Tablets, convertibles, laptops and desktops running Microsoft’s Windows 8 operating system have many benefits.
Users have a way to reset them to factory settings and keep all their data in the same place as before the reset. Windows 8 devices boot and reboot faster than ever Windows machines. USB accessory functions are also unbeatable, as it’s Windows 8. Relying on finding printers to support things like AirPlay is one thing. Finding a printer that supports USB and plugging it into a tablet and printing is quite different.
Another big advantage of Windows 8 devices is that they support external displays. Almost all Windows 8 tablets have a port that allows them to be connected to a larger monitor or television set. This allows Windows 8 tablets to become sort of chameleons. They can adapt to the screen that a user needs at that moment. Let’s say a user normally only needs an 8-inch screen to browse websites or check their email. In the rare case where they need to edit certain details in photos, they can pair their Windows 8 device with an external display. Many Windows 8 tablet buyers use this functionality to watch TV shows and YouTube videos with friends and family without having to huddle around a small tablet screen.
Before we start showing you how to connect your Windows 8 tablet to an external monitor, it is important to check if you have the latest Windows 8 update installed on your device. Today, this is available for absolutely free in Windows 8.1 and the Windows Store. If you’re not sure if your device has an update, go to the Windows Store by tapping or clicking the Store icon on the Start Screen and look for a Windows 8.1 title. If there is no banner there, your device is already running the update. You can connect your device to an external display without this update, but things on your device will not match the screenshots provided here.
It is also important to know the capabilities of your device. More specifically, find out if your device supports viewing. Some low-end tablets, such as the Dell Venue 8 Pro, do not allow users to connect a monitor directly. Instead, they rely on a wireless streaming system called Miracast. Other tablets, such as Microsoft’s own Surface, Surface 2, and Surface Pro devices, support direct connections via Display Ports and Miracast. Now it’s time to learn the features of your device. If you are unsure, refer to the manual that came with it.
Navigate to by pressing the Windows Key on your keyboard or by pressing the Windows button at the bottom of your device’s screen.
Mouse and keyboard users must hover their cursor over their screen and then tap Devices to open the Charms Bar. Touch users can also place their fingers on the right edge of their screen and swipe right slightly to reveal the Charms Bar. Tap once there. To be clear, this menu can also be accessed from within apps.
Now plug in the monitor you want to connect your device to. How this plug will look will depend on your particular monitor and device.
Tap or click .
Then select the name of the screen you want to connect to. Users trying to connect to a Miracast receiver should tap or click Add Wireless Display for this function.
Now tap or click how you want your device to behave on this new screen.
Choosing will make the device show nothing on this newly paired external display. it will show the same thing on both screens. It allows you to treat the monitor on your device and the external monitor as one giant screen. Most people find this mode useful for multitasking. For example, you might have a web browser window open on one monitor and your email open on the other.
Finally, it disables the display inside your device and only puts content on the external display. This is best if you want to watch a movie or if you are not going to use the built-in display on your device to do any work.
You can change these settings at any time by returning to the Project menu or by simultaneously pressing the Windows Key and P keys on your keyboard. Disconnecting your device from the external monitor at any time will restore your device to its standalone setting. Windows 8 remembers what settings you’ve used before with an external display, so reconnecting is always easy.
The most important thing to remember is that Windows 8 and Windows Store apps adapt best to this new screen size. Sometimes this means that text and windows are smaller or larger on that external display than on your own device. This is also specific to each monitor and Windows 8 device combination.
