Unable to connect 2 monitors to my laptop

Question

I have an HP 13th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-1355U (1.70 GHz) laptop that and I am trying to connect 2 external monitors. I have a hub that is connected to my HDMI port and the 2 monitors that are unable to be detected by the computer.

Answer 1

Hi,

What model of hub are you using?

Because you might be using duplicate HDMI.

If you only have one HDMI port, you won't be able to switch to two; you would need a docker or some other new external video device.

Thanks

Answer 2

The most likely cause is that the current setup (laptop HDMI → hub → 2 monitors) cannot provide two independent video signals. Most HDMI “hubs” or splitters only duplicate a single video output; they do not create two separate displays. In that case, Windows will only ever see one external monitor, so the second one cannot be detected.

Additionally, many systems support only a limited number of displays from a given graphics output. Some adapters and docks can only drive one external monitor from a single HDMI or USB‑C port.

Use these steps to troubleshoot and plan a working setup:

1. Confirm that one external monitor works
   1. Disconnect the hub completely.
   2. Connect a single monitor directly to the laptop’s HDMI port.
   3. In Windows 11, open Settings > System > Display and verify that the monitor appears and can be used in Extend mode.
   4. If one monitor does not work directly, follow the basic external monitor troubleshooting in the reference article (check cable, try another cable, try another monitor, different port if available).
2. Understand the limitation of HDMI hubs/splitters
   • If using a simple HDMI splitter/hub, it is duplicating the same signal, not creating two independent signals. This type of device cannot give two separate extended desktops; at best it mirrors the same image on both screens.
   • To use two independent external monitors from a laptop that has only one HDMI output, additional hardware that actually adds another display output is required.
3. Check how many external monitors the hardware can support
   • If only one video output port (one HDMI) exists on the laptop, by default it supports only one external monitor.
   • To add a second external monitor, one of these is typically required:
     • A compatible docking station designed for the laptop that supports multiple external displays.
     • A USB‑C video adapter or dock (if the laptop has a USB‑C port that supports video output) that provides an additional video output port.
4. Use Windows display settings correctly once hardware is in place
   • After connecting both external monitors through appropriate hardware (dock or multi‑display USB‑C adapter), go to Settings > System > Display.
   • Under Rearrange your displays, select Identify to see which screen is which.
   • Under Multiple displays, choose Extend these displays so each monitor acts as a separate screen.

If, after using proper multi‑monitor hardware, only one external monitor still works at a time, check the laptop and dock documentation to confirm how many external displays are supported and at what resolutions.

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References:

• Troubleshoot external monitor connections in Windows
• How to use multiple monitors in Windows
• Error message when you configure the display settings to try to use three or more displays on a laptop that is running Windows 7 and Windows 8: "Unable to save display settings"