In This Article
Isn’t it interesting that you can use two laptop screens simultaneously? In this era of the digital world, laptops have become a top necessity for everyone. It is way more practical and accessible than using a PC monitor. Whether you are a student, a business man or a gamer, you must own a laptop.
Being a video game player, you may want to connect your laptop to a larger screen to watch movies or play video games. If you have two laptops, you have probably thought about how useful it would be if you could share whatever information you are viewing on one laptop with the other. Thanks to HDMI, all of this is possible now.
On your modern computers and laptops, you have probably noticed the HDMI function and often wondered how you can use an HDMI cable to connect two laptops or computers. Attaching a laptop via HDMI to a PC or TV is simpler than you think. But the question here is can you connect two laptops with HDMI? Is it even possible or not?
In this article, I will discuss in detail all the possibilities and techniques of how to connect two laptops with HDMI. Before that, you need to understand the HDMI feature on the laptop.
What is an HDMI?
The term “HDMI” stands for High-Definition Multimedia Interface. It is most commonly used to transfer AV signal, which means high-definition audio and video from one device to another via a single connection, using an HD signal. You may share content from one device with the other. The High-Definition Multimedia Interface is specifically designed to carry video or audio from a device to a monitor or TV.
What about laptops? Does this technique work for laptops too? Let’s find out!
Can you connect two laptops with HDMI?
The answer depends upon your laptop version. If it has both the HDMI output and input, then yes, you definitely can connect two laptops directly via HDMI. But laptops with this feature are very rare to find.
Only TVs and PC monitor devices have HDMI inputs. Even if you try connecting two laptops with an HDMI cable, it will be useless because HDMI output cannot be converted into input ports. In short, if you want to connect two laptops via HDMI, one of them must have an HDMI input; otherwise, you won’t be able to connect your laptops using only an HDMI cable. But here is the possibility.
Possible ways:
There are two ways through which you can easily connect two laptops to mirror your laptop screens.
- Connecting two laptops with HDMI along with a capture card.
- Connecting two laptops without HDMI.
Method 1: How to connect two laptops using HDMI Cable with capture card? Steps in detail (complete guideline)
Connecting your two laptop screens with HDMI and an external device known as a video capture card is possible. And if you want to mirror your screen, download OBS software.
I have outlined a step-wise guide to help you in a more understanding way.
Step 1: Select your Capture card
Capture cards, also known as video capture devices, are used to capture and broadcast on-screen content. It solves the problem of connecting two laptop screens with HDMI, as laptops don’t have HDMI input and can’t receive the input signals.
A video capture device has two ports. One is occupied with HDMI input that takes the high-quality video signal from the first laptop. The other side has a USB plug that connects to the second laptop. You will plug in these cords to connect two laptops for dual screen.
Best Capture Cards:
These are some of the Best Capture Cards:
- Elgato HD60 X.
- EVGA XR1 Lite.
- Elgato Game Capture 4K60 S+
- AVerMedia Live Gamer 4K.
- Asus TUF CU4K30.
- Elgato Game Capture HD60 Pro.
- Elgato Game Capture 4K60 Pro Mk
- AVerMedia Live Gamer Bolt.
Step 2: Connect both sides of HDMI cable
Plug the HDMI cord into the first laptop or the one you want to mirror. Connect the other end of the HDMI cable to the HDMI input of the capture device. Remember, the primary laptop screen is the one that you are mirroring, and the secondary laptop will show this mirrored screen. So, you have to make arrangements accordingly.
Step 3: Install OBS on your 2nd laptop
OBS is an application developed for video recording and live broadcasting, but it is ideal for screen mirroring in this scenario. Download the program onto the laptop that will be used as a mirrored display.
Step 4: Connect your capture device to your OBS-installed laptop
Directly plug your capture card into the laptop running OBS through the built-in USB port. You can use an adaptor or connector if your laptop does not have a USB port. The secondary laptop will show the “Setting up a device” option when you connect the capture card. It will be used to monitor HDMI.
Step 5: Open virtual camera in secondary laptop in OBS
Open the OBS application and click on the virtual camera option.
Step 6: Select the capture card in OBS
In OBS, just below sources you can see a plus sign. Right click on it and activate your Video Capture Device.
Step 7: Give your video capture card a name and select it as your input device
Choose “Capture Card: as the name and click on it in the device dropdown menu.
Step 8: Primary screen is shown on your secondary laptop
- When you click on the capture card in the OBS settings, your primary screen will appear on your secondary laptop in OBS.
- Select OK and adjust the size of your screen according to the requirement.
- Now, you will have another screen that can be used in PowerPoint for Presenter View, in a virtual meeting on Teams or Zoom, or to have many applications open while working. Because the software OS views it as a display, you can use it for whatever you use as a monitor.
Method 2: How to connect two laptops screen wirelessly?
This method primarily transfers files by connecting one laptop to another. But here, this article will briefly explain how you can use this technique to mirror your laptop screens. Make sure both laptops are connected to the same Wi-Fi.
Step 1:
Click on ‘Windows Key + P Key” simultaneously.
Step 2:
On the right side of your laptop projection menu will appear. Here click on “Duplicate” and FINISH! Screen mirrors will appear. And ta-da, you are done.
Conclusion
Connecting two laptops using HDMI alone is impossible since an HDMI connector on a laptop generally only has an output port. But you have learned the top 2 easiest ways to connect two laptop screens without effort. You can either use a video capture device along with HDMI or not even bother to use an HDMI cable. That’s it.
Thank you for reading this article. I hope it answers all your queries about “Can you connect two laptops with HDMI”? Let me know in the comments which one you prefer the most.
