Easy Ways To Setup Three Monitors With Laptop

A complete three-monitor setup guide for using triple monitors on Windows PC.

Are you bored of working on a single screen? Do you want to set up three monitors instead of two with a laptop for multitasking or gaming in Windows? You are in luck. This guide will help in setting up three monitors on one computer.

How To Set Up Three Monitors For Windows 10?

Working on three monitors can be handy when you have much information to process. So, here we are to explain how you can do that. Remember triple monitor doesn’t mean you will see the same thing precisely on all three screens. It means you are extending the desktop across all three monitors so that you can work on them simultaneously.

Step 1 – Check if Your System Supports Triple Monitors

Many computers do not support triple monitors, specifically old or low-cost models fail to detect the triple monitors. Have a peek at its video ports to find out if yours does or doesn’t.

This is how video ports appear:

To operate triple monitors, you’ll need a minimum of three video connections to be used simultaneously. The video ports are at the back of the CPU, from here count the ports and type you have.

Next, you must assess if all the ports can be used concurrently. There are two factors to consider:

1. Do you want to use both integrated graphics And a graphics card?

If you want to use both integrated graphics and a graphics card, you need to check if there are two groups of video ports. If there are, don’t get confused. Though you can run monitors off both integrated graphics and graphics cards, things will slow down, especially when switching between displays.

Therefore, we suggest using a graphics card alone. As graphics card is more responsive, gives greater resolution and higher quality. However, if you want to use both integrated graphics and the graphics card, you’ll have to enable the integrated graphics card from BIOS. Go to Configuration > Video > Integrated graphics device > Always enable. The menu options might differ.

This option needs to be enabled for the detection & proper working of connected monitors with integrated graphics (motherboard).

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2. Some graphics cards and motherboards don’t allow using all ports simultaneously.

Not all the ports you see can be used simultaneously. Therefore, check the graphics card manual to determine how many ports you can use. In case that isn’t available, perform a Google search and see the number of ports you can use.

The same is true for motherboards. As a result, you’ll need to read the motherboard’s manual.

Check your laptop to see how many monitors it supports

If you’re using a laptop, you will generally have one video connector on either side.

However, if you three, which is quite unusual, no worries. To use triple monitors purchasing additional hardware will be required.

Step 2: Buy Additional Hardware if the Required Components are Missing

If your computer does not have the required video connections, you can make things work, by purchasing one of the following:

Move ahead and select the gadget of interest.

Note: A video splitter cannot be used to connect three monitors as it will mirror the display on three monitors.

A new video card – If you have a desktop PC, upgrade to a graphics card compatible with three monitors. While doing so, check your motherboard’s PCI Express slot, the size of the selected graphics card, and the power usage to confirm if it is compatible with your PC.

For laptop users, this won’t work as most laptops use an integrated graphics card.

A motherboard has several expansion slots. To connect the graphics card, a PCI Express x16 slot is required. The easiest way to know is to perform a Google search for the motherboard’s manufacturer and model number. If you have technical knowledge, you can open the CPU cabinet to see whether you have the slot. Furthermore, ensure that your computer case has enough space for the new graphics card. After that check, the power requirements as a graphics card compatible with three monitors required 600W power instead of 100W to 300W when using a single monitor.

If your PC lacks the necessary processing power, it may shut down suddenly or fail to boot when installing the new graphics card.

A multi-display adaptor that is external -Even if your PC only has one monitor output, you can operate three different displays using an external multi-display adapter. An external multi-display is considerably easier to set up.

A USB to HDMI converter – If you don’t want to spend on an external multi-display converter, you may acquire a USB to HDMI adapter. One adapter for each additional monitor is needed. This means, if you have one, you can plug two of these adapters into your PC’s USB ports, connect additional monitors to the other end, and you’re done! You have a three-monitor extended desktop!

A charging station – A docking station helps connect up to three different displays to the PC. Connect your laptop to the docking station using the USB host cable, followed by connecting extra displays. However, a drawback to using a charging station; it doesn’t have a cooling fan.

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Step 3 – Check the Cables

Once you are sure that you have the requisite video ports to handle triple monitors, ensure that you have all of the necessary connections to connect everything.

Remember, if your computer has two HDMI ports and one DisplayPort, you’ll need two HDMI cables and one DisplayPort cable to connect three displays.

Next, inspect the ports on your displays. For example, if you’re connected to a desktop with two HDMI ports and one DisplayPort, you should have two displays with HDMI inputs and one with a DisplayPort input.

If the ports on your displays don’t match those on your computer, don’t be alarmed. Purchase an adapter or an adapter cord.

Step 4 – Configure Display Settings

Once everything is in place and linked, it’s time to configure display settings.

Configuring Display Settings – Windows 10

Right-click on the blank space on Desktop > select Display settings.

You will now see monitors, each labeled with a number.
Click Identity to know which number represent which monitor.
To find the missing monitor, click Detect. Once detected, rearrange the screen, drag and drop them over one another with your mouse.
If you want, you can alter the SCale and layout of displays.
Click drop-down next to Multiple displays and select Extend these displays.

This should help run monitors properly. However, if you face any problems, try updating the graphics and monitor drivers.

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Step 5 Update Graphics & Monitor Driver

To guarantee that your triple monitor configuration operates properly and avoids problems, keep the monitor and graphics driver updated.

Method 1- Manually Download and Install Drivers.

You may manually download and install the newest drivers for your graphics card and displays by visiting the manufacturers’ websites, finding the correct drivers for your device models and Windows version, and then manually downloading and installing them.

Method 2- Automatically Download and Install Drivers

Suppose you lack the appropriate time or computer skills to update the drivers for your displays and graphics card manually to update the drivers for your displays and graphics card manually. In that case, Advanced Driver Updater can do it for you in a few mouse clicks.

Advanced Driver Updater will detect your device details and locate the appropriate drivers. You don’t need to know what operating system you are running. Also, you don’t need to risk downloading and installing an incorrect driver.

Download and install Advanced Driver Updater.

Open the tool and click Start Scan Now to scan the PC for outdated drivers and update them.

Update graphics card drivers and monitor drivers by clicking Update driver next to each driver.

However, if you are using the paid version, you can simply click Update All to update all drivers in a go.

Restart the PC to apply changes.

Hopefully, this article could help set up using external multi-display adapter triple monitors and use them on Windows PC flawlessly.

Preeti Seth

A UX writer who loves explaining technical details in a clear, crisp, and concise manner. She loves writing about technical troubleshooting, How-To's, product reviews, etc. In her free time, she loves reading, meditating, and traveling.