How to connect three or more monitors to your laptop 

"All laptops have vga", oh how I miss 2013

Monitors: Hey guys Laptop: IM DYING

Finally ! after how many hours searching the internet for easy and understandable tutorial found this guy. Thank you dude. !

You are GREAT!! I have been looking everywhere for something that explains this simply.. I APPRECIATE YOUR HELP.. I work from home and use several computers at a time throughout the day and this was MUCH NEEDED!! I am glad to see others who believe sharing their knowledge is an HONOR and a priviledge... THANKS AGAIN.. Shannon

Finally someone else with a desktop setup running on a laptop! I thought I was the only one!

Modern laptops can use DisplayPort MST hubs to connect up to 4 displays to one DisplayPort output, depending which version it is, and the bandwidth it's capable of. (sometimes even more than 4 displays) So if your laptop is capable if DisplayPort version 1.2 or later, you're good to go with MST hubs. I use that at my job, and it works flawlessly with 3 screens. (using a 4 port MST DP hub)

don't know if anyone has mentioned already, but it would have been nice to cover the software/control panel settings involved in getting the screens set up the way one prefers. My experience is that the laptop display and a single external display can both run in "extended desktop" mode. One would then have to skip one of the other local ports - hdmi or dvi or even VGA ports - if present and simply use two USB adaptors to get the other two displays up and running. Then it would be a matter of finding software to get all four monitors (laptop display included) set up as a single extended desktop.

Thank you so much for taking time out of your day to help people like me. ☺

hi, mr carlos your explaination is clear and easy to understand without any music to add for the intro. it really helps

1) not all laptops have vga. Its a retired technology, most new computers actually don't have vga. 2) You said that laptops cannot output more than two monitors? Weird, I've connected four to my ASUS G75 and still had my notebook screen on. And thats with no USB adapters. Many new laptops with a dedicated graphics card can run three. All laptops with a displayport connection can run three monitors as well

Carlos, thanks for getting to the point and leaving out the BS.

One of the key points you should've started out with is to check the laptops video card capability. Not all cards can support this.

how much has it changed since 2013 now most of the laptops have hdmi but no vga

All laptops have VGA . No! in 2022 in mackbooks you dont have normal USB!

Thanks for reminding me that my ol' laptop also had HDMI-saved 40 bucks for a graphics adapter. Good show!

Thank you for the video it was very helpful and I appreciate you including laptops that do not have an HDMI connector

I Really Really appreciate you taking time out to making this video.

Thanks you. You help me to see to the problem in other way so I solved my problem "How connect 3 monitors to my laptop". Have a nice day!!!

ok thanks for that. i have purchased a USB VGA adaptor on Ebay and when it arrives i will hook that up and see how it goes. cheers

I'm trying to get 3 screens on my gaming desktop computer, I ordered a USB adapter cable just like this one that has VGA because that's what my computer has, I have 3 USB ports so I know I'm set with that, Hope it can have my 3 screens I want, also new sub here

Oh my, I totally forgot about the vga in my laptop.. You saved me some bucks..

Dude you're amazing. Because of you I have two monitors for my gaming laptop! C:

Great video - thank you! I do have the HDMI and VGA and connected 2 monitors. The problem is, the monitors both show the same thing. If I want to view one program one on monitor, and another program on the other, how do I do that when they are both just picking up the same screen (from the laptop)? Thank you again.

thx I got a laptop and I want to become a youtuber and it seems like I the good youtubers have moniters but I've never seen them use a laptop and I just got this one so I didn't want to buy another and I love how portable this one is so yeah, thanks for everything =D

As you had in the video which is a very happy coincidence, I have a Lenovo E530 aswell, Well.... Rather 2 of them and I am trying to connect the two so I can use the other as a screen..

Finally someone who understands what i needed! Thanks! I just needed to buy that one accessory! Tnx ;D

Thank you for your response Carlos, much appreciated. That's not the info I discovered online, but it's worth a try. Have ordered the unit in your video and will install it. Thanks for all your help... SB

How can I use two monitors and keep the laptop monitor working, too?

Life saver 5 years later!

Can you also keep your laptop screen on at the same time?

Toshiba Dual Dock with everything all in one USB-3 works for any amount of extra monitors by VGA and HDMI and Usb one plug + play ,it also allows 5.1 surround sound with better 50 htz all - round any amount of extra monitors i use 2 and all plugged in to my Toshiba Laptop and Toshiba T/Byte external-Drive all work perfect and also live streams for football from all over the world.

