How to setup and change your display preferences of an external monitor

This article guides us on how to set up a monitor on your laptop and modify the settings of the display under System Settings.

Materials required to connect a portable external monitor:

A laptop
Connecting cable (for example, an HDMI cable)
Portable external monitor
In some cases: an adapter or docking station

How to set up a monitor on a laptop?

1. Determine your laptop’s video output.

S-Video: Round and black with holes for metal pins
VGA: An upside-down trapezoid, colored with holes
HDMI: A six-sided and tapered port available on most Windows laptops
Display Port: Similar to HDMI orientation, a single corner of the port is cut away while the others come to a 90-degree angle.
DVI: Rectangular with clusters of holes, white in color
USB-C: Small, rectangular port used for a wide variety of devices.

2. Determine the portable monitor’s video input.

If the display is an older model, you may find a VGA or DVI port.

3. Ensure your laptop’s and monitor’s connections are the same. If not, read on for the next step.

4. Get an adapter cable to bridge the connection.

Mini DisplayPort-to-DisplayPort
VGA-to-HDMI
DVI-to-HDMI
HDMI-to-DisplayPort
DisplayPort-to-HDMI
USB-C-to-HDMI

5. Plug in your monitor by attaching it to a power source and connect your laptop to your display. Once you attach your external display to your laptop with the appropriate cable (or adapter and cable), you may be required to press some keys on your keyboard to function properly. This shortcut key varies based on the laptop brand you own. Generally, please hold the Fn key while simultaneously pressing F3, F4, F5, F7, F8. F9, or F10.

How do I change your display preferences in Evren?

1. Once you have an external portable monitor for a laptop connected, Evren should extend your displays by default. You should simply be able to drag and drop windows and applications between your laptop screen and your extra monitor.

2. In some cases, you’ll find that Evren simply mirrors the screen automatically. Unless you are doing a presentation, you probably wouldn’t want mirrored screens. So, instead, you can change the settings.

3. If displays are not extended by default, you may do it manually by holding the Windows logo key while simultaneously pressing F3, F4, F5, F7, F8. F9, or F10 (this shortcut key varies based on the laptop brand you own)

Here are some options you have for setting up your monitors:

Switch to External Screen: Your main laptop screen will turn black so your external display will be the only functional screen.

Switch to Laptop Screen: If you choose this option, your computer will only use your laptop screen and turn other portable monitors attached black.

Unify Outputs: The same actions and images will be shown on both displays.

Extend to Left: Evren extends your screen to the left so you are able to work on two screens at the same time.

Extend to Right: Evren extends your screen to the right so you are able to work on two screens at the same time.