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Do you have a monitor, keyboard, mouse, and an old laptop? If so, you can build a compact desktop PC by transforming that old laptop and boosting its utility. This wikiHow teaches you how to use your laptop as a desktop computer.

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Setting Up

Check what type of display connection your laptop supports. Different laptops require a different display cable to connect to a monitor. Check your laptop for the following display ports:^[1]
- HDMI: HDMI is the most common display connection. HDMI cables have a metal plug on both ends that. The plug is about 14mm x 4.5mm with two notches on the bottom corners of the plug.
- Mini-HDMI: Mini-HDMI plugs and ports are the same shape as HDMI plugs and ports, but they are slightly smaller at 10.4mm x 2.4mm. If your laptop has a Mini-HDMI port and your monitor does not, you will need a Mini-HDMI-to-HDMI cable or a Mini-HDMI-to-HDMI adapter with an HDMI cable.
- Micro-HDMI: Micro-HDMI plugs and ports are the same shape as HDMI and mini-HDMI ports and plugs, except they are even smaller at 6.4mm x 2.8mm. If your laptop has a micro-HDMI port and your monitor does not, you will need a micro-HDMI-to-HDMI cable or a Micro-HDMI-to-HDMI adapter and an HDMI cable.
- USB-C: Instead of an HDMI output, many newer laptops have USB-C outputs. USB-C ports are oval-shaped and measure at about 8.4mm x 2.6mm. If your laptop has a USB-C port and your monitor does not, you will need a USB-C-to-HDMI adapter and an HDMI cable to connect your monitor to your computer.^[2]
- Thunderbolt: Thunderbolt and Thunderbolt 2 connections are most commonly found on Macbook Pro and Macbook Air computers. The port has a lightning bolt icon next to it. Thunderbolt 1 & 2 ports are rectangle-shaped with two notches on the bottom corners. Thunderbolt 3 & 4 ports are shaped like a USB-C port and have a lightning bolt next to them. If your Macbook has a Thunderbolt 1 or 2 port and your monitor does not, you will need a thunderbolt-to-HDMI adapter and an HDMI cable to connect your Macbook to your monitor. If your Macbook has a thunderbolt 3 or 4 output, you can connect it to a monitor using a USB-C-to-HDMI adapter.^[3]^[4]
- Mini-Display Port: Mini-display ports are found on older Macbook and Macbook Pro models. Mini-display ports have the same shape as a thunderbolt port, but they are not the same. Mini-display ports have an icon that resembles a rectangle with two lines on both sides next to it. If your Macbook has a mini-display port and your monitor does not, you will need a Mini-display-port-to-HDMI adapter and HDMI cable to connect your Macbook to your monitor.
- DVI: DVI ports are used on older laptops and computers. They are about an inch wide with 24 holes for the 24 pins on the connector. DVI ports are video-only outputs. You will need to connect your computer speakers using a separate audio connection. If your laptop has a DVI port and your monitor does not, you will need a DVI-to-HDMI adapter to connect your computer to your monitor.^[5]
- VGA: VGA connections are used on older computer models. A VGA port has 15 holes for the 15 pins on a VGA connector. VGA connections are video-only. You will need a separate audio connection to connect your computer speakers. These are typically used on older, low-resolution monitors. You will need a VGA-to-HDMI adapter to connect a VGA port to a modern computer monitor.
Gather the supplies. Some of the things you will need to turn your laptop into a desktop computer include the following:
- A laptop and charger.
- A computer monitor.
- A keyboard.
- A mouse.
- A display cable (and adapter if needed).
- A surge protector.
Consider how long this setup will last. Is it going to be a temporary dock or a long-term setup? If it is a long-term setup, you should take out the battery and just keep it plugged into the wall.
Choose a location. Good places may include an office or study, a living room, or maybe even a bedroom. Your location should have a desk with enough space to set everything up.
Plug your laptop into an outlet/surge protector/power strip. A good surge protector can protect your electronic equipment from power surges and lightning strikes. They also provide more outlets to plug more devices into.
Plug the monitor in. You can plug your computer monitor into a surge protector or electrical wall outlet.
Connect your keyboard to your computer. If your keyboard connects using a USB, find a free port on your USB on the side or back of your laptop.[Image:Turn an Old Laptop into a Desktop Step 6.jpg|center]]
Connect your mouse to your computer. If your mouse connects to your computer using a USB connection, connect the USB dongle or cable to a free USB port on the side or back of your laptop. If your mouse connects using Bluetooth, you will need to pair your mouse with your laptop.
- If the notebook has only one USB port, you can obtain a USB "Y" or a USB hub. This converts a single USB port into two or more ports.
Connect the laptop to your monitor. Use the proper display cable to connect your laptop to your monitor. If you need an adapter to connect the adapter to your laptop. Connect one end of the HDMI cable to the monitor and then connect the other end to the adapter.

[Edit]Using a Windows Laptop

Login to your laptop. Press the power button on your laptop to power it on. Then log in with your Windows username and password.
Go to the display settings. Use the following steps to open the display settings in Windows.
- Click the Windows Start menu.
- Click the Settings/Gear icon.
- Click System.
- Click Display in the menu to the left.
Click . Most of the time Windows will detect a connected monitor automatically. If it does not, scroll down and click Detect in the Display Settings menu.^[6]
Select "Duplicate" under "Multiple Displays." Use the drop-down menu below "Multiple Displays" to select "Duplicate." This ensures your monitor displays the same thing as your laptop screen.
- Alternatively, you can select Extend to use your monitor as a dual display setup. However, some laptops may not have the processing power for a dual display.
Open the Control Panel. Use the following steps to open the Control Panel in Windows:
- Click the Windows Start menu.
- Type "Control Panel".
- Click Control Panel in the Windows Start menu.
Go to the Power Options. Use the following steps to navigate to the Power Options in Control Panel:
- Click Hardware and Sound.
- Click 'Power Options.
Click . It's in the panel to the left.
Select "Do nothing" next to "When I close the lid." You can select this option for both "On Battery" and "While Plugged In". This allows you to close your laptop and continue using it with your monitor as the primary display.

[Edit]Using a Mac

Power on your Macbook and log in. Press the power button on your Macbook to power it on and log in using your Mac username and password.
Click the Apple icon . It's in the upper-left corner. This displays the Apple menu.
Click . It's the second option in the Apple menu. This displays the System Preferences screen.
Click . It has an icon that resembles a computer monitor.
Hold and click . Your Macbook should detect your computer monitor automatically. If it does not, hold the Option (or Alt key) and click Detect Display in the lower-right corner to detect your monitor.
Drag the slider below "Underscan" to adjust the scaling. If the display on the computer monitor is not scaled correctly to the monitor, drag the slider bar below "Underscan" to adjust the scaling.
Close your Macbook. Once the display is scaled correctly on your computer monitor, you can close your Macbook and start using your monitor as your primary display.