A dual monitor setup lets you multitask like a pro and increase productivity! Learn how to set up dual monitors in Windows 10.

You'd think that connecting two or more monitors to your PC is a matter of plugging them in, and you're good to go. The new monitors should just instantly turn on and start working, right? Well, that's usually not the case.

Did you consider these pitfalls: Does your computer even support a dual monitor setup? How many outputs does your graphics card support? What type of video ports does your computer have?

We'll help you answer those questions and show you how to configure your multiple monitor setup.

Here's what you need to consider when you want to use extra displays with your computer:

This article will cover each of these areas and should help you troubleshoot the issues you may be having with your extended displays.

Before you start shoving wires into ports in the back of your PC or the sides of your laptop, stop and take a closer look at those ports so that you know what you're looking at.

Modern computers handle video via an HDMI port, but older computers feature a variety of other ports:

Many computers include a mix of these ports. Examining the back of your desktop PC or the side of your laptop (the best portable laptop monitors), you should see one or more of them.

Typically, if your computer has two ports on it, the video card is usually capable of sending an output signal to both. If there's only one port, then it probably can't.

However, your desktop might have available slots for additional video cards. So, even if there's only one port on your desktop, don't hesitate to pop the cover and check for any available slots for another video card.

When it comes to laptops, another option is to purchase and use compatible docking stations. You may have a docking station option that could extend your laptop (which may only have a single video port), into a docking station that features two or more ports.

So, even if you only have one video port available, definitely research the graphics cards if you want to set up a dual monitor laptop.

If you have two ports, but you can't seem to get both ports to work at the same time, the next step is to determine if your video card even has the ability to display to multiple monitors.

It's easy enough to check: Just plug in both monitors, then press Windows + I and go to System > Display.

In the display settings, you may actually see the multiple displays come up, with some disabled and others set up as either your primary display or as an extended display.

You can ignore those for now and instead click on Advanced display settings at the bottom of this window.

On the next page, you should see Display information for each connected display if your graphics card "sees" the number of monitors that you've plugged in.

If more than one shows up, then the card is capable of displaying to multiple monitors.

If you only see one, then you should quit here because even though you managed to connect multiple displays, the card is only able to utilize one at a time. Much of your success in this comes down to hardware capability, so checking this first is the most important thing.

However, if you've confirmed that your video card can "see" all displays that you've plugged in, yet you can't seem to get additional monitors to work, don't give up. There are a few more things you can try to fix the issue.

If you're still not certain whether your computer can support dual monitors, another option is to research your graphics card.

First, look up the brand of your graphics card.

Head to Google and research the brand of your graphics adapter, followed by the word "multi-display" or "multi-monitor."

Hopefully, you'll be able to find some evidence of whether your graphics card can handle multiple monitors.

When your graphics card doesn't support a dual monitor setup, you can try one of these workarounds to hook up a second monitor anyway.

If your laptop or PC has a DisplayPort, then you might be able to take advantage of what's called multi-stream transport (MST) to daisy-chain two monitors off the single DisplayPort.

Daisy-chaining with a DisplayPort is very simple.

Now, in the Display Settings screen, you should see both monitors detected. You can arrange them to either mirror or extend your desktop.

There is also the option to split an HDMI signal to multiple monitors.

Even if your PC or laptop graphics card only supports a single output port, you can still extend your system with a second display using a USB-powered monitor and DisplayLink software.

You can find many external displays that will connect to your computer system and provide a second screen. The great thing about these monitors is that many are powered by the USB port itself, so you don't need another power supply. This is great for using a laptop with a second display when you're mobile.

Installing one of these monitors is as easy as plugging it in, and installing free DisplayLink software that'll make it all work.

Thanks to the variety of options available today, there's always a way to attach additional monitors to your computer. This is even true if the system itself doesn't have any secondary ports.

Whichever approach you take to set up a dual monitor setup, you configure it all under Settings (press Windows + I) > System > Display. The example above is a laptop connected to an external monitor using the HDMI port on a USB-C dock.

Once you have one or more external displays connected and detected by your computer, click on either of the detected monitors to configure it:

To display different things on two or more displays, you need to extend your screen to the other monitors. Under Settings > System > Display, scroll down to Multiple displays and select Extend these displays.

If you want to close your laptop's lid, but still use your external monitor, for example, to watch a movie, you have to change your laptop's power options, which are hidden in the Windows 10 Control Panel.

As you can see, there are a lot of steps in the process where some people would give up and conclude that it just doesn't work. If that's still you, consider getting a larger monitor.

But really, it comes down to just making sure your video card is capable of doing this, and then playing around with those display settings and making sure that the monitors are configured correctly. If you have one DisplayPort, consider the daisy-chain option. And if all else fails, buy a USB monitor and install DisplayLink software.

While completing a PhD, Tina started writing about consumer technology in 2006 and never stopped. Now also an editor and SEO, you can find her on Twitter or hiking a nearby trail.

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