I work on a laptop with a small screen, and for months I kept a second monitor on my desk, taking up space. Then I realized my phone could do the job for free. It is not a full monitor, but for reference docs, chat windows, and music controls, it works great.

Your phone can act as a second screen over WiFi, with no cable and no extra hardware.

How to set it up

1. On a Mac: if you have an iPhone, use the built-in Sidecar feature, or a free app like spacedesk on both devices.
2. On Windows: try spacedesk or the Windows Wireless Display feature, which works with many Android phones.
3. Install the matching app on your phone, and make sure both devices are on the same WiFi network.
4. Connect. The phone should appear as an option in your display settings. Pick it as an extended display.

What it is good for

• Reference material. Keep instructions or a recipe on the phone screen while you work on the main one.
• Chat and email. Park your messaging app there so notifications stay out of your main work.
• Music and video controls. A tiny control panel that does not cover your work.
• Monitoring. Watch a dashboard or a live page without switching tabs.

What it is not good for

Do not expect to edit video or design graphics on it. There is a small delay over WiFi, so it is fine for reading and typing, not for anything that needs instant response. For those tasks, a real monitor is still better.

My setup

I keep my phone in a stand next to my laptop with a note-taking app open. It is basically a second screen for my to-do list, and it freed up the desk space the monitor used to take. On trips, it means I have a second screen anywhere there is WiFi.

One tip

Charge your phone while you use it as a screen, because the screen-on time drains the battery fast. And use a stand or a stack of books so it sits at a comfortable angle instead of flat on the desk.

My desk is simpler, and my phone finally earns its spot next to the laptop.