Thank you for the video I now can hook up my 3 monitors no problem.

Exelent demo,sir thanku.very helpfulll indeed,steve from the uk.

you have i7 processor below i5/i3/intel double core/intel platinum are heated fast if we connect more moniter

My laptop has 3 video outputs, 2 miniDP and one HDMI 2.0 port. I could potentially connect 5 monitors with the two extra usb 3.0 to hdmi adapters I have but I only have 3 monitors. I used these adapters with my old laptop which only had one video output.

Thank you so much for this video. I had problem trying to hook up a monitor and a cintiq to my laptop! This video is really helpful!

I see your running 3 external monitors, can you with this setup also have your LAPTOP Screen running also ??? giving you a total of 4 screens on your current setup ?

This video was a big help. Thanks for making it!

In my Dell Precision M4800 there are 3 video ports. Works fine with 1+3 LCDs in extended mode without any external hardware. But I would like to add another 2 external LCD to this scheme.

what if I use a double side male USB cable and a MHL cable,,,, Connect the male USB into the laptop the other side into the female end of the MHL cable and then the HDMI part of the MHL cable into the third monitor... Am I in business ?? and here comes the silly question what if I do not want to do this with my laptop but my regular Desktop PC same deal right ? I think what your using here is a primitive version of MHL with VGA instead of HDMI (considering this video was made 5 years ago) , IF the monitor your trying to connect to is in fact VGA then your route would be the only way to go. If you have any trouble understanding what I am asking you please let me know I always have wanted to have a multi monitor display. I want to connect them so that they're all one desktop and not running separate desktop environments. Good video very clear and to the point. Thanks in advance

I just bought a USB video display adapter for $18.50 on eBay. Great video!

I purchased a USB to HDMI and USB to display port adapter, and both did not resolve the problem of displaying the third screen on my hp EliteBook 820 g3. I have a docking station that has three USB and two display ports, and one VGA.

Thank you so much for this video! It worked perfectly for my single HDMI output.

Thank you man for this video. I commected 3 monitor is not giving the right resolutions with many trials. I believe i need the usb to hdmi adaptor to get the right resolution as the laptop support 2 monitors only. I will get the usb adaptor and try

Excellent tutorial. Very clear and concise. Kudos

I have a older IBM Thinkpad like you I use VGA for one monitor and a DisplayPort adapter to HDMI for the next I have a third monitor which I want to hook up what you said it's not possible to do two on the laptop however I took a VGA splitter and made it come out of my laptop to 2 monitors and they do not work as identical displays actually work as individual monitor so I have three monitors working at the same time I'm told that the VGA splitter but I paid 4 bucks for actually has enough pins to separate the monitors in to two seperate monitors

Great job, on my way to Best Buy tomorrow!

Thanks Carlos don't mind the naysayers this vid was short simple and helpful.

thanks man very clear and straight to point

Nice desk.

it would be really helpful if you include the link of the adapter

a few days ago, I made some similar instalation, and it work very good with any problem. but my question is, how you can put the images on the other monitors without laptop's screen

Thank you, I was looking for info on how to hook all 3 monitors up to my computer.

vga hdmi thunderbolt laptop monitor = 4 monitors .Plus on usb can be atached how many u want with video external amplifier. But the gpu cannot suport more than 8.000 resolution. On my laptop 10.000 res was max just to stay on idle 60 hz rate and was at max performance. This means that 3 monitors full hd is the max the laptop can suport on monitor ports.

Great job, Carlos! This is exactly what I was looking for. Thank you.

Interesting video - Thank you

Vga all laptops have this Mine literally doesn't, only old laptops have that

Sir, can we connect multiple ipads to one computer by this device? I want to use iPads as monitors only and I thought this device might help. I appreciate if you let me know the answer

I currently have 1 external monitor I can support only one more thanks for this tutorial

nice tutorial straight to the point thanks

Awesome. Exactly what I need. Will Win 7 recognize those 3-4 external monitors automatically that I can make monitor settings from Windows or I need some additional software to adjust monitor settings?

Hello, Does a USB video adapter work with USB 2 technology? I searched the q&a's here and couldn't find anything on that point. Thanks for a highly explanatory video. Tom

Explains connections, but not display settings. If I hook my laptop to another display, I can only get it to show the same display as the laptop. How do you get multiple different screens? Thats the question.

Thanks. Straight to the point. Very helpful.

