# Can a Windows laptop computer be used as a second monitor for a laptop? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 7, 2025, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-windows-laptop-computer-be-used-as-a-second-monitor-for-a-laptop/1012688 "2025-01-07T19:56:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Drum\_God](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drum_god/32/44_2.png) [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2025, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-windows-laptop-computer-be-used-as-a-second-monitor-for-a-laptop/1012688/1 "2025-01-07T19:56:48Z")
Here’s the situation. We have to travel by air next week. We will be gone for ten days. While we are away from home, my wife will have some work she needs to do for her employer. She has a laptop issued by her employer with which to do her work. While she is working, she finds a second monitor to be quite helpful. The external monitor she has from her employer is really too large for travel. In addition to her work computer, she will also have her personal laptop computer with her. Is there a way to extend her work computer’s desktop onto the monitor of her personal laptop? Both computers run Windows 11 and have USB-C ports available. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2025, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-windows-laptop-computer-be-used-as-a-second-monitor-for-a-laptop/1012688/2 "2025-01-07T20:06:36Z")
Yeah, you can ‘project’ to another computer and use that as a second display; details here [https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/coreinfrastructureandsecurityblog/how-to-use-an-additional-computer-as-a-secondary-display/681152](https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/coreinfrastructureandsecurityblog/how-to-use-an-additional-computer-as-a-secondary-display/681152) ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2025, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-windows-laptop-computer-be-used-as-a-second-monitor-for-a-laptop/1012688/3 "2025-01-07T20:11:15Z")
FWIW, I’ve found that the software “projection” systems to be pretty hit or miss, largely depending on network conditions. They can be really laggy and flaky sometimes, especially with poor wifi while traveling. If this is something your wife does often, there are a category of truly portable USB-C monitors that are about the size of a typical laptop screen, can easily fit in the same bag, and take just one cable to connect to the laptop (which provides both the image and power). They’re not very expensive either, with many options around $100. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2025, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-windows-laptop-computer-be-used-as-a-second-monitor-for-a-laptop/1012688/4 "2025-01-07T21:35:50Z")
If you run Deskflow (or equivalent), you can seamlessly control both computers using one keyboard and mouse. Cut-and-paste should work, but you may not be able to drag a window from one computer to another. ---
**Author:** ![Drum\_God](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drum_god/32/44_2.png) [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2025, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-windows-laptop-computer-be-used-as-a-second-monitor-for-a-laptop/1012688/5 "2025-01-07T21:51:52Z")
> [@Reply](#): > > If this is something your wife does often, there are a category of truly portable USB-C monitors that are about the size of a typical laptop screen, can easily fit in the same bag, and take just one cable to connect to the laptop (which provides both the image and power). They’re not very expensive either, with many options around $100. I think this is the solution we will use. I found a monitor on Newegg that, after taxes, came to around $75. It’s some Chinese thing with no brand-name recognition, but it should work. And then we’ll have it if we need to do this again. Thanks, y’all. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2025, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-windows-laptop-computer-be-used-as-a-second-monitor-for-a-laptop/1012688/6 "2025-01-07T22:42:48Z")
They are a great investment for laptop workers. Hope she likes it! ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2025, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-windows-laptop-computer-be-used-as-a-second-monitor-for-a-laptop/1012688/7 "2025-01-08T06:09:44Z")
Where are you going to be staying? Because you can also cast to TVs. ---
**Author:** ![Tatterdemalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/43a26b/32.png) [@Tatterdemalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tatterdemalion)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2025, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-windows-laptop-computer-be-used-as-a-second-monitor-for-a-laptop/1012688/8 "2025-01-08T07:13:21Z")
The last hotel I stayed at, the TV had an external HDMI input. If you have the right cable, you could use that as a second monitor. ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2025, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-windows-laptop-computer-be-used-as-a-second-monitor-for-a-laptop/1012688/9 "2025-01-08T07:33:31Z")
I have succesfully used Synergy to run 2 Windows screens, and one Mac and one Linux, simulateneuosly, all with one keyboard and mouse.So three operating systems. Yes, I am a nerd. > **[Synergy - Share one mouse & keyboard across computers](https://symless.com/synergy)** > > Synergy is an app that shares one mouse and one keyboard across multiple computers and monitors. Instant download, easy to setup in minutes. ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2025, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-windows-laptop-computer-be-used-as-a-second-monitor-for-a-laptop/1012688/10 "2025-01-08T08:02:46Z")
Oh, I see Deskflow, as suggested by @DPRK is the succesor to Synergy. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2025, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-windows-laptop-computer-be-used-as-a-second-monitor-for-a-laptop/1012688/11 "2025-01-08T08:49:20Z")
I am not sure it is a _successor,_ exactly; they describe themselves as “the official upstream project for Synergy”, with a free software license and a faster release schedule. So I guess it does the same thing, but if you get the paid version that includes technical support.