Picture-by-picture (PBP) lets a single monitor display two input sources side by side at the same time, which is perfect for running a work laptop and a personal desktop on one screen, or a gaming PC next to a streaming machine. Unlike a KVM that shows one source at a time, PBP shows both simultaneously. Setting it up correctly takes a few OSD choices and an understanding of the resolution tradeoff.
PBP versus PIP
First, know the two modes. Picture-by-picture splits the screen into two equal halves, each showing a full source, ideal for genuinely working on both at once. Picture-in-picture (PIP) floats one source in a small window over a full-size other source, better for monitoring a second machine while focusing on the first. This guide focuses on PBP for two computers running together.
What you need
You need a monitor that explicitly supports PBP, two video cables running from your two computers to two of the monitor’s inputs, and ideally an ultrawide or large panel so each half is usable. On a 34-inch ultrawide, each PBP half is roughly the size of a 21:9 slice; on a 32-inch 16:9, each half becomes a tall, narrow region.
| Element | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Monitor width | 34 in ultrawide or larger |
| Inputs used | Two (e.g. DP + HDMI) |
| Each half resolution | Half the horizontal pixels |
| Audio | Select source in OSD |
| Peripherals | Use monitor USB hub / KVM if present |
Step-by-step setup
Connect computer one to input A, such as DisplayPort, and computer two to input B, such as HDMI. Open the monitor’s OSD and find the PBP or Multi-Picture menu. Enable PBP, then assign which input goes to the left half and which to the right. Each computer will now detect the monitor and typically report a resolution equal to half the panel’s width by its full height, for example a 3440×1440 ultrawide gives each side about 1720×1440.
Handle audio and peripherals
Only one audio source can play at a time, so the OSD includes an audio select option to choose which computer’s sound comes through the monitor speakers or headphone jack. For keyboard and mouse, if the monitor has a built-in KVM with a USB hub, you can share one set of peripherals and switch which computer they control; otherwise use separate keyboards or a standalone KVM.
Getting each side to look right
Because each source only gets half the panel, set each computer’s resolution to match its assigned region so nothing looks stretched. Verify the aspect ratio setting in the OSD is correct for PBP so images are not squished. If text looks cramped, adjust each machine’s display scaling independently to keep it readable in the narrower space.
When a KVM makes more sense
PBP is ideal when you genuinely need to see both computers at once, but if you mostly work on one machine at a time and just want to switch between them, a KVM approach is cleaner. A monitor with a built-in KVM lets both computers use the full screen and shares one keyboard, mouse, and even webcam, switching the active machine with a button or hotkey while you always get full resolution. PBP, by contrast, permanently sacrifices half the screen to each source, which is only worth it when both need to be visible simultaneously, such as monitoring a stream or reference material while working. Some monitors offer both, so you can run PBP when you need side-by-side visibility and collapse to a single full-screen KVM input the rest of the time. Deciding between them comes down to a simple question: do you need to look at both computers together, or just quickly move between them? That answer points to PBP or a KVM respectively.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a mouse across both PBP halves?
Only if the monitor has an integrated KVM that bridges the two computers; otherwise each half is a separate machine and your mouse controls just one. A built-in KVM or a standalone hardware KVM lets one keyboard and mouse switch between the two sources.
Does PBP reduce image quality?
It does not reduce quality, but each source only receives half the screen, so effectively half the horizontal resolution and physical space. On a wide or high-resolution panel this is very usable; on a small 16:9 monitor the halves become cramped.
Bottom line
PBP turns one big monitor into two workspaces for two computers running at once. Use a wide, high-resolution panel, connect two inputs, enable PBP in the OSD, set each side’s resolution to match its half, and manage audio and peripherals through the OSD or a KVM. Done right, it replaces a dual-monitor, dual-PC setup with a single clean screen.
