7 Tips On How To Use A Laptop As A Monitor

Sometimes a single screen is not enough. But did you know you can use your laptop as a monitor? The key is to know how to use a laptop as a monitor. Using a laptop as a monitor is fairly easy as well. If you are wondering whether your laptop can handle it, pretty much any laptop under $1000 (and those over) should be able to handle the process with little issue.

Here are a few tips and situations that may be of interest. There are a variety of systems where your laptop can become a second monitor. You can see the game broader and brighter than ever before.

How You Can Use a Laptop as a Monitor

There are a few things you are probably wondering: how to use a laptop as a monitor for the PS4, how to use a laptop as a monitor for Xbox, or how to use a laptop as a monitor for the Switch. You can even use a laptop as a monitor for Mac, use a laptop as a monitor for Android, and use a laptop as a monitor for iPhone.

You don’t even need the best laptop under $1000 to make it happen. All it takes is a little know-how to make this all a reality. Let’s take a look at the different applications and systems where you can gain extra screen room.

Table of Contents:
 

1: Using a PC as a Mac Monitor

2: Using a Laptop as a Second Monitor on Windows Systems

3: Using Your iOS Device as a Second Display

4: Using a Laptop with an Android Device

5: Why use Your Laptop as a PS4 Monitor

6: Using Your Laptop as an Xbox Monitor

7: Using Your Laptop as a Monitor for Nintendo Switch

 
 

1. Using a PC as a Mac Monitor

What if you have a single monitor for Mac? The good news is you can use a laptop as a monitor for Mac. The key is to learn how to use a laptop as a monitor. For the most part, all it takes is a DVI or VGA cable plugged into one of the Mac adaptors.

From there, you will know how to use a laptop as a second monitor and get the most out of your display setup.

 
 

2. Using a Laptop as a Second Monitor on Windows Systems

This is probably the easiest one to do. When you want to use a laptop as a monitor, aka an external display on your laptop, then all you need is a monitor connector. For the most part, this is a DVI or HDMI cable.

These devices are all meant to be used in coordination with one another, so there is no adaptor needed. You may run into trouble if you are using an old monitor with a new laptop, you may have to use an adaptor. But it should be easier otherwise.

 
 

3. Using Your iOS Device as a Second Display

You can use your laptop to use an iOS device as a second display, too. If you are wondering how to use your iOS device as your PC’s second display, this is quite easy. For Apple devices, you can select “mirror” in the settings, oftentimes being able to swipe up to access it.

When you connect to your laptop, you can display what is on your phone on your laptop. From there, you can navigate using the little screen but watching what’s happening on the larger laptop monitor. It is the best of both worlds.

 
 

4. Using a Laptop with an Android Device

If you want to know how to use a laptop as a monitor for Android, the process is pretty similar. You can use your laptop as a monitor for your Android phone through the “cast” function. It is very similar to the “mirror” function that iOS uses.

You would simply find the “cast” option in your settings and connect your phone to the laptop. From there, everything you do on the phone would be displayed on your laptop. All for easier viewing.

 
 

5. Why use Your Laptop as a PS4 Monitor

In most of our comfortable spaces, there is a gaming console of some sort. But what better way to play than to use a laptop as a monitor for PS4? Learn how to play PS4 on a laptop with an HDMI cable. The good news is that a quick connection and you can be using a laptop as a monitor for PS4. That means more screen real estate to use to create a better gaming experience than ever before.

 
 

6. Using Your Laptop as an Xbox Monitor

On the same hand, you may be wondering how to connect Xbox to a laptop. You can also use a laptop as a monitor for Xbox One just as you would for another console. When you have a USB HDMI adaptor, you can use a laptop as a monitor for Xbox no matter what version you have. Best of all, you can connect headphones to your Xbox One to create an immersive, complete gaming experience like no other.

After you learn how to use a laptop as a monitor for Xbox One, there is no stopping you from using it on your other consoles. All to create a superior gaming experience where you have more screen space whenever you need it. Depending on your laptop, you can even connect an Xbox to a laptop via an Xbox Live account.

 
 

7. Using Your Laptop as a Monitor for Nintendo Switch

Likewise, you are likely wondering how to connect your Nintendo Switch to your laptop. How can you use a laptop as a monitor for Switch? But using a laptop as a monitor for Nintendo Switch is just as easy: an HDMI cable.

Most of these modern consoles have HDMI ports, which means a quick connection and you are ready to play with additional screen space. That makes gaming from the small screen to the big one an easy transition that can improve multiplayer gaming.

 
 

Conclusion

As you can see, there are more than a few applications for your laptop. Adding a second monitor means seeing things bigger and brighter than ever before. Besides, when you can see the action clearer, you will probably become a better player as a result.

Besides, who doesn’t like having more screen real estate? That is precisely what you can get with your laptop, creating the ultimate gaming or surfing experience and one that you have not experienced before.