
If your external display uses VGA, DVI or HDMI instead, you can also get a DisplayPort adapter cable, allowing you to connect your VGA, DVI or HDMI display to the laptop’s DisplayPort. Newer laptops may also have a DisplayPort, which can be used to connect external display devices that utilize a DisplayPort cable. If your display has a DVI connection, but your laptop only has a VGA connection, you need to use avideo converter that converts VGA to DVI. See these links for additional details and pictures of these connectors. Tip: Newer laptops and monitors may use a DVI or HDMIconnection. Laptops with this feature can toggle between the two modes when the appropriate function key is pressed. Some laptops can output video to both the laptop and the external display at the same time or to a single display. Click that button to force the Mac OS to look for any external displays that are connected to the computer.

In the bottom right corner of the Displays window, you should see a Detect Displays button. Note: For computers with Mac OS X 10.8 or later, if you have trouble getting an external display to work with the computer, access the System Preferences menu and select the Displays option. If none of the above key sequences work, consult your laptop documentation or consult your laptop manufacturer. Unfortunately, the keys pressed to switch displays is dependent on the model and manufacturer of the laptop. The F key to be used may be labeled as CRT/LCD or have a picture of a monitor on the key or close to the key. For example, pressing the Fn and F7 keys at the same time could switch between your laptop and external display.

The key sequence can vary depending on the laptop, but is typically one of the following: Fn + F3, F4, F5, F7, F8, F9, or F10.

Once connected, your laptop may automatically switch to the new external display, or you may be required to press one or more keys on the keyboard to switch to the external display. An example of a VGA connector for a computer monitor and VGA port on a laptop is shown to the right. Examples of an external display include a CRT monitor, flat panel display, projector, or TV.Ĭonnect the external display to the laptop’s external video connection on the back of the computer. Source: Adopted From Almost all laptops can connect to an external display and have the laptop display sent to that external display instead of, or in addition to, the laptop screen.

Posted 07-5-2016 filed under CompTIA A+, MICROSOFT MTA O/S. CompTIA A+ | Microsoft MTA O/S: How to connect an external monitor to my laptop
