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How to Extend or Mirror screenUpdated 3 months ago

Extend or Duplicate screen for Windows

Before adjusting the settings for your external displays, ensure that everything is connected correctly. Here are some steps you can follow:

  1. Make sure your cables (HDMI/USB-C) are securely connected to your PC or dock.
  2. Check for Windows updates. To do this, click on Start, then search for Settings
  • Windows 11: Select Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates
  • Windows 10: Select Settings > > Update & Security> Windows Update > Check for updates

Extend or Duplicate screen for Windows

Here’s a quick guide to set up multiple displays (Windows 11):

Detect Your Displays

If a connected display isn't showing, click Start, search for Settings, and go to SystemDisplayMultiple displaysDetect.

For Windows 10: select Start  > Settings  > System > Display > Rearrange your displays, then select Detect

Identify Your Displays

Click Identify in the Display settings to see which number corresponds to each screen.

Arrange Your Displays

Drag and rearrange the displays in the settings to match your physical setup. Click Apply when done.

Choose Your Display Option

Press the Windows logo key + P and select one of the following:

  • PC screen only: Use one display.
  • Duplicate: Mirror all displays.
  • Extend: Spread your desktop across screens.
  • Second screen only: Use the second display exclusively.

Adjust Display Options

In Settings > System > Display, you can modify resolution and orientation settings as needed.

Extend or Mirror screen for Mac OS

1. On your Mac, open Apple menu > System Settings, then select Displays. 

2. Click your display's name, then choose an option from the “Use as” menu. 

Note: If you have a Mac laptop or iMac, you'll need to connect an external display to access these options. For devices without a built-in display, like a Mac mini or Mac Studio, you must connect multiple displays to see these settings.

3. To mirror displays, set all to extended desktop, hold the Option key, and drag one display icon onto another.

How to distinguish between 1, 2 and 3 screens

Click on Start, then go to System, and select Settings. From there, choose Extended Mode and click on Identify. At this point, all three monitors will show big numbers to let you know which screen is which.

The scaling between different monitors

If you find yourself in any of these situations.

  1. You've just set up dual monitors, but they have different resolutions.
  2. You're using a main screen alongside a portable screen, and their sizes are quite different.
  3. Dragging windows between screens feels awkward because of the scaling.

Then keep reading! We'll help you tackle those frustrating window scaling issues caused by differences in resolution and size.

1. Misalignment of Display Windows with the Same Size but Different Resolutions

Let's look at a dual-screen setup with a 27-inch 4K monitor and a 1080P screen. 

Here's how to align them properly.

  1. Open the NVIDIA Control Panel and click on "Change Resolution".
  2. Select your 1080P secondary screen.
  3. Click on "Customize" to set a custom resolution.
  4. Set the horizontal pixels to 3840 and the vertical pixels to 2160.
  5. Click "Test", then "OK" to save the new virtual resolution for your 1080P screen.
  6. Finally, go to your computer's "Display Settings" and change the resolution of the secondary screen to 3840x2160. 

This will give you a seamless cross-screen experience without any scaling issues.

2. Different Sizes and Resolutions but Proportionally Scaled Monitors

Now, let's tackle a setup with a 27-inch 4K monitor and a 14-inch 2K monitor. 

In this case, we need a quick calculation.

1. First, we need to calculate the PPI (Pixels Per Inch) for both screens using the formula:

PPI=√(X²+ Y²) / Z

X is the horizontal pixel count, Y is the vertical pixel count, and Z is the screen size.

2. For the 27-inch 4K (3840x2160), the PPI is approximately 163.17.

For the 14-inch 2K (2560x1440), the PPI is around 209.8.

3. Next, divide the PPI of the main screen by that of the secondary screen:

163.17/209.8≈0.7777

4. Now, calculate the resolution you need for the secondary screen:

  • Horizontal:  2560×0.7777≈1991
  • Vertical:  1440×0.7777≈1120

5. Return to the NVIDIA Control Panel, set the secondary screen's resolution to 1991x1120, and adjust your display settings. This will ensure your windows drag smoothly across both screens without any noticeable scaling.

By following these steps, you'll have a perfectly aligned multi-monitor setup!


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