Multi-monitor setups are great for productivity.
You may need more screen space than a single display provides or want to project images for an audience.
Thankfully, almost every modern laptop has a video-out port.
But some people may require more than one external display.
Laptops prioritize portability and are usually limited to a single HDMI port.
Exceptions, like some gaming laptops, are edge cases.
However, all hope is not lost!
This is the easiest scenario and the less expensive one to cover.
All you have to do is purchase anHDMI splitter.
That way, whatever gets displayed on one of these screens will also be shown on the other.
In such cases,using multiple displayswon’t be as hard.
The oldest one is VGA, recognizable for its trapezoid form with three lines of small holes.
DisplayPort (and its smaller sibling, MiniDP) is also common.
Lastly, there’s USB-C. And how to know if USB-C can be used with external displays?
Intel, the creator of Thunderbolt, requires manufacturers to label the ports.
But what if there’s no icon?
Here comes the catch: the USB Consortium, which regulates the standard, doesn’t require labeling.
So an unmarked USB-C portmay or may notbe able to output video.
In such a case, it’s crucial that you communicate with the manufacturer for that information.
Set Up Multiple Displays on Laptops Using Adapters
But again, not all hope is lost!
Otherwise, you could end up buying hardware that won’t work for your needs.
The main concern is the adapter’s chipset.
The thumb rule is “more expensive is better,” but there are exceptions.
Usage scenarios and which OS you’re running on should be taken into account as well.
In the end, the right adapter for you will be defined by the setup it’ll run on.
Different people have scenarios with different needs and limitations.
For example, Windows 10 users needing avertical screen for writingare good to go with the most entry-level adapter.
If you’re on Linux, only DisplayLink ones will work.
FrescoLogic-based ones are compatible with Windows and macOS but won’t be able to output 4K video.
Multi-monitor setups are meant to improve your workflow, not hinder it.
