Somewhere between the rising cost of a second monitor and the quiet abundance of machines already sitting in drawers, a practical question takes shape: can an old Surface or spare laptop become a working screen? OnMSFT's March 2021 guide answers yes, through the wireless projection standard Miracast and the shared Wi-Fi that binds two machines into one workspace. It is a modest technical story, but it speaks to a familiar human habit of making do with what we already have while working from home.
How to Turn a Spare Surface or Laptop Into a Second Monitor Over Wi-Fi With Miracast
A spare Surface or laptop can stand in for an $80 to $200 monitor
Mark
Why does this matter for someone working from home?
Mimi
A second monitor costs roughly $80 to $200 or more, and this uses a Surface or laptop that may already be sitting unused.
Mark
What does it actually need?
Mimi
Both PCs on the same Wi-Fi network, Windows 10 Anniversary Update or newer, and the Wireless Display optional feature if the projection settings are grayed out.
Luke
The guide says most modern PCs support Miracast. That's a general claim, not a guarantee for your particular machine.
Mimi
Fair. The guide's own advice is to check support through the projection settings on each PC.
Mark
How is pairing kept secure?
Mimi
There's a permission prompt on the second device and a PIN you type on the main PC. The guide recommends both, though the PIN can be turned off for speed.
Luke
It says nothing about how well it performs, such as lag over a busy network. The only hint is the Gaming, Working or Watching Videos setting, which adjusts latency and stream settings.
Mimi
Right, so it's a setup guide, not a performance test.
Mark
And once connected?
Mimi
You can mirror or extend, use the Surface's touch screen for input if you enable it, and disconnect through Windows and P.
Der Puls
- A second monitor's price tag of $80 to $200 and up pushes home workers to look for a cheaper way to widen their desks.
- Two machines must line up first: the same Wi-Fi network, a compatible Windows version, and an optional Wireless Display feature installed on both.
- Settings on each device must be tuned for permission, PIN pairing and projection, so the spare Surface can trust the main PC.
- A PIN appears on the second screen and must be entered on the main PC, turning the Surface into a mirror that can then be switched to a full extended desktop.
Somewhere between the rising cost of a second monitor and the quiet abundance of machines already sitting in drawers, a practical question takes shape: can an old Surface or spare laptop become a working screen? OnMSFT's March 2021 guide answers yes, through the wireless projection standard Miracast and the shared Wi-Fi that binds two machines into one workspace. It is a modest technical story, but it speaks to a familiar human habit of making do with what we already have while working from home.
A second monitor can cost anywhere from $80 to well over $200, and for people working or schooling from home, that is a real expense. OnMSFT's guide offers a quieter alternative: a spare Surface or laptop whose screen can serve as a wireless display, using the Miracast protocol over Wi-Fi. Even the second machine's keyboard and mouse can be borrowed to control the main PC.
Before starting, both computers must share the same Wi-Fi network and run Windows 10 Anniversary Update or newer. If the projection settings are grayed out, the Wireless Display optional feature must be installed on both machines, which takes a few minutes. Each device then needs its projection settings adjusted, with permission and PIN pairing set to the most secure options, though a PIN can be turned off for speed.
To connect, the user opens projection options on the main PC, chooses a wireless display, approves the request on the Surface, and enters the PIN shown there. The Surface first mirrors the main screen, but switching to Extend turns it into a true additional desktop, and touch input can be enabled to move windows around. When the session ends, the user disconnects through the same menu.
A second monitor can cost anywhere from $80 to $200 and up, and for people working or schooling from home that is a real expense. OnMSFT's guide, published in March 2021, points to something many households may already own: a spare Surface or laptop whose screen can be used as a wireless display over Wi-Fi, thanks to the Miracast protocol. The second machine's keyboard and mouse can also be used to control the main PC.
A few prerequisites come first. Both PCs must be on the same Wi-Fi network, since the connection runs through the network and the machines have to share data. Both must also be running the Windows 10 Anniversary Update or newer, because that is the version where you can check whether the PC supports Miracast. Most modern PCs do, according to the guide, so this shouldn't be a problem.
On some Windows editions, an optional feature has to be installed on both the host PC, the one projecting from, and the guest PC, the one projecting to. To check, search Windows 10 settings for Projection Settings on each machine. If everything is grayed out, open Optional Features, click Add a feature, search for Wireless Display, tick the check box and click Install. Windows 10 takes a few minutes to install it, after which you can go back and confirm it is there.
Next comes configuration, which the guide says to do on both the main PC and the Surface or second laptop. Open Settings, choose System, then Projecting to this PC. The first drop-down, which covers whether Windows and Android devices can project to this PC, can be set to Available everywhere or Available everywhere on secure networks. The guide suggests the first as the easiest, and the second for anyone concerned about security.
For the prompt asking permission to project, the guide recommends Every time a connection is required, which it calls the most secure. It also recommends setting Require a PIN for pairing to Always, though it notes you can turn that off for faster pairing. The last toggle should be set to Off if you want to use the second PC as a portable display on battery, away from power. Switching it to On limits use to when the device is plugged in, which conserves battery.
To connect, press the Windows key and P on the main PC to open the projection options, then choose Extend. Pick Connect to a Wireless display and select the name of the Surface or second PC. A prompt appears on the second machine: choose Always Allow and then OK. A PIN then shows on the second screen, and you enter it on the main PC. Once you confirm, the Surface mirrors the main PC.
Mirroring can be changed afterward. Press Windows and P again, choose Connect to a Wireless display, then Change Projection Mode, and pick Extend so the Surface acts as an additional desktop rather than a copy. If you select Allow mouse, keyboard, and input from this device, the Surface's touch screen can drag windows around. In Display Settings on the main PC, you can rearrange the displays to match how they sit on your desk.
A settings icon next to the Disconnect button at the top middle of the screen lets you tune the stream for Gaming, Working or Watching Videos, which adjusts latency and stream settings for better quality. When you are finished, press Windows and P, choose Connect to a Wireless display, and select Disconnect to end the session.
Bemerkenswerte Zitate
Choosing Available everywhere is the easiest option, but the secure-networks option suits those worried about security.— OnMSFT guide
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