Set Up Dual Monitors in Ubuntu Linux: A Step-by-Step Guide

Dual monitors in Ubuntu let you use two screens at once, so you can keep a document on one and a browser or terminal on the other. Ubuntu 22.04 LTS and newer versions detect most second screens as soon as you plug them in. Often the desktop extends onto the new screen with no setup at all.

Even so, you will usually want to check the arrangement. The built-in display settings let you place the screens, choose your main display, or mirror your desktop across both. On most systems nothing needs to be installed, and the changes are easy to undo. The main exception is a PC with an NVIDIA graphics card, covered below.

How to set up additional monitors in Ubuntu Linux

The Settings app is the one place to arrange extra screens, position displays side by side or stacked, and choose a primary monitor. It is the control center for your system. It covers everything from user accounts to software updates, and the display options are in the same place.

Requirement for NVIDIA graphics cards: Check this before you start. If your PC has an NVIDIA GPU, Ubuntu may be running the open-source Nouveau driver. With that driver the second monitor may not be detected at all, or the Displays page may lack options such as resolution, refresh rate or scaling. Installing the proprietary NVIDIA driver usually fixes this. To install it:

1. Press the Super key (the Win), type “Additional Drivers” and press Enter. The app scans for available drivers, which can take a few seconds.
2. Look for the NVIDIA entries in the list. Select the one marked as proprietary and recommended or tested, unless you have a specific reason to pick another version.
3. Click Apply Changes and wait for the installation to finish. You may be asked for your password.
4. Restart the🔄 computer. The new driver does not take effect until you do. If Secure Boot is on, Ubuntu may ask you to set a password and enroll a key during the restart. Follow the on-screen prompts.

Once the driver is active, the NVIDIA settings tool is also available from the application menu. Ubuntu’s own Settings › Displays page should now show your second monitor. To undo the change, go back to Additional Drivers, choose the open-source driver and restart.

Next, connect the second monitor with HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-C or whatever port your hardware has, and turn it on. If it stays blank, check that the monitor is on the right input source and that the cable is firmly seated. Then open Settings.

1. Click the system menu in the top-right corner of your desktop, where the network, volume and battery icons sit. A small panel opens.
2. Select Settings, as highlighted below. The Settings⚙️ window opens with a list of categories on the left.

You can also press the Super key (the Win), type “Settings” and press Enter.

1. In the left-hand list, click Displays. Depending on your Ubuntu version this entry may read Display. The path is Settings › Displays.

You should now see the configuration panel. If your second monitor is detected, it appears there next to the first. If you only see one screen, see the note at the end of this section.

The display arrangement diagram shows each monitor as a numbered box. Drag the boxes to match the way your screens sit on your desk. If the right-hand monitor is physically on your right, put its box on the right. If it sits above or below the first, stack the boxes the same way. This decides where your mouse pointer crosses from one screen to the other, so an exact match saves you a lot of annoyance later.

1. Click a monitor’s box to select it. The settings⚙️ below the diagram apply to that screen.
2. Choose which display is primary and which is secondary. The numbers in the boxes match the numbers shown on the physical screens when you click Identify, if your version has that option. The primary choice is covered in more detail below.
3. Drag the boxes again until the relative positions feel right. The boxes snap to each other’s edges so they leave no gap.

Your primary display is the one showing the Dock, the top bar with menus, and where you access the Activities overview. Pick the monitor you look at most as primary. When the displays are joined, the Displays page shows a Primary Display option. Use it to pick which screen carries the top bar. If you do not see it, check that you are in Join Displays mode, because it is not offered in Mirror or Single Display mode.

When using two screens, you have these display modes:

• Join Displays screen edges are joined so things can pass from one Display to another.
• Mirror the same content is shown on two displays with the same resolution and orientation.
• Single Display only one Display is configured, effectively turning off the other.

Join Displays gives you one large desktop across both screens, which is what most people want for dual monitors. Mirror shows the same image on both, which suits projectors and presentations. Single Display uses one screen and turns the other off.

You do not have to open Settings to switch between these modes. Press Super+P and a mode switcher appears on screen. Press P again while holding Super, or click an option, to choose between Join, Mirror and Single. This is handy when you plug into a projector and need to change the mode quickly.

With both monitors shown, select each one in turn and adjust its orientation, resolution or scale, and refresh rate if they need changes. Two monitors of different sizes often need different scale values to make text look the same size on both. If a refresh rate option is missing, the cable or the graphics driver may not support that rate.

On supported hardware, and mainly in a Wayland session, Settings can also offer fractional scaling, such as 125% or 150%, and a separate refresh rate for each monitor. What you see depends on your Ubuntu version, your graphics driver and the monitors themselves. If these options are missing, that does not mean something is broken. Under an X11 session or with some drivers they are simply not offered.

1. Click Apply after making all your changes. The screens refresh, and a confirmation prompt appears.
2. Click Keep Changes if the layout looks right. If you do nothing, the new settings are applied for 20 seconds and then revert to the previous ones. This protects you if a change leaves a screen black or unreadable.
3. Close the Settings⚙️ app when you finish.

You can come back to Settings › Displays at any time to change the layout again. If the second monitor never shows up, try a different cable or port first. If you use a proprietary NVIDIA driver, also check that it is installed and up to date through Additional Drivers, as described at the start of this guide. The open-source driver does not always handle every card.

Conclusion:

• Adding a second monitor to Ubuntu Linux is a simple process that enhances productivity.
• Ubuntu’s system settings provide a user-friendly interface for configuring multiple displays, offering options for display arrangement and modes such as Join Displays, Mirror, and Single Display.
• Users can effortlessly set the primary and secondary displays, adjust the orientation, resolution, scale, and refresh rate, and apply the changes with just a click.
• Enjoy the expanded workspace and improved multitasking capabilities with the seamless integration of additional monitors in Ubuntu Linux.