How to Connect a Laptop to a Monitor

This is an article on how to connect a Windows or Mac laptop to an external monitor. Since most newer computers choose the best connection for themselves when wired to an external display, the most important thing to keep in mind is choosing the right cable when connecting your laptop to an external monitor.

Table of Contents

Connect to an external monitor

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Specify the laptop’s video output options. Most laptops have a display connection port on the back of the body, but some also have this port on the side wall. Some of the main connection ports on laptops are:

Windows :
- HDMI – The port has two beveled corners that form six sides, approximately 1cm wide and available on most Windows laptops
- DisplayPort – Similar to HDMI, but with a beveled corner, and the rest of the corners are right angles.
- VGA or DVI – The VGA port is color with 15 holes, while the DVI port is usually black or white with 24 holes and a blank edge. These ports are often found on older computers.
Mac :
- Thunderbpt 3 (also known as USB-C ) – The oval port on the sidewall of most newer MacBooks.
- HDMI – The port with two beveled corners forming the hexagon is found on some MacBooks.
- Mini DisplayPort – A hexagonal port found on Macs manufactured between 2008 and 2016.

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Defines the video input of the monitor. Basic computer monitors usually have only one input, while television screens have multiple inputs. You can find HDMI or DisplayPort inputs on the back of most monitors. Older computer monitors use VGA or DVI connection cables.

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Connect the cable to the video output on the laptop. Place the connector of the video cable into the video output port on the laptop so that it fits and attaches.

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Attach the other end of the cable to the monitor. Place the other end of the video connection cable into the port on the TV to fit and attach.

If the external monitor is equipped with another connector, you will need an adapter cable to connect it to the monitor. Some converters are just a bridge between two types of cables. For example, a VGA to HDMI converter gives you one VGA connector and one HDMI connector. Some popular conversion cables are as follows:
- HDMI to DisplayPort.
- DisplayPort (or Mini DisplayPort) to HDMI.
- Mini DisplayPort to DisplayPort.
- USB-C to HDMI (or DisplayPort).
- VGA to HDMI.
- DVI to HDMI.

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Turn on the external display. Connect the external monitor to a power source (power outlet), then press the Power button.

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Of the screen.

If you’re using an adapter (not a converter cable), you’ll also need to connect the adapter’s power cable to a power source.

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Select the video source on the external display. If using a monitor or TV with multiple inputs, you need to select the port that is connected to the laptop on the external monitor. To select a video source, you would press the “Input” button, “Source”, “Video Select” or similar selection on the external monitor or controller.

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Wait for the laptop screen to display on the external monitor. Once you see your laptop’s home screen and icon (or other content) appear on the external monitor, you can continue setting up your laptop’s display settings.

If using VGA connection – with blue connector with 3 rows of holes, you need to switch monitors. You can do this by pressing the function key on the keyboard.
If your laptop’s home screen is not visible on the external monitor, see method 2 to find the monitor on Windows, and method 3 to find the display on Mac.

Find Screens on Windows

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Click the Start menu

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. This is the button with the Windows icon in the taskbar. By default, this button is in the lower left corner of the screen. The Start menu immediately displays.

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Click Settings

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. This selection has a gear icon. You’ll see it on the left side of the Start menu. The screen immediately displays the Settings window.

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Click System . This is the first option in the Settings menu and has a laptop icon next to it.

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Click Display . This option is displayed at the top of the left menu. The Display menu immediately appears.

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Scroll down and click Detect . It’s the gray button under “Multiple Displays” at the bottom of the screen. With this operation, Windows will proceed to find the screen.

Find Screens on MacOS

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Click the Apple icon

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. It’s the option with the Apple icon in the upper-left corner of the menu bar. This opens the Apple menu.

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Click System Preferences . This is the second option in the Apple menu. The System Preferences window immediately displays.

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Click Displays . This selection has a desktop icon. The Displays window immediately appears on the screen.

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Press and hold the Options key. When you press “Options”, the “Detect Displays” button is immediately displayed in the Displays window.

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Click Detect Displays . This option is in the lower right corner of the Displays window when you press the “Options” key. The MacOS operating system starts looking for the screen.