Thanks for sharing the information. Its really helpful, we were looking for solution to connect 3 display monitors.

Need advice: What laptop in 2020 can drive 6 monitors?

so simply put ! i did it so easy thanks heaps

Thanks Carlos. Much appreciated.

he says that all laptops hav VGA. My laptop doesnt have VGA Sorry for bad english im dutch

you will connect the vga vgi and the hdmi in every monitor right for example vga will connect to the monitor 1 vgi will connect to the monitor 2 hdmi will connect to the monitor 3 is this right

hello, i have a alienware m18x r2, it has hdmi, vga, miniport display output, i want to run, 2 external tv as monitors and the lcd screen from the laptop, i have tried everything, but only get 2 screens, it seems to recognize the 3 screen but im only able to extend 1, can u help me? thank you.

you can also use your laptop screen as a monitor as well

I have lenovo X230. It has VGA and MDP. I want to connect to a LED which has VGA port and another LED has HDMI. So bought a HDMI to VGA converter and a VGA to MDP. But only one LED is able to show display at one time.

Could I technically have 5 monitors if I have VGA, DVI, and 3 USB ports on my laptop? Thanks awesome vid!

Can you please help me figure out what is best? I don't have an HDMI on my screens, so I am unsure how to connect them all.

Hi please help. Here are my connections: 1) VGA monitor VGA laptop 2) HDMI TV HDMI laptop 3) Laptop is main display Either monitor & Laptop or TV & laptop have displays: only 2 screens at a time. I can't configure to have monitor & labtop & TV as 3 screens at a time. Does it mean I need an extra adapter?

Thanks - great simple explanation.

Wats the refresh rate Mines being kinda slow

That's handy. I want to have 3 displays, but one of them needs to be my laptop LCD. How do you do that?

They all work but sadly, my graphics card can only handle 2 screens at the time, including my laptop screen, so thats 1 extra monitor... If you know if I can get around this please let me know.

I am trying to add two Dell Monitors to my Lenovo Laptop. I connected the one using the SVA connector. I attached the second SVA connector to a Cable Matters Adapter that connects to the HDMI port. The laptop sees the two monitors but the HDMI monitor will not connect. I have tried everything. Please help.

What year and model is your Lenovo laptop? What graphics card does it have? Triple monitor will also depend if your laptop has the right hardware.

I have a HDMI splitter and with that I assume I can't extend to make two monitors with different displays, I would have to get that VGAcable? I assume the HDMI splitter what it does it just splits the same display but doesn't show different displays, with its own identity, unless I'm doing it wrong, it's a little difficult.. I notice they have on the internet a VGA to HDMI, I'll get that, to see what happens, and I'll just sell my HDMI splitter, hopefully that solves my problem

Thanks for the video. Much appreciated Carlos.

So about the cable you use on the screen monitors you didn't explain

I currently use two monitors on my gaming pc. I use one monitor and a laptop for work. How can I connect the two gaming monitors to the laptop without having to disconnect them from my gaming pc? I have VGA on both and one VGA port on the laptop. Both are connected via HDMI to gaming pc. Other monitor is connected via HDMI to laptop.

WTF! I connected 4 monitors should I need to make video for that?

The think pad laptops you can get a adapter for a port on the right of the laptop for hdmi

thanks for this video was super helpful when setting up my home office

Very clearly explained, thanks

The ultimate coder technique!

love your mouse pad! Colombia!

You got yourself a new subscriber

Thanks Carlos for the user-friendly tutorial. Like yourself, I have a Lenovo laptop, noting the model is X220, and would like to display three pictures (two monitors + laptop monitor) . Obviously this is different to your setup in which three separate monitors are connected and your laptop screen is blank (black). Under the above scenario must a USB display adapter be required OR can one monitor be connect via VGA and the second monitor connect via HDMI. Thanks you for any guidance you might be able to share.

Yes but how do U work out the difference in quality between the screens???HDMI is way better quality compare to vga

Nice video, can you please give the link to purchase the USB to VGA adapter (DIAMOND). I just have the hdmi entrance you think that will work?

Hello sir, i have hdmi and vga on laptop, when connect it with tv and monitor, i just get two screen on, not three. Could you help me please?

Doesnt a docking stations something like plugable docking station with usb 3.0 help more ? take out all those wiring to Laptop

This helped me so I can setup two monitors for my laptop setup

Amusing, now you can just daisy chain displayport 4 ways you should have showed how slow the usb adapter was, i can only imagine, that's some low bandwidth interface for video