You’re sitting at your desk with your main computer tower humming away, but you only have one monitor. Meanwhile, your perfectly good laptop is sitting closed and unused. It’s a common scenario that leads many to wonder: can I use that laptop screen as a second monitor for my desktop? The short answer is yes, but it’s not as simple as plugging in a cable.
Why It’s Not a Simple Cable Connection
Unlike a standard monitor, a laptop is designed as an output device for its own internal computer. The video ports on a laptop—like HDMI or USB-C—are almost always outputs, not inputs. This means they send a signal out to another screen, not receive one. You can’t just run an HDMI cable from your desktop PC to your laptop and expect it to work. The technology required to make this happen is software-based.
Using Built-in Software Solutions
The most straightforward method involves using software from the operating system itself. If both your desktop and laptop are running Windows 10 or 11, you can use the built-in Projecting to this PC feature. You’ll need to enable this setting on your laptop (the one you want to use as a monitor) and then use the “Connect” app on your desktop to find it. For those in the Apple ecosystem, macOS offers a feature called Sidecar, which allows an iPad or another Mac to function as a wireless display.
Third-Party Apps to Bridge the Gap
When built-in options aren’t available or don’t suit your needs, third-party applications are excellent alternatives. Programs like Space Desk, Parsec, or Spacedesk create a connection over your local Wi-Fi network. You install the server software on your main computer and the viewer client on your laptop. After a quick setup, your laptop screen will mirror or extend your main desktop. The performance is generally very good for everyday tasks, though there might be a slight lag for fast-paced gaming.
Is This the Right Solution for You?
Using your laptop as a second monitor is a fantastic way to repurpose hardware you already own. It’s ideal for extending your workspace to hold reference documents, a communication app like Slack or Discord, or your music player. It turns your laptop into a dedicated secondary screen, freeing up valuable real estate on your primary monitor for your most important work.
While it requires a software setup rather than a simple cable, using your laptop as a monitor is a clever and cost-effective way to boost your productivity. With both built-in and third-party tools available, you can easily create a dual-screen setup without buying new hardware.
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