Before proceeding in detail on how to connect two laptops with HDMI let us first clarify the need for connecting two laptops? Generally people wish to connect two laptops via HDMI to transfer and save data between two laptops. If the computer that has been used is not working then one must keep their essential data somewhere safe. Therefore this is the best option to do so.
Another reason is that people who stay at home or work use or carry one laptop at a time which makes sense. But professionals like graphic designers might opt for two laptops simultaneously. To achieve a larger view users frequently pair together two laptops. If you have two laptops you probably know how useful it is to use an HDMI port to link them because you can share and browse any content you are viewing on one laptop with another.
Here we will discuss two methods to connect two laptops. You can choose any according to your preference.
Method 01: Using a Capture card to Mirror your Screen
This method comprises eight easy steps. Let’s see what they are.
Step # 1: Get your hands on a capture card
For this method all you need is a capture card your savior. Examine several capture card possibilities following your needs and select the one that appeals to you the most. We advise utilizing a USB capture card with an HDMI port for this technique.
Step # 2: Download OBS (Open Broadcaster Software)
It is an application intended for video recording and lives to broadcast. Still in this instance screen mirroring is precisely what it should be used for.
Download the application run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions on the laptop that will serve as the mirror display.
Step # 3: Connect your second monitor’s capture card
In the second monitor that has the OBS installed connect the built-in USB. If your laptop lacks a USB port you will need to purchase an adaptor in that case.
Step # 4: Connect the primary laptop to the capture card
The computer you want to mirror should have one end of an HDMI cable inserted and the capture card’s HDMI port should have the other end.
Step # 5: Open OBS
In this step open OBS on your second laptop and “choose I’ll just be utilizing the virtual camera.” Apply settings after twice clicking next.
Step # 6: Insert your capture card
Select Video Capture Device by clicking the plus symbol next to “Sources” in OBS’s bottom left corner. Then in the textbox underneath “Create new” enter a title for your capture card and press OK.
Step # 7: Select your capture card
In the device dialog box select your capture card. The capture card’s name should be anything like “Video Recording.”
Step # 8: Resize your OBS window
After finding the proper capture card OBS should display the screen of your primary laptop. Select OK then resize your OBS window to wrap up configuring your mirrored display.
Method 02: Using a Monitor as a Secondary Display
Another step uses a monitor as a secondary display. This method has five steps:
Step # 1: Buy and connect a monitor
Discover a monitor that meets your requirements and connect it to a power source.
Step # 2: Examine the monitor’s connectors
You must first determine the cable required to link your laptop to an exterior monitor. Most monitors will have a DisplayPort HDMI VGA input or DVI.
Step # 3: Link your laptop to your computer’s monitor
Attach one end of the cable to your laptop and the other to your monitor once you’ve determined the type of cable you require.
Step # 4: Switch on your monitor and alter the input.
If your monitor does not automatically identify the input from your laptop use the built-in button to adjust the information. This button which is most likely on the bottom or back of the monitor can be pressed to bring up the options. Choose the input name that corresponds to the cable type you’re adopting.
Step # 5: Organize your displays to meet your needs
Look for a section labeled Displays in your laptop’s settings and then adjust the orientation of your show’s to your desire.
How to Connect Two Laptops with HDMI?
Two laptops with HDMI? Yes it’s possible! And it’s not even all that difficult. You just need the right cables and adapters to make it happen but once you’ve got everything in place connecting two laptops via HDMI cable will be as easy as plugging them into the same monitor and pressing play on your favorite movie or video game! Here’s how to connect two laptops with HDMI in six simple steps…
What is an HDMI cable?
The original name for an HDMI cable was High-Definition Multimedia Interface. It is a digital interface standard for transferring uncompressed video data and compressed/uncompressed digital audio data from an HDMI-compliant device (such as a DVD player) to a compatible computer monitor video projector digital television or digital audio device. When connecting two laptops using an HDMI cable can you transfer data through both connections or is it one or the other? Before you purchase please read on.
Are there different types of HDMI cables?
There are different types of HDMI cables but they all work on a similar principle. There are three types of cables: Standard high-speed and high-speed with Ethernet. The standard and high-speed variants both carry 1080p signals while only standard connectors carry 3D content.
All three can transmit sound in 7.1 channels when connected to a Blu-ray player or AV receiver that supports Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD Master Audio formats. A high-speed Ethernet cable can also support an Internet connection up to 100 Mbit/s and is backward compatible with earlier versions of the HDMI specification. You can use these types of cables to connect two laptops with HDMI!
What kind of cables do I need for connecting the two laptops?
If you want to connect two laptops you’ll need an HDMI cable. This can be a special cable that you purchase at a store or on Amazon or it can be one of your existing laptop cables. What kind of laptop cable should you use? Well if you have a mini-HDMI port (this is often labeled as mini-HDMI) then that’s what you should use for connecting two laptops. You can also use an adapter if your laptop has another type of port such as the full-sized HDMI connector.
