Windows of course allows you to use several monitors connected to the same PC. But it has a little-known function to extend the display on the screen of a second laptop PC without connecting a single cable.
Having a good screen to work on a laptop PC is very nice. Enjoying an expanded display on a second monitor is even better. Since the periods of confinement linked to the Covid-19 pandemic, many people have stayed at home teleworking one or more days a week while keeping the PC provided by their company. But very often, the screen is small and does not allow you to work as comfortably as in the office where one or even two good-sized monitors allow you to benefit from an extended display. And if you don’t want to equip yourself with a monitor at home, the solution could well be found in this other laptop PC that you may have at home. Indeed, provided that it is powered by Windows 10 or Windows 11 and Miracast compatible (which is the case with the majority of recent laptops), it can allow you to use its screen as a second monitor. And, good news: no cable is necessary for this maneuver. The two PCs simply need to be connected to the same WiFi network. The display quality is certainly not at the level of a monitor connected by HDMI or DisplayPort cable and there may also be some small latency times between the actions performed on the screen and their display on this second monitor. However, this method represents a good alternative to purchasing an external monitor if you already have a laptop PC at home.
How to use the screen of a second laptop as an additional monitor?
To transform a laptop into an external monitor for another PC, a few prerequisites are necessary. Both computers must first support the Miracast wireless display protocol. A somewhat old technology that is found in many PCs. We carried out the manipulation with two Asus PCs. The first dates from 2020, the second from 2013. Then, the two PCs must run Windows 10 or Windows 11 and be connected to the same WiFi network.
► On the PC to be used as a monitor, press the shortcut win + I to access the settings. Click on System in the left column then on Features optional.
► In the window that appears, click on the button Show Features of the option Add an optional feature at the top of the screen.
► Then check the box Wireless display among the options offered. Click on Following then on Install.
► Once the installation is complete, return to System Settings and this time click on the menu Projection on this PC.
► Change the security settings as you wish then click on the link Launch the Wireless Display app to project to this PC.
► Immediately the screen switches to monitor mode.
► On the PC to connect this new external screen, also access the Windows settings via the keyboard shortcut win + I. Choose the menu here Screen then the option Multiple screens. Now click on the button To log in.
► Windows starts wireless display device detection. The name of your second PC serving as an external monitor should appear in the list. Click on it.
► When the connection is established, on the master PC, press the keyboard shortcut win + P. Then choose how this second monitor should be managed (extended display in our case).
► It’s over. You can now have your second laptop as an additional monitor for the first. When you’re done, press the keyboard shortcut again win + P on the master PC and click Disconnect.
