have it guys, our easy-to-follow guide on how to set up dual monitors with Windows. I’m sure you’ll all agree, the method itself is actually extremely easy. That being said, if you still are struggling to get things up and running, feel free to drop us a comment in the section below. Better still, you can now head on over to our Community Hub where you can discuss everything PC related with like-minded individuals.