How to share macbook screen with monitor

Many people wrongly assume that a MacBook and PC cannot work together because they are competition for each other. However, you might be surprised to know that modern tools and technology allow you to use a MacBook as the second monitor for your PC. through different methods.

If you are interested in learning how to use MacBook as a second monitor for your PC, you are in the perfect place. Keep reading to learn all about it step-by-step.

• 1. Using MacBook as a Second Monitor for PC
• 2. Top 3 Wireless Methods to Use MacBook As Second Monitor for PC
• AirDroid Cast: The Ideal Option
  
  
• Duet Display (No required Any Hardware)
• Deskreen - An Open-Source Application
• 3. 2 Wire Methods to Used Macbook as Second Monitor for PC
• Luna Display (Need a USB-C dongle)
• HDMI & USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter
• 4. Popular FAQs about Second Monitor for PC
• 5. The Bottem Line

Using MacBook as a Second Monitor for PC

It has become possible to use MacBook as a second monitor for a computer PC due to the availability of different apps and software. There are both wired and wireless methods of connecting a second monitor to a PC.

Let’s explore various ways through which you can connect your Windows PC to an Apple Mac PC so that you are able to choose a suitable method.

Top 3 Wireless Methods to Use MacBook As Second Monitor for PC

Nowadays, various different screen casting and mirroring apps are available, due to which it is possible that you might want to prefer wireless methods over wired ones. In these methods, you don't have to deal with extensive wires or external hardware.

Let's look at the top 3 methods of using a MacBook as a second monitor for your PC wirelessly.

1AirDroid Cast

Using AirDroid Cast for screencasting from any device's browser is one of the most powerful and efficient methods currently available to fulfill your mirroring and screencasting requirements. It is a user-friendly screen-sharing tool through which you can deal with all types of devices, such as Android, iPhone, Windows, Mac, and TV.

You can use AirDroid Cast to screencast your PC to an Apple Mac PC. The web version of AirDroid Cast makes the entire process of using your MacBook as a second monitor much easier and quicker as you don't have to deal with any external hardware. There are no lags in cross-platform screen sharing with AirDroid Cast that you might find on other platforms.

How to Use AirDroid Cast to Mirror PC to MacBook?

If you want to use AirDroid Cast to mirror PC to MacBook, you should follow these steps:

1. Step 1 Download and Install AirDroid Cast
2. First of all, you have to download the AirDroid Cast software for both your Windows computer and Apple Mac PC. You can easily download it from the official website.



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3. Once the packages have been downloaded, install them on relevant computers.

1. Step 2 Launch the Software
2. Launch the AirDroid Cast on both of your systems – computer and MacBook. Since you want to mirror the PC screen to MacBook, use the 'Cast to' option from your computer.

1. Step 3 Enter Cast Code
2. AirDroid Cast client on your MacBook will ask you to enter the cast code generated by another computer. Enter this 9-digit code and press enter.

1. Step 4 Allow Casting Permission
2. If you are using AirDroid Cast for the first time, the system will ask for permission to start screencasting. Click on allow to start mirroring.

1. Step 5 Enjoy Casting
2. Now you will be able to use your Apple Mac PC as a second monitor for your PC. You can perform certain features while mirroring your PC to Mac, such as starting a new window, account management, mute/unmute, and casting settings.

If you want to use AirDroid Cast Web, you don't have to install AirDroid Cast in both of the systems.

How to use AirDroid Cast Web:

1. Only download and install the AirDroid Cast Desktop on the casting computer, i.e., your Windows PC. Launch the software and click on 'Share this computer screen.'
2. Open the ‘webcast.airdroid.com' on your receiving device, i.e., your MacBook, in this situation.
3. Enter the cast code displayed on your MacBook into your casting PC.
4. Click on ‘Allow’ and start casting to start using MacBook as a second monitor for your PC.

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Why Should We Use AirDroid Cast to Mirror PC to Mac?

You should use AirDroid Cast to mirror your PC to MacBook because it has the following features and benefits:

• Support for different platforms and systems.
• Mirroring is easy as all you have to do is enter the cast code.
• You can cast up to 5 devices onto a system such as your MacBook.
• All of these functions can be obtained wirelessly without buying any device.

