You cannot daisy-chain most Dell monitors by plugging them into each other
Most Dell monitors do not have a second video output port on the back. Even if yours has two ports — one input and one output — connecting monitors in a chain rarely works the way people expect. The monitor receiving the signal from your computer can display video, but the next monitor in the chain usually cannot, because the output port is designed to send a different kind of signal (often audio or USB data, not video).
If you want to use multiple Dell monitors, the standard approach is to connect each one directly to your computer using separate cables. Your graphics card or laptop has multiple ports for exactly this reason. This gives you more control, lets you arrange the monitors however you want, and avoids the confusion of trying to chain them together.
Key Takeaways
- Most Dell monitors have only one video input port, so you cannot connect a second monitor to the first monitor's output.
- Connecting each monitor directly to your computer works on nearly all setups and is simpler than trying to chain them.
- Check your graphics card or laptop ports (HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-C, or VGA) to see how many monitors you can connect at once.
- Some Dell monitors with USB-C ports can pass video through to a second monitor, but this is rare and requires specific hardware.
- If your computer does not have enough ports, a docking station or USB-C hub can add more video outputs without chaining monitors.
Why monitor output ports usually do not carry video
A Dell monitor's output port — when it has one — typically carries USB data or audio back to your computer, not video. This is useful for connecting a keyboard, mouse, or headphones through the monitor, but it does not help you display a picture on a second monitor.
Video signals travel one direction: from your computer to the monitor. The monitor receives the signal, processes it, and displays the image. It does not re-transmit that video signal in a format another monitor can use. Even if the output port physically looks like it could carry video, the electronics inside the monitor are not set up to do it.
How to connect multiple Dell monitors to one computer
The correct way is to run a separate cable from your computer to each monitor. Your graphics card or laptop has multiple video ports built in for this purpose. Common ports include HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-C, and older VGA or DVI connections.
Check the back of your computer or the sides of your laptop to count how many video ports you have. Each port can connect to one monitor. If you have three HDMI ports, you can connect three monitors. If you have one HDMI and one DisplayPort, you can connect two monitors using those two different cables.
Plug one cable into the first monitor's input port and into your computer's first video port. Plug the second cable into the second monitor's input port and into your computer's second video port. Turn on both monitors and your computer should detect them automatically. You may need to adjust display settings in Windows or macOS to arrange them side by side or extend your desktop across both screens.
What to do if your computer does not have enough ports
If you want to connect more monitors than your computer has ports for, a docking station or USB hub can help. A docking station is a device that connects to your computer via one cable (usually USB-C or Thunderbolt) and provides multiple video output ports on the back. You connect your monitors to the docking station instead of directly to your computer.
For example, a Thunderbolt docking station might have two HDMI ports and one DisplayPort. You plug the docking station into your laptop's single Thunderbolt port, then connect your three monitors to those three ports on the docking station. Your laptop now sees three monitors instead of zero.
This approach works with most Dell monitors and is often cheaper than buying a new graphics card. Check that the docking station supports the number and type of monitors you want to use before you buy it.
Dell monitors with USB-C and video pass-through
Some newer Dell monitors, particularly the UltraSharp and P-series models, have USB-C ports that can carry video signals. These monitors can sometimes pass video through to a second monitor connected to their output port, but only under specific conditions.
This works when your computer sends video to the first monitor via USB-C, the monitor displays it, and then sends the same video signal out through a second USB-C port to another compatible monitor. Both monitors must support this feature, and your computer must be connected to the first monitor with a USB-C cable that carries video.
Even when this works, it is not true daisy-chaining — you are still limited to two monitors this way, and it requires both monitors to have the right ports and firmware. For most users, connecting each monitor directly to the computer remains simpler and more reliable.
Checking your graphics card or laptop specifications
Before you buy additional monitors or cables, find out how many monitors your computer can actually support. On a desktop, this depends on your graphics card. On a laptop, it depends on the ports built into the machine.
For a desktop, open your computer's Device Manager (Windows) or System Report (Mac) and look for your graphics card model. Search online for that model number plus "how many monitors" — the manufacturer's website will tell you the maximum number of displays it supports and which port combinations work together.
For a laptop, count the video ports on the sides and back. Most laptops have one or two ports that can carry video: HDMI, USB-C, DisplayPort, or Thunderbolt. Some older laptops have only VGA. If your laptop has USB-C, check the manufacturer's specs to confirm it carries video — not all USB-C ports do.
Common cable types and what they carry
| Cable Type | What It Carries | Common On |
|---|---|---|
| HDMI | Video and audio | Most modern monitors, laptops, and desktops |
| DisplayPort | Video and audio | Gaming monitors, newer Dell monitors, some laptops |
| USB-C | Video, audio, data, and power (on some cables) | Newer laptops and monitors |
| VGA | Video only | Older monitors and laptops |
| DVI | Video only | Older monitors and graphics cards |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I connect a Dell monitor to another Dell monitor with an HDMI cable?
No. HDMI cables carry video in one direction only — from your computer to the monitor. Plugging an HDMI cable from one monitor to another will not work because the second monitor has no way to receive or display the video signal. Both monitors must connect directly to your computer.
What if my Dell monitor has a USB port on the back?
USB ports on monitors are for connecting keyboards, mice, and other devices to your computer through the monitor. They do not carry video signals. You still need a separate video cable (HDMI, DisplayPort, or USB-C) running from your computer to each monitor.
Do all Dell monitors support multiple displays?
No single monitor supports multiple displays — each monitor displays one video signal from one computer port. However, your computer can support multiple monitors if it has enough video ports or if you use a docking station. Check your computer's graphics card or laptop specs to see how many monitors it can handle.
Is a docking station the same as daisy-chaining monitors?
No. A docking station is a separate device that adds video ports to your computer. You connect your computer to the docking station with one cable, then connect your monitors to the docking station. Daisy-chaining would mean connecting monitors to each other, which does not work with most Dell monitors.
Can I use an adapter to connect monitors together?
Adapters can convert between different cable types (HDMI to DisplayPort, for example), but they cannot make a monitor output video when it is not designed to. You still need each monitor connected directly to your computer or to a docking station.