How to Enable Two Monitors in Windows 7
A dual-screen layout extends your available workspace with more screen real estate, giving you a lot of options when configuring your displays. For instance, you can use one screen to display reference materials or to keep your email open while working on the other monitor. A secondary display can also be useful for other tasks, such as mirroring your display on a bigger screen for a presentation or meeting. After connecting your second monitor to your workstation, enable and configure it using the Screen Resolution control panel.
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1.
Connect the second monitor to the computer if it isn’t already connected.
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2.
Right-click anywhere on the desktop, and click “Screen Resolution” from the contextual menu.
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3.
Click on the second monitor icon. If the second monitor icon doesn’t appear, click the “Detect” button to show all currently-connected displays.
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4.
Click the “Multiple Displays” menu, and select a secondary display option. To use both monitors as a workspace, select “Extend Your Displays.” To use one monitor as a workspace with a mirrored display on the second monitor, select “Duplicate Your Displays.”
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5.
Click the "OK" button to apply your changes and close the Screen Resolution window.
References
Resources
Tips
- Drag and drop display icons in the Screen Resolution window to arrange the virtual layout of your workspaces.
Writer Bio
Jacob Michael has been a freelance writer since 2010, with expertise in computers, cooking, travel and other topics. He holds a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and is pursuing a master's degree in American studies.