If your PC has 2 or more monitors attached, then you can select whether to duplicate your primary screen onto the other screens or extend it. If you duplicate it, it will show the same things on all the screens. If you extend it, then you can use each monitor individually and open different apps and windows.
Today we will show you 2 methods to either mirror your screen, or extend it, on a Windows PC.
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Uses of Duplicated or Extended Screens
Whether you decide to duplicate your screen or extend it, each of these has its own benefits.
Usually, a user mirrors/duplicates their primary screen onto an external screen when they want to show the same to someone else besides themselves. For example, you have connected a massive 60″ TV as your secondary screen that is mounted on the wall for everyone to see, and you can play your advertisement or any video on both screens.
If all your monitors are for your own use, then you can extend your display. This will allow you to use each screen individually and open different apps and windows across all of them. The extended screen display will increase your productivity.
Now that you know which one you want, let us show you how to extend or duplicate your screen.
Duplicate Or Extend Display Across Multiple Monitors
From Settings App
Follow these steps to duplicate or extend your screens onto your external monitors using the Settings app:
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Navigate to:
Settings app >> System >> Display
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Expand the display setting drop-down menu.
Expand drop-down menu -
Now choose one of the following options:
- Duplicate these displays
- Extend these displays
Duplicate or extend displays from Settings app
The screens will now snap out and then snap back in, implementing the display changes.
If you chose “Extend these displays,” then every screen will become independent. You can drag your mouse cursor and windows across these displays. Just remember to adjust the screen’s placement from the Display settings.
However, if you chose “Duplicate these displays,” then all your screens will show the same thing.
You can also do the same from the Project Quick menu in the taskbar. Here is how:
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Press Windows Key + P shortcut keys to open the “Project” quick menu.
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Select either “Duplicate” or “Extend.”
Duplicate or extend displays from Quick menu Selecting “Duplicate” will show the same screen on all external monitors, while selecting “Extend” will extend your display to each monitor.
Now you know how to extend or duplicate your screen. However, if you only have one display device connected, these options may not show up in the Settings app or the Project Quick menu.
If you have the dual or triple-monitor setup in place but the Extend or Duplicate options still aren’t showing up, make sure that they are connected properly and to the right system ports.
How To Duplicate One Screen and Extend Another
In certain scenarios, you might want to duplicate your primary screen on another monitor, and then add a third monitor and extend your display on it. Thankfully, this can also be done natively through the Settings app. Here is how:
Note: You need at least 3 display devices to mirror screen 1 on screen 2, and then extend the display onto screen 3.
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Navigate to:
Settings app >> System >> Display
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Expand the display setting drop-down menu.
Expand drop-down menu -
Now choose one of the following options:
- Duplicate desktop on 1 and 2
- Duplicate desktop on 1 and 3
Duplicate desktop on 1 & 2, or 1 & 3 Selecting “Duplicate desktop on 1 and 2” will duplicate the display on screens 1 and 2, while extending it on 3. While selecting “Duplicate desktop on 1 and 3” will duplicate the display on screens 1 and 3, while extending it on screen 2.
Closing Words
Inside the Windows operating system, you can control how your different screens behave – which ones mirror, and which ones extend the display.
Each of these options gives the users more control over how they want to configure their setups according to their requirements and preferences.