Similarly, if you are using the web version of AirDroid Cast, you can get the following benefits:

• No need to install or download any software to cast your screen to any web browser.
• No cable, device, or wired connection is required.
• Enjoy cross-platform screen sharing between your PC and MacBook via a web browser.
• Webcasting is possible for both local and remote networks.

2Duet Display

Duet Display is another popular screen mirroring and casting platform. It is known for its quick, productive, and wide-ranging features. It works on all major platforms like macOS, Windows, and Android to facilitate users.

Therefore, you can use Duet Display to turn your MacBook into a second monitor for a PC by following these steps:

1. Step 1Download and Install Duet Display
2. Download and install Duet Display in your MacBook as well as Windows from which you want to share the screen.

1. Step 2 Launch the App
2. Launch the software on both of your devices and make sure the systems are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Head to the 'Air' tab to see the available devices. Make sure screen sharing is enabled on both devices.

1. Step 3 Click on Your Device
2. Select your desktop name in the Apple Mac PC to start mirroring or extending the screen.

1. Step 4 Enjoy Screen Mirroring
2. Once you select the computer, it will start mirroring your PC screen to the MacBook.

Pros and Cons of Duet Display

Some of the major beneficial features of Duet Display are:

• Supports all major computer platforms and mobile platforms.
• Easy to set up and use.
• Touch-screen capability and responsive performance.

However, there are some significant advantages of using Duet Display as well:

• It is quite expensive.
• Does not have impressive in-app display options.
• Only paid in-app upgrades are possible if support for Apple Pencil is available.

3Deskreen

Deskreen is an open-source desktop software through which you can turn a device such as MacBook into a secondary screen for your PC. Using Deskreen is different from the other two methods because it involves using a small USB plug called a virtual display adapter.

The purpose of these adapters is to trick your computer into thinking that an external display is connected. If you want to use Deskreen to convert your Apple Mac PC into a second monitor for your PC, you can follow these steps:

1. Step 1Download and Install Deskreen on your PC
2. You only have to download and install Deskreen on your PC as MacBook can project the computer’s screen through an IP address.

1. Step 2 Use a Virtual Display Adapter
2. Generally, you can find a virtual display adapter at an affordable rate. Plug the adapter into your PC’s USB port.

1. Step 3 Launch Deskreen on your PC
2. The main page of the Deskreen will provide you with a QR code and a customized IP address. Make sure your PC and MacBook are connected to the same Wi-Fi network before proceeding.

1. Step 4Open the IP Address on your MacBook
2. Type the IP address generated by the PC into your Mac’s browser.

1. Step 5 Select Second Screen Option
2. Deskreen will provide you the option to share the entire screen or a particular window. Select the suitable option as per your requirements.

1. Step 6 Start Using MacBook As A Second Monitor
2. After following the above steps, your MacBook will start working as a second monitor for your PC.

Key Features & Limitations

Overall, Deskreen is a reliable and efficient software because it has the following features:

• Wide-ranging support for different platforms and systems.
• Availability of web browser functions for screen mirroring.
• Dark mode UI support.
• Supports multiple screen sharing.

However, a major limitation of Deskreen is that it only works efficiently with a virtual display adapter. You cannot expect Deskreen to work quickly when you don’t have a virtual display adapter which was possible with AirDroid Cast and Duel Display.

2 Wire Methods to Use MacBook As A Second Monitor for PC

There are a few reliable wired methods of using a MacBook as a second monitor for your PC as well.

4 Use Luna Display o Turn Your MacBook into A Second Monitor for Your PC

Luna Display is a popular device that allows you to turn your MacBook or iPad into a second monitor for your Windows computer or other Mac devices. It supports a wide range of compatible devices as it has a special dongle for it.

Luna Display can be used in three simple steps:

1. Step 1 Install and Launch Luna Apps


2. First of all, you will have to download and install the Luna apps on both your desktop app and Mac devices. Launch these apps.

