HDMI: HDMI is the most common display connection. HDMI cables have a metal plug on both ends that. The plug is about 14mm x 4. 5mm with two notches on the bottom corners of the plug. Mini-HDMI: Mini-HDMI plugs and ports are the same shape as HDMI plugs and ports, but they are slightly smaller at 10. 4mm x 2. 4mm. If your laptop has a Mini-HDMI port and your monitor does not, you will need a Mini-HDMI-to-HDMI cable or a Mini-HDMI-to-HDMI adapter with an HDMI cable. Micro-HDMI: Micro-HDMI plugs and ports are the same shape as HDMI and mini-HDMI ports and plugs, except they are even smaller at 6. 4mm x 2. 8mm. If your laptop has a micro-HDMI port and your monitor does not, you will need a micro-HDMI-to-HDMI cable or a Micro-HDMI-to-HDMI adapter and an HDMI cable. USB-C: Instead of an HDMI output, many newer laptops have USB-C outputs. USB-C ports are oval-shaped and measure at about 8. 4mm x 2. 6mm. If your laptop has a USB-C port and your monitor does not, you will need a USB-C-to-HDMI adapter and an HDMI cable to connect your monitor to your computer. [2] X Research source Thunderbolt: Thunderbolt and Thunderbolt 2 connections are most commonly found on Macbook Pro and Macbook Air computers. The port has a lightning bolt icon next to it. Thunderbolt 1 & 2 ports are rectangle-shaped with two notches on the bottom corners. Thunderbolt 3 & 4 ports are shaped like a USB-C port and have a lightning bolt next to them. If your Macbook has a Thunderbolt 1 or 2 port and your monitor does not, you will need a thunderbolt-to-HDMI adapter and an HDMI cable to connect your Macbook to your monitor. If your Macbook has a thunderbolt 3 or 4 output, you can connect it to a monitor using a USB-C-to-HDMI adapter. [3] X Research source [4] X Research source Mini-Display Port: Mini-display ports are found on older Macbook and Macbook Pro models. Mini-display ports have the same shape as a thunderbolt port, but they are not the same. Mini-display ports have an icon that resembles a rectangle with two lines on both sides next to it. If your Macbook has a mini-display port and your monitor does not, you will need a Mini-display-port-to-HDMI adapter and HDMI cable to connect your Macbook to your monitor. DVI: DVI ports are used on older laptops and computers. They are about an inch wide with 24 holes for the 24 pins on the connector. DVI ports are video-only outputs. You will need to connect your computer speakers using a separate audio connection. If your laptop has a DVI port and your monitor does not, you will need a DVI-to-HDMI adapter to connect your computer to your monitor. [5] X Research source VGA: VGA connections are used on older computer models. A VGA port has 15 holes for the 15 pins on a VGA connector. VGA connections are video-only. You will need a separate audio connection to connect your computer speakers. These are typically used on older, low-resolution monitors. You will need a VGA-to-HDMI adapter to connect a VGA port to a modern computer monitor.

A laptop and charger. A computer monitor. A keyboard. A mouse. A display cable (and adapter if needed). A surge protector.

If the notebook has only one USB port, you can obtain a USB “Y” or a USB hub. This converts a single USB port into two or more ports.

Click the Windows Start menu. Click the Settings/Gear icon. Click System. Click Display in the menu to the left.

Alternatively, you can select Extend to use your monitor as a dual display setup. However, some laptops may not have the processing power for a dual display.

Click the Windows Start menu. Type “Control Panel”. Click Control Panel in the Windows Start menu.

Click Hardware and Sound. Click ‘Power Options.