Many people working from home or juggling devices have wondered whether it is possible to use a laptop as a monitor. Perhaps your desktop screen has failed or you would like a dual-display setup to extend your workspace. While laptops are designed to output to external displays they are not usually set up to receive video input in the same way. That said there are a few ways to make it work depending on what you need and which operating systems and devices you are using.
This article will explain when and how you can use a laptop as a second screen, what limitations exist, and what to look out for when setting it up.
How Laptop Displays Work
Laptops come with built-in screens which are connected internally to the graphics card. These screens receive their signal from within the machine rather than an external source. Unlike standalone monitors which often come with multiple input ports such as HDMI DisplayPort or VGA a laptop typically only includes output ports. These are meant for sending the display to another screen like a TV or monitor rather than receiving input.
Because of this you cannot usually connect a device like a desktop PC, PS5 or another laptop directly to a laptop screen using HDMI. Both devices are trying to output a video signal so the HDMI ports on laptops are not designed to communicate with each other. However this does not mean all is lost.
Using Windows Laptop as a Second Monitor
If you are using Windows 10 or Windows 11 and want to extend your display from one laptop or PC to another laptop screen you can use the built-in Projecting to this PC feature. This allows one Windows device to wirelessly share its screen with another over the same Wi-Fi network using Miracast technology.
To set this up you need to go to the receiving laptop and open the Settings menu. From there select System then Projecting to this PC. You can choose when the device is available and whether a PIN is required. Once it is ready go to the sending device and press Windows + K or search for Connect. The receiving laptop should appear on the list. Select it to start sharing your screen.
This method works best for casual tasks like presentations emails or web browsing. It may not perform well for gaming or video editing as the connection depends on wireless network speed and can introduce input delay or lower image quality.
Using macOS and AirPlay
For Mac users you can use AirPlay to extend or mirror your display if you have a compatible MacBook and a second Apple device like an iMac or another MacBook. Both devices must be running macOS Monterey or later and be on the same Apple ID and Wi-Fi network.
Click the Control Centre in the menu bar then select Screen Mirroring. Your second Mac should appear as an option. Choose it to start using the screen either as a mirrored display or as an extended desktop.
This is a seamless way to use a second Apple screen without cables but it is limited to Apple-to-Apple use and will not help if you want to connect a Windows PC to a MacBook screen.
Third-Party Software Solutions
There are also third-party applications that can allow you to use your laptop as a secondary display. Tools such as SpaceDesk, Duet Display or Splashtop Wired XDisplay allow you to use another laptop or tablet as a second monitor either over Wi-Fi or via a USB cable.
SpaceDesk for example allows a Windows laptop to act as a second monitor for another Windows device. You install a driver on the main PC and a viewer app on the laptop you want to use as a screen. These apps can provide good quality and are often more responsive than wireless built-in solutions though some may require payment for full functionality.
Can You Use a Laptop as a Monitor for a Console or Desktop PC
Using a laptop screen as a monitor for a gaming console or desktop PC through HDMI is not possible on most models because the HDMI port on a laptop is output only. It does not accept incoming video signals.
Some gaming laptops with unique capture card inputs or USB-C video input options may support this functionality but they are rare. To achieve this setup you would generally need to use a USB capture card which allows you to plug your console into the card then view the feed using specialised software. This introduces latency and is not ideal for gameplay but can be useful for streaming or recording content.
Things to Consider
When using a laptop as a second monitor using software or wireless features keep in mind that performance may be limited by the strength of your Wi-Fi connection or by the processing power of the machines involved. The resolution may also be reduced and refresh rates may be lower than with a traditional monitor.
These solutions work well for office tasks document editing or reference screens but are not well suited for fast-paced gaming or professional graphics work.
Conclusion
Although laptops are not designed to serve as traditional external monitors there are several ways to use them as second screens. Built-in features in Windows and macOS offer wireless display sharing and third-party apps can provide more flexibility depending on your needs. While you cannot simply plug in an HDMI cable and turn your laptop into a monitor creative workarounds exist for those wanting to maximise their setup using the devices they already own.