Sometimes a dual-monitor setup could break the limits of your productivity and lend a helping hand to you to achieve new heights. But if it isn’t long, you have built your workstation, and are running out of pennies for another monitor, there’s hope. Is there an old Android tablet nobody is using! Or do you have a smartphone with a really large display?
Yes, you can use a tablet as a second monitor, without too much of a hard work. I am here today on InkedFreedom with a brief guide on how to use an Android as a second monitor. It can be your Android tablet or an outdated Android smartphone! The steps are going to be the same for both categories of devices.
So, without any further delay, let’s get started with how to use a tablet as a second monitor. Pardon me for using the term Android and tablet interchangeably as this productivity solution is going to cater for both classes of devices.
Prerequisites to use a tablet as a second monitor
Let's have a look at the things you need, to use an android tablet as a second monitor.
Both your PC and your smartphone or tablet should be connected to the same local network. Don't worry, if you don't have home Wi-Fi. There's still a way.
Your tablet or Android device should have a USB hotspot functionality if you are looking for wired connectivity. Most devices already have USB hotspot functionality.
Steps to use a tablet as a second monitor wirelessly
Now that you have the minimum requirements, let's dive into how you can use a tablet as a second monitor.
To use a tablet as a second monitor, you will need Spacedesk both on your Windows PC and your tablet.
Step 1: Download Spacedesk for Android, from the Google Play Store.
Step 2: Download Spacedesk for Windows, as well. Here’s the link for Spacedesk server download for Windows.
Step 3: After you download Spacedesk on your Windows, install the application exactly the way you install any other Windows program. If you are downloading Spacedesk from the link, i.e. Spacedesk’s official website, the installation should be flawless.
Now, you should find the Spacedesk Driver running on your Windows, in the system tray, as shown in the screenshot below.
Step 4: Open the Spacedesk app on your tablet, and if everything is alright, you should find the Spacedesk server running on your PC, and its IP address assigned by your local network.
Simply tap on the link, and your tablet will be detected as the second monitor by your Windows laptop or desktop.
Steps to use a tablet as a second monitor using a cable
If the display is laggy, and you are not getting enough FPS, this is because your home WiFi is not efficient enough to handle the traffic. You can use a cable for a more stable and lag-free display.
Step 5: Connect your Android tablet or smartphone to your Windows computer through a USB data cable.
Step 6: Find out the USB hotspot or USB tethering option, on some devices, on your tablet. You should find it under Connectivity. In case you can't find it, use the search functionality on modern devices to find the option.
On finding the option, enable it.
Step 7: Now open the Spacedesk app on your Android, and you should find your Windows computer. Tap on the link to open it.
*You might find multiple IP addresses here, and all are referring to your PC only if the Spacedesk server is not running on other computers. You simply need to recognize the IP address assigned by your USB hotspot here. You can use the ‘ipconfig’ command on Command Prompt to see the details.
Getting a display on the tablet
After completing the steps, you should now get a display on your tablet.
However, you might face a small issue. The tablet might display the same content that is being displayed on your primary display. It is duplicating your primary display. However, this is not a problem. As per the default settings, Windows displays the same content on the secondary monitor. There are enough reasons to use a tablet as a second monitor, but display the same content as your primary one.
Step 8: However, if you want to use a tablet as a second monitor, just like a two-monitor setup, simply use the ‘Windows + P’ hotkey, and you should find a popup, as shown in the screenshot below. Use the arrow keys to select ‘Extend’, and hit the enter key.
Now, the tablet should display a blank workspace for you to work on. Simply open your favorite application, and drag it to the tablet’s display, just like you do on a dual monitor setup.
Rearranging the position of the second monitor
Now that you know how to use an Android as a second monitor, and have successfully extended your Windows computer’s display, you might want to reallocate the display for easy navigation as per your physical setup.
In the case you have the tablet at the top of your primary monitor on your desk, you can configure the same on your Windows. If you have the tablet, or the second display physically on the left or right side of your primary monitor, you can configure that too.
Step 9: Right-click on the desktop, and click on ‘Display settings’.
Step 10: You can find the two displays identified by your PC. The primary display is numbered 1, and the tablet’s display is numbered 2. As per the below screenshot, the display with number 2 is on the right, as per my physical setup. Simply drag any of the numbered displays to the left, right, up or below the other to configure the two monitor setup. Finally, click on ‘Apply’ once you are done making the necessary changes.
*If you are confused about the display numbering, click on ‘Identify’ and the numbering will be displayed on the respective monitors.
How to troubleshoot screen resolution issues on Spacedesk?
If your tablet is displaying properly, but you face some screen resolution issues, you can either change it, or, in most cases, set a custom resolution, if your primary display’s native resolution is not supported on the tablet.
Here’s how you can adjust the resolution.
Step 11: Open the Spacedesk app on your Android, tap on the hamburger icon, and then tap on ‘Settings’.
Step 12: Now, tap on ‘Resolution’, and then tap on ‘Choose Custom Resolution’.
Step 13: Hence, set the preferred resolution, or basically the same resolution as your primary display, and then tap on ‘Apply’. As my laptop display’s resolution is 1920x1080, I am setting the same resolution here.
Why use a tablet as a second monitor?
Hope that was a great tutorial to boost your productivity by using a tablet that you aren’t using, or want to get more out of it. It’s not always fund constraints after getting a new computer when you need to have two monitors but can’t afford one. Here are a few reasons why you want to use a tablet as a second monitor.
For example, you don’t need two monitors every time. In that case, it will be a waste of money to buy a new monitor, simply to use it once in a blue moon.
In the case you travel often, but still, need two monitors on the go, or at a hotel, I don’t need to say, how impractical, or worse, impossible to carry an extra monitor with a laptop! In that case, too, you can use your tablet as the second monitor.
There are several use case scenarios, when you can use a tablet as a second monitor.
Problems you might face while you use an Android tablet as a second monitor
It is undoubtedly great to use your tablet as a second monitor. But the most common issue that you will face is, regarding the screen size. As tablets or even smartphones with a big screen are far less than the size of a laptop’s display, you might face problems reading text on a small screen.
Even if you are using the USB hotspot functionality to extend your display, and use a tablet as a second monitor, there will still be minor lags. You can’t expect your tablet to offer the same smoothness as your primary display, or a real monitor.
However, the ability to use an Android as a second monitor can still be better to simulate a second display rather than having just one display.
So, that was all about how to use a tablet as a second monitor on your Windows computer. Do you have any questions? Feel free to comment on the same below.
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