Set up a second screen for your computer

said braka 7:46 AM
You may get along just fine with only one

computer screen, but adding a second can give you much more room to work. This upgrade isn't just for creative professionals or seasoned programmers—it lets anyone spread out their apps, edit documents side by side, and multitask like a pro. That, in turn, will boost your productivity and efficiency.

On top of the benefits, it's easy and cheap to hook up that second screen to your desktop or laptop computer. Here's how to get started, from purchasing a good monitor to setting it up properly.

Cables and adapters

Most computers have the built-in ability to power a second screen. To get started, check out your laptop or desktop to find a HDMI or DisplayPort socket. If you own an older computer, you might be looking for a white DVI or a blue VGA socket instead. All four types of ports let you connect your computer to a television, projector, or other secondary screen.

If your computer has one of these ports, all you need is the proper cable. However, some of the thinner and lighter laptop models lack a compatible port. For those, you may have to add an adapter into the mix.

For example, slimmed-down laptops like the Apple MacBook and the Google Pixelbook rely on USB-C ports for data transfer, charging, and video output. A few monitors do accept USB-C, but not all do. In that case, you'll need an adapter to covert USB-C to HDMI (like this $20 dongle) or to DisplayPort (such as this $15 adapter cable) before you plug the laptop into your monitor.