Have you ever found yourself wishing for just one more screen? Maybe your main monitor is occupied, or you’re working from a location that isn’t your main desk. In these situations, you might look at your closed laptop and wonder if it can pull double duty. The good news is that using your laptop as a secondary display is often possible, but it depends entirely on the method you choose.
Using Built-in Software Solutions
For many users, the simplest way to use a laptop as a monitor is through built-in software. If both your primary computer and your laptop run Windows 10 or 11, you’re in luck. Head to Settings > System > Projecting to this PC. Here, you can adjust the settings to allow another device to project to your laptop. On the primary computer, press the Windows Key + P and select “Connect to a wireless display.” Your laptop should appear as an available screen. This method works over Wi-Fi, making it a cable-free solution for extending your desktop.
Connecting with a Physical Cable
While it seems logical, you typically cannot connect another computer to your laptop’s video input port because most laptops only have video output ports, like HDMI-out. They are not designed to receive a video signal. However, if you have a Mac and an iPad, Apple’s Sidecar feature is a fantastic exception. Using a cable or wirelessly, you can seamlessly turn your iPad into a second monitor for your Mac, which is a similar concept and incredibly useful for a portable workstation.
Third-Party Applications to the Rescue
When built-in options aren’t available or don’t meet your needs, third-party software is your best friend. Applications like Spacedesk, Parsec, or TeamViewer can create a virtual display over your local network or even the internet. You install the software on both machines, and one computer can then broadcast its screen to the other. These tools are particularly helpful for cross-platform setups, like connecting a desktop PC to a MacBook, and often provide a very responsive experience for general tasks.
While your laptop might not have a dedicated video-in port, modern software has created clever workarounds. Whether you use a native feature in Windows or a flexible third-party app, you can give your productivity a nice boost by turning that laptop into a functional second screen.
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