How to Use a Laptop as a Monitor via Wi-Fi: A Complete Guide with Proven Methods

Using a laptop as a wireless monitor is a solution that can be helpful in a variety of situations, from the lack of a second screen to the need to show a presentation without a projector. However, many users encounter problems when trying to set up such a connection. Wi-Fi — image delays, artifacts, device incompatibility, or complete system failure. In this article, we'll look into all current methods Turn your laptop into a wireless monitor, including built-in tools Windows/macOS, as well as specialized software, and we will also disclose key limitations that are not mentioned in most guides.

It is important to understand that wireless video signal transmission will always be inferior to wired solutions (for example, HDMI or DisplayPort) in terms of stability and latency. However, for office tasks, watching movies, or mirroring a smartphone screen to a large laptop display, this is often sufficient. We tested all the described methods on devices manufactured between 2020 and 2026—the results are summarized in the comparison table below.

1. Built-in Windows tools: Miracast and projection to this PC

The most obvious way is to use technology Miracast, built into Windows 10/11It allows you to broadcast your screen from one device to another via Wi-Fi Direct (without a router). The main advantage is that there is no need to install third-party software. However, there are also disadvantages: not all laptops support Miracast at the hardware level, and image lag can reach 100–150 ms.

To enable signal reception on a laptop:

• 🖥️ Open Settings → System → Project to this PC.
• 🔄 In the Settings section, select "Available everywhere" or "Available everywhere on secure networks."
• 🔑 Create a PIN (optional, but recommended for security).
• 📡 On the source device (e.g. another PC or smartphone), start screen projection and select your laptop from the list.

⚠️ Note: If your laptop is not displayed in the list of available devices, check for Miracast support using the command dxdiag in the "Run" menu. In the "System" section, there should be a line saying "Miracast: Available."

For macOS There is no analogue to Miracast, but you can use it AirPlay for broadcasting from other devices Apple (for example, with iPhone or iPad). To do this:

1. On a laptop Mac Open System Preferences → Sharing and turn on Display.
2. On iPhone Swipe up to open Control Center and select Duplicate Screen.

2. Specialized software: comparison of the 5 best programs

If built-in tools don't work or aren't up to par, third-party programs can help. We tested five popular solutions and summarized their characteristics in the table:

For most tasks we recommend SpaceDesk — it's free for basic features and offers the best value for money. If you need minimal latency (for example, for drawing on a tablet), consider Duet Display or SplashTop.

Update your graphics card drivers (especially for Intel HD Graphics)

Connect your laptop to a charger (wireless charging drains the battery significantly)

Close background programs that consume internet (torrents, cloud synchronization)

Set up your router: select a channel 5 GHz and width 80 MHz for minimal delays-->

3. Connecting a smartphone (Android/iOS) to a laptop as a monitor

If you need to display your smartphone's screen on a laptop, the algorithm depends on the operating system of the mobile device. For Android There are two main ways:

1. Through Google Cast (Chromecast): The laptop must support receiving the stream (for example, through a browser) Chrome with extension Google Cast). On your smartphone, enable broadcasting in the "Connected devices" settings.
2. Through ApowerMirror or TeamViewer QuickSupport: Install the program on both devices, connect to the same Wi-Fi network and follow the on-screen instructions.

ping -t 192.168.1.1

sudo apt install x11vnc
x11vnc -storepasswd /etc/x11vnc.pass
x11vnc -rfbauth /etc/x11vnc.pass -foreground -o /var/log/x11vnc.log