How To Make External Monitor Primary

Using an external monitor as your primary display can be a convenient way to expand your screen real estate, especially if you are working on a laptop with a smaller screen. In this blog post, we will go over the steps to make an external monitor the primary display on a Windows 10 PC.

Connect the external monitor to your PC

The first step in setting up an external monitor as your primary display is physically connecting it to your PC. You can do this using an HDMI or VGA cable, depending on the ports available on your computer and monitor. Once you have connected the cables, turn on the external monitor.

Adjust display settings

Once the external monitor is connected and turned on, you must adjust your display settings to make it the primary display. To do this, follow these steps:

Right-click on the desktop and select “Display Settings” from the context menu.
In the “Display” settings window, you will see a “Multiple displays” drop-down menu. From this menu, select the option that says, “Make this my main display.” This will make the external monitor the primary display.
If you want to extend your desktop across both displays, select the option that says “Extend these displays.”

Adjust resolution and scaling

After making the external monitor the primary display, you may need to adjust the resolution and scale to ensure everything looks correct on the screen. To do this, follow these steps:

In the “Display” settings window, click on the external monitor.
Under “Resolution,” use the drop-down menu to select the desired resolution for the external monitor.
Under “Scale and layout,” you can adjust the scaling to make text and other items on the screen more readable.

Arrange displays

If you have multiple displays connected to your PC, you can rearrange them to suit your needs better. To do this, follow these steps:

In the “Display” settings window, click and hold on the display icon for the external monitor.
Drag the display icon to the desired position, either to the left or right of the main display.
You can also use the “Resolution” drop-down menu to change the orientation of the display (e.g. landscape or portrait).

Conclusion:

Setting up an external monitor as the primary display on a Windows 10 PC is a simple process that can significantly increase productivity by giving you more screen real estate. By following the steps outlined in this blog post, you can easily connect, adjust, and arrange your external display to suit your needs.

FAQs

Can I use an external monitor with a laptop?

Yes, you can use an external monitor with a laptop by connecting it to the appropriate port on your laptop (e.g. HDMI or VGA). You must adjust your display settings to make the external monitor the primary display.

Can I use multiple external monitors with my PC?

You can use multiple external monitors with your PC by connecting them to the appropriate ports and adjusting your display settings to extend your desktop across all displays.

How do I adjust the brightness and contrast on my external monitor?

You can adjust the brightness and contrast on your external monitor by using the buttons or controls on the monitor itself. If these controls are unavailable, Adjusting the brightness and contrast on your external monitor can also be done through the operating system.

Right-click on the desktop and select “Display Settings” from the context menu.

In the “Display” settings window, click on the external monitor.
Under “Brightness and color,” use the sliders to adjust the brightness and contrast as desired.

Note: If these settings are not available, it may be because the monitor does not support brightness and contrast adjustments through the operating system. In this case, you will need to use the buttons or controls on the monitor itself to adjust these settings.

Can I use a different resolution on my external monitor than on my main display?

Yes, you can use a different resolution on your external monitor than on your main display. To do this, follow the steps outlined in Step 3 above to adjust the resolution for the external monitor. Remember that different resolutions on different displays can cause some visual distortion, especially if the displays are not the same size.

Can I use my external monitor as a touchscreen?

It is possible to use an external monitor as a touch screen if the monitor is equipped with touch capabilities and you have a touch-enabled device (e.g. a touchscreen laptop or tablet). To use the external monitor as a touch screen, you will need to connect it to the appropriate port on your device and ensure that the touch function is enabled in the operating system settings.

What if my PC does not recognize my external monitor?

If your PC does not recognize your external monitor, there could be a problem with the connection or the display itself. Here are a few troubleshooting steps you can try:

Check that the cables are securely connected to the monitor and the PC.
Try using a different cable or port to see if that resolves the issue.
Restart your PC and try again.
Check that the external monitor is turned on and functioning properly.

If none of these steps resolves the issue, there may be a problem with the hardware or software on your PC or the external monitor itself. In this case, you may need further assistance from a technical support team.