1. Step 2 Plug in the Luna Device
2. Insert the Luna dongle into your MacBook.

1. Step 3 Select the Device
2. Luna will automatically detect all the connected devices over the Wi-Fi network. Choose your Windows computer to start using MacBook as a second monitor for your PC.

Buying Luna Display

Since you need a dongle called Luna Display to use this method, you must identify the ports present on your MacBook before buying the device. Following are the three variants of Luna Display available in the market:

5Use HDMI & Adapter to Turn Your MacBook into A Second Monitor for Your PC

By default, you cannot use MacBook as a second monitor for your PC using HDMI. The reason behind this is that both of these systems support only HDMI output and no HDMI input. Most of the MacBook models don't even have HDMI ports nowadays, except Mac Mini, which has a single HDMI output port.

A wide range of adapters is available in the market, such as VGA-to-HDMI and USB-C to HDMI Cable adapters. These adapters are useful in connecting HDMI to your MacBook as per the available ports.

First of all, you should identify the right ports on your MacBook and PC to get suitable HDMI cables and adapters. The method of using the MacBook as a second monitor for your PC will work for iMac, Mac Mini, MacBook Air, and 13-inch MacBook Pro.

How Do I Use my Mac As a Second Monitor with HDMI?

Follow these steps to use your Mac as a second monitor for your PC with HDMI:

1. Connect the HDMI or HDMI Adapter to your PC.

2. Connect the other end of the adapter to your MacBook either directly or through the USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter.

3. Open the ‘Screen Sharing’ settings on your Windows and make sure the sharing options are enabled.

4. You will be able to start using the MacBook as a second monitor for your PC.

Overall, using HDMI and adapters to convert MacBook into a second monitor is a difficult task as you have to consider many different factors like port compatibility and buy the HDMI and adapters. Therefore, it is much better to rely on other methods to ensure maximum efficiency.

Popular FAQs about Second Monitor for PC

How do I use a Windows laptop as a second monitor for a MacBook?

If your MacBook supports AirPlay, you can easily use a Windows laptop as a second monitor by following these steps:

1. Connect the Windows laptop and MacBook to the same Wi-Fi network.
2. Download and install AirPlay software on your Windows laptop.
3. Enable AirPlay on MacBook.
4. Launch AirPlay on Windows.
5. Extend the Mac display to Windows Screen.

On the other hand, if you are using an older MacBook that does not support AirPlay, you can use a tool like AirDroid Cast to screencast your MacBook to a Windows laptop.

Can I hook up a monitor to my laptop so that I can use the monitor as a desktop computer?

Yes, you can definitely hook up a monitor to your laptop via HDMI and use the ‘Extend’ option to use the monitor as a desktop computer.

Can I connect my old monitor from my desktop to my new laptop?

In most situations, it is possible to connect an old monitor to your new laptop via an HDMI cable. Make sure that the HDMI port of the monitor is working fine. Even if the monitor has the old VGA port, you can use a VGA to HDMI adapter.

How do I Connect my Mac to my Windows using Ethernet?

You can connect your Mac to your Windows by following these steps:

1. Connect the ethernet cable in both systems. If the MacBook does not have an Ethernet port, you can use a USB-to-Ethernet Adapter.
2. Turn on File Sharing on your Windows computer.
3. Turn off the Internet Connection Firewall.
4. On your MacBook, select Go > Connect to Server > Browser > and type the address displayed by the computer.

The Bottom Line

Turning your MacBook into a second monitor for your PC does not have to be a difficult procedure. A wide range of wired and wireless methods are available to help you out. Most of these methods can be used to connect external displays to MacBook as well. It all comes down to your requirements and the method you are choosing to fulfill your needs.

Since there are many different methods of connecting your PC with a MacBook, you should keep in mind that both wires and wireless methods have their pros and cons.

If you don’t want to spend too much money on buying adapters and wires, you should select a wireless method of using your MacBook as a second monitor for your PC. By choosing a wireless tool like AirDroid Cast that provides comprehensive support for all platforms, you will be able to use the same platform for all of your mirroring and screencasting requirements.

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