5 ways to make the most of a computer monitor

Having the right screen setup and settings can make a big difference to how much work you can get done.

Whether you add a monitor to your home office laptop for those working-from-home days, or connect one to your gaming rig for a more immersive experience, additional screens can revolutionise how you interact with your tech.

Read on to discover the perks of extra screens, how to set them up, and which popular models you might want to keep your eye on.

1. Use a monitor to work more efficiently 

Industry body Jon Peddie Research found that using an additional monitor can boost your productivity by up to 42%.

A dual-screen setup lets you move your cursor from one monitor to another, instead of jumping between tabs or programs on one screen. If you work on lots of things at once – spreadsheets, webpages, word processors – you’ll find that you can get your work done more quickly.

Keep reading to find out how to set up an extra screen

2. Save your eyes with Night Shift and dark mode

Blue light from screens can disrupt your circadian rhythm, which may lead to inadequate sleep and more serious health problems.

Limit the time you spend in front of your screen, and take regular five to 10-minute breaks every hour. In the later hours, you can turn on night light in Windows or Night Shift in macOS. These filter out blue light so you can get better sleep.

3. Get a Great Value model to save you money

Pricier monitors don’t necessarily score better in our testing. Instead, they come with ultra-high quality displays and audio systems that most people don’t need.

See the Best Buy picks (and the Don't Buys to avoid) in our .

4. Recycle or buy second-hand

The UK was the second-largest producer of e-waste in Europe per capita in 2019, according to analysis firm Statista. E-waste is toxic and not biodegradable. So over the years, dangerous waste can accumulate.

5. Stay connected

Always factor in ports when buying a new monitor. Laptops and PCs are getting smaller and lighter, but that can result in having only USB-C ports.

Most older monitors only have HDMI or VGA ports, meaning you might need an adaptor to connect the trendiest laptop. Adaptors don’t cost too much (around £20) but it’s another thing to consider.

How to set up a second monitor

Before setting up, make sure you remember to connect your additional monitor to power.

Apple Mac

If you have an Apple Mac, you'll usually be able to connect to additional displays wirelessly or via a cable.

To wirelessly connect to a monitor:

Apple menuSystem SettingsDisplaysclick the pop-up menu+

To connect with a cable:

Use your display's video cable to connect to your Mac – this could be a Thunderbolt or HDMI port. 

If the video cable requires a port that your Mac doesn't have, you may be able to use an adaptor, or replace the cable with one that doesn't require an adapter. Once connected properly, your Mac should automatically detect the new display. 

Apple menuSystem Settings DisplaysWe'll help you pick the right Apple MacBook for you, at the right price – see our round-up of the .

Windows PC

The process for setting up additional monitors is essentially the same whether your PC is running Windows 10 or 11. For both, you'll need an appropriate cable (such as an HDMI) to connect your monitor to your laptop or computer.

Windows logo key + P

If you'd rather go through settings to better fine-tune your display, follow these steps:

Start > Settings > System > Display Detect.Multiple displaysApplyKeep changes.

Popular computer monitors viewed on Which?

Want to see what models others are viewing? Below are some of the most popularly searched-for computer monitor models on which.co.uk within the last month.

News, deals and stuff the manuals don't tell you. 

source https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/how-to-make-the-most-of-your-monitor-aWnwR2l7KwBu