How to Use Two Monitors with Windows 8

Windows 8 makes it easier than ever to connect two or more monitors to your PC, which can greatly enhance the user experience and increase your productivity. There's no need to throw away an old screen when you upgrade, just use it to...

Table of Contents

Basic Set-Up
Changing Display Options

Method 1 of 2:

Basic Set-Up

Connect the monitor to your PC. Plug in the power, connect the video cable to a compatible port on the computer, and Windows should immediately detect it and install the required drivers.
Bring up the charms bar (Windows key + C).
Click on 'Devices' followed by 'Second screen.'
Choose how you want your monitors configured. 'PC Screen only' and 'Second screen only' turn off the other screen and display Windows on a single monitor only.
Selecting 'Duplicate' mirrors Windows across both screens while, most interestingly, 'Extend' spreads your desktop across both screens. One effect of this is that you can run the new Windows 8 Metro interface alongside the Windows 7 style Desktop.

Method 2 of 2:

Changing Display Options

Modify the task bar settings by right-clicking anywhere on the bar and selecting "Properties." It is possible to turn the second taskbar off or set both task bars to only show programs displayed in their own screens. You can then select how you would like the taskbar to be displayed in the pop-up dialogue box.
Further adjust the display options by right-clicking anywhere on the desktop in Desktop mode and selecting 'Screen resolution.' From here you can change the screen resolution, drag the monitors so they are in the correct order in Extend mode, change screen orientation, and more.

Micah Soto

Update 04 March 2020

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