Can an All-in-One Computer Be Used as a Monitor?

On this page (9 sections)

1. Can an all-in-one computer be used as a monitor?
2. How can you tell whether the port accepts video?
3. How do you connect a laptop or console to an all-in-one?
4. Can HDMI-out work as HDMI-in?
5. What if the all-in-one has no video input?
6. What accessories help with an all-in-one desk setup?
7. Is a separate monitor a better choice?
8. What should you check before trying an all-in-one as a monitor?
9. Can an all-in-one computer be used as a monitor?

An all-in-one computer can be used as a monitor only if it has a supported video input. A port labeled HDMI-out or DisplayPort-out sends a picture from the all-in-one to another screen; it cannot receive a console or laptop image.

Check the exact model's manual before connecting anything. If display input is supported, the instructions should explain which port to use and how to switch the screen to that input.

Can an all-in-one computer be used as a monitor?

Yes, if the computer has a video input and supports display-input mode. Some models have an HDMI-in port, while many have video outputs only or no standard video ports.

The word “HDMI” by itself doesn't tell you the port's direction. Look for “HDMI-in” or “video input” in the manual, product specifications, or labels beside the ports.

If the manual only describes sending the computer's display to a monitor, that port is an output. Learn how an all-in-one computer works to understand why a computer's built-in screen normally displays the image from its own internal parts.

How can you tell whether the port accepts video?

Confirm the port is an input in the model's official instructions. A connector's shape may match a cable but won't show whether it receives or sends video.

Check these details for the exact model number:

• Port labels on the case, such as “HDMI-in.”
• The manufacturer's manual and supported input modes.
• Instructions for switching between computer mode and external-input mode.
• Any limits on supported resolution or refresh rate.

A model may have HDMI-in alongside HDMI-out, or a port that works only for specific functions. Don't rely on a photo of a similar model or assume that a port's presence means it accepts video.

How do you connect a laptop or console to an all-in-one?

Connect the source device to the all-in-one's confirmed video input, then switch to that input as the manual directs. Use a cable that matches the source output and the all-in-one input.

Start with both devices off if their manuals recommend it. Connect the cable, turn them on, and select the input mode using the all-in-one's on-screen menu or controls.

If the screen stays blank, check that the source device is awake, the correct input is selected, and the cable is firmly connected. Then compare the source's display settings with the input's supported resolution and refresh rate.

A keyboard can help you navigate menus if the all-in-one's controls are awkward. The Arteck 2.4G USB Wireless Keyboard Full Size uses a USB receiver and includes a number pad for desktop input.

This keyboard doesn't add video input or change what the all-in-one's ports can do. Check that you have an available USB port for its receiver.

Can HDMI-out work as HDMI-in?

No, HDMI-out sends the all-in-one's picture to another display. A cable going the other way won't turn an output into an input.

Ports can look alike while doing different jobs. Confirm the direction before connecting a laptop, game console, or another computer.

If the all-in-one has only video output, you can connect it to a separate monitor, but the all-in-one screen won't show the external device's picture through that port. A separate computer monitor is a more direct option when you need a display for another source.

What if the all-in-one has no video input?

Use a separate monitor or TV with an input that matches the source device. If you want to keep the all-in-one for other tasks, it can stay on the desk as a second computer while the external display shows the console or laptop.

Remote access or screen-sharing software may show one device's desktop on another over a network. That is different from a direct video connection and may add setup steps or delay.

A USB video adapter is another possible route, but support varies by operating system, adapter, and computer. Check compatibility with the makers of both the adapter and the all-in-one before relying on it.

What accessories help with an all-in-one desk setup?

Choose accessories for the job you need them to do; they won't replace a missing video input. A wireless keyboard can reduce cable clutter, while a printer can handle document tasks from the computer.

The Logitech MK295 Full Size Silent Wireless Keyboard includes a full-size keyboard, a mouse, and a small USB receiver. Its keyboard has a number pad and shortcuts for play, pause, volume, and mute.

The Epson EcoTank ET-2800 combines color printing, flatbed scanning, and copying, with Wi-Fi connectivity for computers and other devices.

These accessories can make the all-in-one more useful at a desk, but neither makes its screen accept an external video signal. For a comfortable arrangement, consider how much desk space an all-in-one computer needs before adding a separate display or printer.

Is a separate monitor a better choice?

A separate monitor is usually the simpler choice when you need a screen for multiple devices. You can select a monitor with the inputs your laptop, desktop, or console requires and connect each source as supported.

Compare the monitor's inputs with the devices you plan to connect. If you need a particular resolution, refresh rate, or built-in speakers, verify those details in the monitor's specifications before choosing one.

For a detailed look at one display option, read our ASUS ProArt PA278QV monitor review. A separate screen also gives you an independent display if the all-in-one is being repaired; see whether an all-in-one can be repaired separately from its screen.

What should you check before trying an all-in-one as a monitor?

Verify the model, port direction, and input-switching steps before buying cables or adapters. If the official instructions don't confirm a supported video input, plan on using a separate display.

Use this quick check:

1. Find the all-in-one's exact model number.
2. Look up its manual and confirm a video input is supported.
3. Check the source device's video output and cable type.
4. Follow the input-selection steps for the all-in-one.
5. Confirm resolution and refresh-rate support if those details matter.

If the goal is to use the all-in-one as a regular computer, start with setting up an all-in-one for everyday use. If you plan to use it as a connected computer after the display check, see whether an all-in-one computer can work without an internet connection and whether it can run continuously.

Can an all-in-one computer be used as a monitor?

Use an all-in-one as a monitor only when its manual confirms video input and explains how to select it. If the model has only HDMI-out or another video output, connect the source to a separate monitor or TV instead.

Frequently asked questions

Can you use an all-in-one computer as a monitor?

Only if the all-in-one has a supported video input, such as HDMI-in, and its instructions explain how to switch to that input. HDMI-out and other video output ports send the all-in-one's own picture to another display.

Check the model's manual before connecting a computer or console.

Can I connect a laptop to an all-in-one computer with HDMI?

You can display a laptop on an all-in-one only when the all-in-one has HDMI input and supports using it as a display. A cable alone won't make an HDMI output port receive video.

Check both devices' manuals for port direction, supported input mode, and switching steps.

Can a USB cable make an all-in-one a monitor?

A regular USB cable doesn't turn an all-in-one computer into a monitor. USB ports generally handle data or power, while a display needs a supported video input or a separate adapter designed for that purpose.

Confirm compatibility with both device makers before buying an adapter.

What if my all-in-one has no video input?

If it has no supported video input, use a separate monitor or TV with an input that matches the source device. You may also be able to access files or apps over a network, but that doesn't make the all-in-one a direct monitor.

Check whether a remote access method fits your needs.