What can I do with my two connected laptops?
You can use them both at the same time so long as they are hooked up to different monitors and each has its keyboard and mouse.
If you want to share files between them you will need either a wireless network or USB sticks.
How do I disconnect my two connected laptops?
Just unplug the HDMI cable! That’s all there is to it.
Why can’t I connect my laptop to a projector or TV using an HDMI cable?
It’s tempting to just buy an HDMI cable and run it from your laptop to your TV or projector but there’s a pretty good chance that won’t work. For two devices to communicate over an HDMI connection they need to have a common standard–so connecting one device with a DVI-to-HDMI cable probably won’t work for example.
The most likely culprit is the difference in refresh rates between the laptop and the display. Most monitors support a 60Hz refresh rate while most laptops can only output at 30Hz (or some other number). If you try running them together it will look terrible because both screens are refreshing at different rates.
So what can you do? For starters be sure to check if your monitor supports a 60Hz refresh rate before trying to connect them using an HDMI cable (most newer displays do). If not then you’re out of luck! If it does support 60Hz refresh rates though then all you need is something called an active adapter which converts the signal from 30Hz on one end to 60Hz on the other end of the wire.
Will any adapter work for my MacBook Pro MacBook Air Mac Mini etc.?
There are a few different types of adapters on Amazon including passive and active adapters. The difference is whether or not your system will be able to power an external display using an active adapter. An example of an active adapter would have a USB port on it as well.
Passive adapters are more commonly used for connecting two laptops so that they can both use the same monitor. Active adapters are more often used in situations where you want to run one laptop from another laptop’s battery. For instance if you have a Mac Mini hooked up to a TV via HDMI but don’t have enough room to hook up an outlet near the TV and also plug in your MacBook Pro into its outlet at the same time then an active adapter might work better for you. On the other hand if you just need a simple way to connect two laptops so that they can both share the same monitor then either type of adapter should work.
Is it better to use DisplayPort over USB-C instead of buying an adapter cord or dongle from Apple?
DisplayPort is better than USB-C when it comes to gaming and graphics in general because DisplayPort can output a higher resolution and supports up to 8K at 60 Hz. As for connecting two laptops we’d go for either a docking station or an external graphics card (eGPU) over an adapter cord or dongle from Apple. A docking station plugs into your laptop’s power supply providing additional ports as well as support for multiple monitors.
An eGPU plugs into your laptop via Thunderbolt 3 replacing the need for your laptop’s own graphics card and allowing you to attach any type of monitor to the eGPU – including displays that require more bandwidth than Thunderbolt 3 can offer like 4K 120Hz displays. With an eGPU you can connect both laptops with HDMI by attaching one monitor to each laptop and then plugging the screens into the eGPU.
Why did my computer crash when I plugged in my MacBook Pro via USB-C and tried to use it on another screen at the same time?
There are a few reasons why you might get a Not Supported message when you plug in your MacBook Pro via USB-C and try to use it on another screen at the same time. Here’s how to resolve each one.
Can’t figure out what type of display is connected: The not supported message is telling you that there’s no way for your laptop to know what type of display is connected so that it can properly mirror its contents. To fix this make sure both displays have the same resolution by changing the desktop resolution on both screens (in Windows 10) or clicking Displays > Mirror Displays (in macOS).
-Not plugged into an outlet: Plugging into an outlet will help your computer stay awake while also charging its battery. You may need to remove other devices from power as well if they’re plugged into the same outlet or wall socket.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What happens when two laptops are connected via an HDMI cable?
Since they are both output devices they might not communicate. Therefore no harm will be done. It is impossible to change the output to an input or an input to an outcome. Their movement is hardware-bound that cannot be changed with software.
- Is it possible to connect two laptops?
Yes connecting two laptops via a USB Transfer Cable is possible. In the center of the device you will see an electric circuit with Type-A USB connectors on both ends. Note that you must have a proper instrument! Ensure you never connect a Type-A USB port to another Type-A USB port without having a middle electric device.
- Is it possible to use a second laptop as a screen via HDMI?
Yes but to connect the two laptops you need to connect an HDMI cable to the primary laptop just like you would for any external monitor. Because many laptops no longer have HDMI ports this will almost certainly entail using an adapter from a mini-DisplayPort or USB-C port. Connect the Video Capture device to the HDMI cable.
- Is a crossover cable required to connect two computers?
A crossover cable can only be used when connecting two devices with the same functionality. Another notable distinction between the crossover and standard patch cables is that each type will have a different wire arrangement in the cable to serve other purposes.
Conclusion
In this article we have provided information regarding how to connect two laptops with HDMI. We have discussed two methods for your feasibility so that you can choose any according to your preference.