How Do I Extend the Display Across Two Monitors?
In this week’s Tech 911 column, Lifehacker’s advice column for everything geeky, we answer a question from a reader who has a problem setting up their dream: installing multiple monitors that allows them to double their productivity (or fool around).
I can feel his pain. I used two monitors for years – even in previous jobs that skimped on giving someone an extra display – until I finally upgraded to my beast, the 34-inch ultra-wide display. Setting up multiple monitors can be a little annoying if or when your operating system gets hectic, but any issues you run into shouldn’t take long to fix.
Lifehacker reader Samir writes:
I need help with Windows 10. I am using two monitors (a couple of years ago). Monitors worked fine, until recently I updated my Windows 10, now the same apps are displayed on both screens. Detection in control panel does not work. One is Dell and the other is ASUS monitor. Could you help me?
Good news, Samir. I don’t think you are facing a persistent problem. I highly doubt the Windows 10 upgrade cursed you with ineffective multi-monitor setup. Most likely what happened is that the update just reset your settings, and Windows is treating your monitors the way it wants to at the moment.
To fix this problem, you have several options. You didn’t mention if you are using integrated graphics or AMD / Nvidia graphics in your installation, so I’ll start by looking at that. If you are using a third-party graphics card, make sure you have installed the latest drivers (from AMD or Nvidia ). As part of this, you may be offered the option to update any drivers you are currently using (“express install”), or run a “clean install” that erases all existing settings during the installation process. Just in case, choose the second option.
After that, explore any company’s control panel, which can be found by right-clicking on the Windows desktop and selecting Nvidia Control Panel or AMD Radeon Settings. You should find some option here to control your multi-monitor setup – or at least a way to check that your two displays are not configured the way you want (clone or merge). Since I am using an Nvidia graphics card, this is how it looks on my system:
In my case, I can then right click on one of my monitors and choose whether I want to clone the display (what is displayed on the main is displayed on the other) or expand the display – I believe you are looking for a setting.
If you don’t see this option in Control Panel, you need a simpler solution, or you are using integrated graphics, you can also follow the same step through Windows itself. Bring up your Windows 10 display settings by clicking the Start button and typing Display. Click on the first option that appears on your Start Menu. You will see a screen that looks like this:
Scroll down a bit and you’ll see a dropdown that allows you to choose if you want to duplicate or expand your displays (or, for whatever reason, only show the image on the first or second display). I bet that in your case this was changed to “duplicate” – and you might want to choose “expand” instead:
If setting this option still doesn’t work, you may need to get a little creative when troubleshooting. When I had trouble setting up multiple monitors, one trick usually worked – shutting down the system, disconnecting the secondary monitor, and turning on the system with only one monitor connected. From there, you can also reinstall your graphics drivers (if applicable) using a “clean” install so that there are no weird settings causing problems.
Then turn off the system again, connect a second monitor and turn on the system again. You may need to tinker with settings again through AMD or Nvidia (or Windows 10) controls, but that should fix any issues you have. You can also consult with Windows 10 Device Manager to make sure nothing out of the ordinary is happening there (for example, two instances of one of your monitors – if so, try uninstalling one?)
Also, I would double check if you have connected the monitors correctly. I don’t think this is a problem, given that everything worked fine before installing Windows 10, but it’s worth mentioning.
If you don’t have a video card, both monitors should be connected to the connectors on your motherboard. If you have a video card, connect both monitors to it. Do not connect one monitor to the graphics card and the other to the motherboard. I suspect that you would not even see the image on both monitors if you did, but if you did, it might be the reason why you cannot expand the image to both displays.