How To Use Laptop As Monitor With Vga Cable

Connect the cable to the video output on your laptop.

How to use laptop as monitor with vga cable. Match the connector on the video cable end to the shape of the video output port on your laptop and insert the cable. In some situations it may be necessary to send a vga signal from a computer to an hdmi port on a newer display device. On the monitors you may need to toggle the source button. If you have an older laptop or monitor it will likely have a vga port or a dvi port for connecting to a second screen. Looks like the trusty old vga interface is on its way out and while you ll still see legacy systems and devices using this 25 year old standard for monitor connections the newer laptops and computers are starting to pass on vga connectors in favor of hdmi which among its other benefits allows for thinner devices.

Your laptop might use a hdmi cable displayport mini displayport or include a docking station so find the right cable for your needs and plug it into your monitor. Some video output combinations such as hdmi to displayport come as cables that you can purchase instead of buying an adapter. Using a vga to hdmi scaler converter like the one shown in the picture above allows you to connect your computer to any device requiring an hdmi connection. Your monitors may be defaulting to just digital which is what dvi uses. Once that s done open.

Try toggling the source and see if it recognizes the monitor. If the monitor s input doesn t match your computer s output e g if the monitor uses a vga input while your computer uses an hdmi output you will need to buy an adapter. Older computer monitors may use a vga or dvi cable connection. And if you re looking for a way to use your more mobile laptop to gain access to your main desktop system this is the way to go. Another thing to try would be to turn off your computer plug in the vga cable into the monitor and computer and turn on the computer.

Obviously this is a little bit different of an option than using your laptop as a monitor as instead you ll be using your laptop to have complete control over your main pc.