Splitting screens between your laptop and an external monitor is a great way to increase productivity and improve multitasking. This setup allows you to have different applications or windows open on each screen, making it easier to work efficiently. Whether you want to extend your display or mirror your laptop screen this guide will show you how to split screens between your laptop and monitor.
Connecting Your Monitor to the Laptop
Start by connecting your external monitor to your laptop using the appropriate cable. Common connections include HDMI, DisplayPort, VGA or USB-C depending on your devices. Make sure both your laptop and monitor are powered on and set to the correct input source.
Adjusting Display Settings on Windows
On a Windows laptop, right-click on the desktop and select Display settings. Here you will see representations of your laptop screen and the external monitor.
Scroll down to the Multiple displays section. To split your screens and extend your desktop across both monitors, select Extend these displays from the dropdown menu.
You can drag and rearrange the display icons to match the physical setup of your screens. This makes moving the cursor between screens more natural.
Click Apply to save your settings.
Using Split Screen or Snap Assist
Windows offers built-in features like Snap Assist to arrange windows quickly. Drag a window to the left or right edge of the screen until you see a visual outline. Release to snap the window to that half of the screen.
You can then choose another open window to fill the other half. This works across both your laptop and monitor screens when extended.
Adjusting Display Settings on macOS
On a MacBook, click the Apple menu and select System Settings or System Preferences. Go to Displays and select the Arrangement tab.
Ensure the Mirror Displays box is unchecked to extend your desktop across both screens.
Arrange the displays by dragging them to reflect their physical placement. Close the settings to apply changes.
Using Mission Control and Split View
macOS provides Mission Control and Split View features to manage windows efficiently. Mission Control shows all open windows and spaces, allowing you to drag windows between screens.
Split View lets you fill your screen with two apps side by side for focused multitasking.
Tips for a Comfortable Setup
Position your external monitor at eye level and at a comfortable distance to reduce strain. Use a monitor with similar resolution and size for a seamless experience.
Adjust brightness and colour settings on both screens to match as closely as possible.
Conclusion
Splitting screens between your laptop and monitor is easy and greatly enhances your workspace. Whether you use Windows or macOS, adjusting display settings to extend your desktop lets you work across multiple screens efficiently. Using features like Snap Assist or Split View helps manage windows and multitask comfortably. With the right setup you can boost productivity and enjoy a better computing experience.