How To Use Laptop As A Monitor?

Make the most of your screen real estate or recycle an old laptop by utilizing it as a monitor. Any of these objectives—extending or mirroring your desktop or configuring two screens—can be achieved with the right tools and techniques.

This blog post will examine several approaches of using a laptop as a monitor, focusing on Windows and macOS.

How Come a Laptop Makes a Better Monitor?

There are several reasons you could wish to utilize a laptop as a monitor:

Lengthen your desktop area with a dual-screen configuration to enable multitasking.

Share your primary screen whether collaborating or presenting.

Repurposing: Construct an additional display from an old laptop.

Mobility: A laptop can be a portable monitor for a game console or other device.

Utilising a Laptop as a Display

Using a laptop as a second display for a Windows computer

The easiest approach to use a laptop as a second display for a Windows computer is to use the "Projecting to this PC" function. Configuring it goes like this:

Setting up the receiving laptop

Click Settings and then choose System.

Find Projecting to this PC on the sidebar.

Make your selections. About "Some Windows and Android devices can project to this PC when you say it's OK":

This PC can project images to Windows PCs and phones, however it can only be found for projection when it is plugged in and turned on ("Available everywhere" or "Available everywhere on secure networks").

You can also add projecting requirements, such as requiring PINs or allowing projection only while the computer is turned on.

Select "Ask to project to this PC" and "Require PIN for pairing" according to your security needs.

Project from the Step Two Sending Device

To access the Action Center on a Windows computer, press Windows + K or click the notification symbol in the bottom-right corner of the screen.

Select Connect, then from the list of available devices, choose your laptop.

By now, the laptop ought to be able to serve as a second monitor. Proceed to the Display settings and make the required changes to decide between mirroring and extending the display.

Using a MacBook as a Mac's Second Monitor

One way to use a Mac laptop as a monitor for another Mac is with a third-party software like Luna Display or Duet Display. With these programs, you can wirelessly or via USB connect gadgets.

Configure the Duet or Luna display first.

Download and install the software on your main Mac and laptop.

Follow the setup instructions the software offers. Though at first you might need to connect the devices using a USB connection, you should be able to connect wirelessly after they are set up.

Creating a Mirrored or Longer Display

Start the program on the main Mac and the laptop.

Choose whether to enlarge or mirror your desktop.

If extending, use your primary Mac's display settings to align the extended display with your configuration.

Displaying a video game console on a laptop

Should you own a game console such an Xbox or PlayStation, you may utilize your laptop as a display with the appropriate software and an HDMI capture card.

Affix the HDMI capture card

Connect the HDMI output from the game console to the HDMI input on the capture card.

Connect the capturing card to your laptop via USB.

Setup Your Streaming Software

Once downloaded, run OBS Studio or any other tool that interfaces with your capture card.

Select the software's detection of the capture card as a video source.

Now your laptop should show the game console's output.

In brief

Using a laptop as a monitor might make extending your display arrangement or recycling out-of-date equipment more flexible and less expensive.

Using a Mac, Windows PC, or gaming console, there are a number of ways to do this. Savor the freedom to use your laptop as an additional monitor by choosing the configuration and approach that suit you the best.