Duplicate or extend monitors/screens

Introduction

Depending on whether you are in an office or classroom environment, you may want to change the configuration of your monitors to match the need. Additionally, when in an office, the monitors may be backwards left-to-right. Both problems are easy and quick to fix.

Duplicate or Extend Screens

In office environments, you'll typically want to extend your screens, so that you have more space to put your windows. In classrooms, you'll typically want to duplicate your screens so that what you see on your laptop screen is the same as what students see on the smarboard. By far, the easiest way to switch between these modes is to use the Windows+P menu.

Using Windows+P to switch modes

Push and hold the Windows key on the keyboard, then push the P key. You can then release both. A bar along the right side of the screen will pop up. Click the option you want to use and it will switch.

What the different options mean

PC Screen Only - See things on one display only.

Duplicate - See the same thing on all your displays.

Extend - See your desktop across multiple screens. When you have displays extended, you can move items between the two screens.

Second Screen Only - See everything on the second display only.

Show only on 1/2 - Same as PC Screen Only and Second Screen Only based on your monitor's identifying number.

Using display settings to switch modes

Alternatively, you can use the display settings control panel to switch modes and make other settings changes.

• To access Display settings, right click on an empty part of the desktop and select Display Settings.

  You can also do Start  > Settings  > System > Display

• Scroll down until you see Multiple displays.

• Select the drop down box for Multiple displays. Select the option you wish for the selected screen.

• Once you made your selection, a prompt will display asking if you wish to keep these changes. Click the appropriate choice for your needs.

Rearrange multiple monitors in extend mode

• In Display Settings, select the screen you wish to make adjustments to in the Rearrange your displays section.

• Select and drag the display to where you want. Do this with all the displays you want to move. When you're happy with the layout, select Apply. Test your new layout by moving your mouse pointer across the different displays to make sure it works like you expect.