How to use a Windows laptop or tablet as a 2nd screen

Having a 2^nd screen with your Windows PC is a great way to increase your productivity. Did you know you can use a Windows laptop or tablet as a 2^nd display to your PC or laptop and you don’t need special cables? I use my Surface Go as a 2nd screen when I am out on the road.

To add a laptop as a 2^nd display we are going to use something called Miracast which is a wireless display protocol and part of Windows 10. The first step is to enable Wireless Display on your 2^nd Windows device. If you have already enabled it you can go to step 2.

UPDATE: I have created a video guide of how to use a Windows laptop or tablet as a 2nd display

Step 1 – Enable Wireless Display

In some version of Windows 10 this is automatically enabled out of the box, so search for the Connect app and open it up. If the connect app is not installed on your system you will need to enable it in Windows.

To enable Connect go to Settings / Apps & features / Optional features (or type Optional features into the search box on the start menu).

Click on the Add a feature button

Scroll down the list and select Wireless Display, then click on Install.

All you need to do is reboot and you should then have the Connect app installed.

Step 2- Open the Connect app

Open up the Connect app and then go back to your main PC. You can also initiate the connection on the main PC and your 2^nd display will ask for it to be connected.

Step 3 – Project your display to the 2^nd display

On the main PC press Windows Key and + P and then it will bring up the Project menu. Click on Extend and then click on Connect to a wireless display.

You should see the name of your 2^nd PC on the right hand side, click on it and it should initiate the connection to the PC.

You have the option of allowing the keyboard/mouse of the 2^nd display to control both devices, tick that if you want it to be enabled.

The first time you setup up display sharing the screen is a mirror of your main PC, you can switch it to extended mode by going to Settings/Display. Scroll down the screen and find “Multiple displays”.

From the drop down select “Extend these displays”. Select “Keep this display” on the pop up dialog and then on your 2^nd laptop the display will be an additional monitor to your primary PC.

In the display settings you can arrange the 2^nd display to match physical layout of the devices.

Speed and quality of the connection are dependent of the network quality between the devices but if you’re mobile working and want the dual screen experience then this is a handy tip.

How-to video: