Personal Laptop Settings

Quick Start Guide for Issues Connecting in a Classroom

For Audio-Visual support, dial 4-2867 from the classroom phone or 408-924-2867 from your cell. Please double-check your device settings.

Need Personal Laptop Repair Services?

IMS does not provide desktop or tablet support. For your device to function properly with our in-room technology, please double-check these settings and ensure you know your device. Please note that SJSU does not provide laptop service or repair.

Off Campus Laptop Repair

KNOW YOUR CABLE CONNECTIONS

USB-C

Thunderbolt 3/4/5

Modern Laptops & MacBooks (2016 – Present)
Microsoft Surface Pro 7+ / Laptop 3+ (2019 – Present)

HDMI

Standard Cable

Most PC Laptops (2009 – Present)
MacBook Pro (2021 – Present)
Older MacBooks & PCs (Pre-2016)

VGA + AUDIO

3.5mm Aux Audio

Legacy PC Laptops (Pre-2016)
Older Classroom / Enterprise Laptops

MINI DIPLAY

Thunderbolt 2

Legacy Surface Devices (Surface Pro 1–6, Surface Laptop 1–2: 2012–2019)
Legacy MacBooks (Mini DP: 2008–2015 / Thunderbolt 2: 2011–2015)

Identifying your Mac Ports

KNOW YOUR OPERATING SYSTEM

PC - WINDOWS SOUND & DISPLAY SETTINGS

Projecting:

Ensure you select HDMI or VGA on the in-room controller
Re-plug the HDMI or VGA+Audio cable (one or the other, not both) into your device
Enable display duplicate/mirror by using the shortcuts: Windows+P (PC) or Ctrl +F1 (Mac)

Sound Control:

Ensure you select HDMI or VGA on the in-room controller
Re-plug the HDMI or VGA+Audio cable (one or the other, not both) into your device
Ensure the volume is up and not muted on all devices

DISPLAY

❖ (Windows) + P (keyboard: press and hold the Windows key and the letter P), to quickly change display source, resolution, and display duplication settings. Or Start > Settings > System Display
Select “Duplicate”/"Duplicate these displays" or "Extend these displays
Other ❖, Lenovo, & ASUS: Display settings> Scroll down to Advanced Display>Display Adapter properties>list all modes> Select Display 2: External Display> Change Display Resolution to 1280x### > accept > Exit & Duplicate your display

Right-click on an empty area of the desktop (on Windows 10: Start > Settings > System > Display)
Choose Display Settings
Scroll down to the Multiple displays area (Select Detect if none show up)
Select "Duplicate these displays" or "Extend these displays

IMAGE SIZE ISSUES: Resolution Settings
Adapters: PC typically uses: HDMI to VGA+Audio

SOUND

At the bottom right of the desktop, select the sound 🔈 to open the status area.
Select a device from the list (all classroom external/Classroom devices should be listed here)

At the bottom right of the desktop, select the sound 🔈 to open the status area.
Choose your output or "Playback devices"
Select an output device from the list (all classroom external/Classroom devices will be listed here)
Ensure no devices are “disabled” in your list >>More info

VGA + Audio: Select headphone/computer audio output. The audio cable must be plugged into the headphone jack.
HDMI: Select external device name (no audio cable is needed)

MAC - APPLE SOUND & DISPLAY SETTINGS

Projecting:

Ensure you select HDMI or VGA on the in-room controller
Re-plug the HDMI or VGA+Audio cable (one or the other, not both) into your device
Enable display duplicate/mirror by using the shortcut: Cmd+F1

Sound Control:

Ensure you select HDMI or VGA on the in-room controller
Re-plug the HDMI or VGA+Audio cable (one or the other, not both) into your device
Ensure the volume is up and not muted on all devices

DISPLAY

⌘ (Command) + F1 to quickly switch display settings

Go to Apple menu (🍏) > System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS) and select Displays.
Set Display Mode:
- Set Use as to Mirror (to duplicate your screen) or Extended Display (for a secondary screen).
  2025 or newer Macs: Choose Mirror, then select which screen to mirror > select “Choose Window or App”
Fix Image Cutoff or Scaling Image Size:
- Under Optimize for, select the classroom projector/display (e.g., FW430).
- Set resolution to 1280 x 800 (or click Show all resolutions and select a lower standard resolution if the projector shows no signal).
- Tip for DVDs & Copyrighted Content: If playing protected video content via HDMI causes screen flickering or blank output, switch to a USB-C to VGA adapter setup.
Adapters:
- Modern Macs (2016–Present): USB-C to HDMI / USB-C to VGA
- Legacy Macs (Pre-2016): Mini DisplayPort / Thunderbolt 2 to HDMI/VGA

SOUND

Option + Click on the sound 🔈 icon (top right). Ensure the output device is correct.

In the app dock, click on the System Preferences app and locate "SOUND"
in the “Output” menu tab ensure the output source is correct (or select an external/Classroom device)

VGA + Audio: Select headphone/computer audio output. The audio cable must be plugged into the headphone jack.
HDMI: Select external device name (no audio cable is needed)
(To quickly make this setting accessible from your desktop, click the “Show volume in menu bar” option at the bottom of the settings window)

CHROMEBOOK - ANDROID SOUND & DISPLAY SETTINGS

Projecting:

Ensure you select HDMI or VGA on the in-room controller
Re-plug the HDMI or VGA+Audio cable (one or the other, not both) into your device
Enable display duplicate/mirror by using the shortcuts: Ctrl + [_]

Sound Control:

Ensure you select HDMI or VGA on the in-room controller
Re-plug the HDMI or VGA+Audio cable (one or the other, not both) into your device
Ensure the volume is up and not muted on all devices

DISPLAY

Ctrl + [_] (full screen button) to quickly switch to mirror display

At the bottom right of the desktop, select the time to open the status area
Select Settings
In the "Device" section
select “Displays”
Check the box next to "Mirror internal display".

IMAGE SIZE ISSUES: Resolution Settings (adjust image size “Display Size”)

Adapters: Chromebook typically uses: HDMI to VGA + Audio | USB-C to VGA &/OR HDMI

SOUND

At the bottom right of the desktop, select the time to open the status area

Select the small icon beside the volume slider (which only appears when there are multiple output choices)
In the “Audio Settings” select an option from the “Output”

VGA + Audio: Headphone (plug vga audio cable into headphone jack)

HDMI: Name of Device

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