How To Setup Multiple Display On A Laptop

by Ginard Guaki · Published September 5, 2023 · Updated September 5, 2023

Triple monitors: Seamlessly transitioning between tasks

Today, we’d like to share our setup for a triple monitor arrangement with our laptop. We have a Dell XPS 13, which is very handy considering that we are always on the move. However, when we’re back at our workspace for editing and multitasking, we feel the need for a larger screen. So, what we did was get two 21-inch Acer monitors, these already work for us, but you can change the sizes and brands depending on your preference.

*These are the two Acer monitors, with the Dell laptop on the left.*

The process is fairly straightforward, just plug and play. We place our laptop on our workspace and connect it to a docking device we purchased, which serves both of these monitors.

One of the advantages of this setup is the use of a dedicated keyboard and mouse to your liking, which also offers a more ergonomic experience compared to the laptop’s built-in input devices as it is more comfortable for extended work sessions. The concept is simple – each screen acts independently, allowing me to drag windows across them seamlessly, enhancing my multitasking capabilities. Let’s delve into the specifics.

The device we use for this setup was procured from Amazon. It’s an Anker adapter with multiple ports, including two HDMI ports, one Type-C port, card readers for microSD and SD cards, and two USB ports. We opted for this because the Dell XPS13 is type-C and we find the other ports useful. If you’re considering a dual monitor setup, there’s a more budget-friendly option with similar features.

*Anker USB C Hub, 553 USB-C Hub, 8-in-1 USB C Dock, Dual 4K HDMI USB C to USB Adapter, 1 Gbps Ethernet USB Hub, 100W Power Delivery, SD Card Reader, Dual HDMI USB-C Dock for MacBook Pro, XPS and More*

Now, let’s get to the setup. We’ve already prepared our cables – two HDMI cables from our monitors and two USB cables, one from the keyboard and one from the mouse. Connecting these to the device is straightforward. Once everything is plugged in, the setup should function.

However, we need to adjust some settings to ensure everything is arranged correctly. By right-clicking on our computer, we navigate to the display settings.

As you can see, the screens are shuffled, so we are going to ensure that the arrangement of the screens is sequential by just moving the screens and clicking on “Apply”. This enables a smooth transition of the mouse from left to right. With this setup, we can easily drag windows across screens and maintain a seamless workflow. It’s particularly helpful for multitasking, offering the convenience of larger screens for various tasks.

Now, we scroll down to more settings, under “Multiple displays”. We choose what we want, and we are going to choose “Extend desktop to this display”.

So, there you have it – a triple monitor setup that enhances productivity and multitasking capabilities.

Here is full video in case you prefer a visual guide like me. If you found this informative, don’t forget to like and subscribe. We’re committed to creating more content like this, so stay tuned.