Mirrored vs. Extended Display Settings

Haruna Hosokawa Updated by Haruna Hosokawa

When connecting your computer (such as L4L MacBook or Chromebook) to a secondary display (such as projector, external monitor, or Airtame monitor), users have the option to use the secondary display as a mirrored display or extended display.
Mirrored vs Extended Display Comparison
  • Mirrored display: The secondary display shows the same content as your computer screen.
  • Extended display: The secondary display and your computer show different content. This gives you added workspace such as displaying a slideshow in one display while displaying Zoom participants in another screen.

Setting up a secondary display on L4L MacBook

  1. Connect your secondary display or projector to your computer using appropriate cable or Airtame.
  2. Click on System Preferences ⚙️ and select Displays. You may also use the MacBook search feature to search for "displays."
  3. Click on the "Use as" drop down option to choose between using a main display or a mirrored option.
  1. To use an extended display or main display, Click on Arrange to move your second display to the left or right orientation from your main display. This means you would grab and move content to the left or right to have it appear on the other display.
  2. To "Mirror Displays" choose the "mirror" option from the drop down.
  3. If you are using mirrored mode, you are done! Your external display will be displaying exactly what is in your L4L MacBook screen.
  4. If you are using extended mode, adjust the placement of the second screen by dragging the screens in the Arrangement tab. Place the second screen in a location that is consistent with the physical location of your actual monitor (for example, in this case, the second monitor is to the right of the L4L MacBook). Your mouse pointer will jump from your L4L screen to your secondary screen based on the locations of the screens in the Arrangement tab.
    This video explains this step in more details.
For more information about MacBooks and display settings check out Apple Support Display Settings.

Setting up a secondary display on a Chromebook

  1. Connect your secondary display or projector to your Chromebook using appropriate cable or Airtame.
  2. Click on the status area in the bottom right corner of your Chromebook window, and click on the settings icon ⚙️.
    Chromebook status screen shot
  3. Select Device, then Displays.
    Chromebook screenshot
  4. Click on checkbox labeled "Mirror Internal Display" to toggle between mirrored and extended display modes.
chromebook checkbox
  1. If you are using mirrored mode, you are done! Your external display will be displaying exactly what is in your Chromebook screen.
  2. If you are using extended mode, select the external monitor's tab below the "Mirror Internal Display" checkbox. In the settings, drag the secondary display to a location that is consistent with the actual location of your monitor so that the mouse cursor move intuitively across both screens.

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