Multi-Lot Auctions > FAQs

When running an Multi-Lot / In-Room auction using Auctions Live, you can connect your Windows PC or laptop to a second screen, television, or projector and use each screen for a different purpose.

Your laptop screen can remain your private working screen for scribing and controlling the auction, while the external display shows the Auctions Live digital presentation to the audience.

To do this correctly, Windows must be configured to Extend the displays rather than Duplicate them.

Understanding Extended Displays on Windows

Selecting Extend gives you two separate working areas.

This allows you to keep the Auctions Live Control Panel on your laptop while moving the Auctions Live Presentation onto the external display for the audience.

If Windows is set to Duplicate, both screens will show the same content. This is not recommended when scribing because the audience may be able to see the controls being used by the operator.

Steps to Connect Your Windows PC to an External Display

Step 1: Connect your Windows PC or laptop to the television, projector, or external monitor.

Depending on your computer and the equipment being used, this may require an HDMI, DisplayPort, USB C, or compatible display adapter.

Step 2: Turn on the television, projector, or external display.

Step 3: If you are using a television or projector, make sure the correct input source has been selected, such as HDMI 1 or HDMI 2.

Step 4: Wait a few moments for Windows to recognise the connected display.

Steps to Extend Your Displays on Windows

Step 1: Right click on an empty area of your Windows desktop.

Step 2: Select Display settings.

Step 3: At the top of the Display settings page, select Identify.

A large number will temporarily appear on each screen. This helps you identify which screen is your laptop and which screen is the external audience display.

Step 4: Locate the multiple display options and select Extend these displays.

This allows the laptop and external display to show different content.

Step 5: Select Keep changes if Windows asks you to confirm the new display configuration.

Step 6: At the top of the Display settings page, you will see numbered boxes representing each screen.

Step 7: Click and drag the numbered boxes so they match the physical position of your screens.

For example, if the audience display is physically positioned to the right of your laptop, place the external display box to the right of the laptop display.

This allows your mouse to move naturally between the two screens.

Step 8: Select Apply if prompted.

Step 9: Move your mouse between the laptop and external display to confirm that the screen arrangement is correct.

Quick Way to Extend Your Windows Displays

Windows also provides a quick keyboard shortcut for changing your display mode.

Step 1: Press the Windows key + P on your keyboard.

Step 2: A display menu will appear on the screen.

Step 3: Select Extend.

Your desktop will now extend across the laptop and external audience display.

Important Note About Duplicate Displays

If both screens are showing exactly the same content, Windows is currently set to Duplicate.

Press Windows key + P and select Extend.

For an Auctions Live Multi-Lot / In-Room auction, using extended displays is recommended because it keeps your auction controls on the laptop while displaying only the digital presentation to the audience.

Steps to Open the Auctions Live Control Panel

Step 1: Log in to the PC Console and navigate to your Auctions Live Dashboard.

Step 2: From the left side menu under Multi-Lot Auctions, select Upcoming Published.

Step 3: Locate the relevant auction event and select the blue View icon.

Step 4: On the Multi-Lot Auction view page, locate the actions row and select the green Control Panel button.

Step 5: The Auctions Live Control Panel will open. Read the caution message, then select Close.

Keep the Control Panel on your laptop screen. This is the screen you will use to scribe bids and control the auction.

Steps to Open the Digital Multi-Lot / In-Room Presentation

Step 1: From the Auctions Live Control Panel, select the green Presentation button located towards the top right of the page.

Step 2: The Auctions Live digital presentation will open in a separate browser window.

Step 3: Click and hold the top of the presentation browser window.

Step 4: Drag the browser window towards the external audience display.

Continue moving the window until the entire presentation browser window appears on the external screen.

Step 5: Release the mouse once the presentation is positioned on the audience display.

Your Auctions Live Control Panel should now remain on your laptop while the Presentation is displayed separately to the audience.

Steps to Make the Presentation Full Screen on Windows

Once the Auctions Live Presentation has been moved onto the audience display, you can place the browser into full screen mode.

Step 1: Click anywhere inside the Presentation browser window on the audience display.

This makes sure the presentation is the active browser window.

Step 2: Press F11 on your keyboard.

The browser will enter full screen mode and remove the browser tabs, address bar, and other browser controls from the audience display.

Step 3: To leave full screen mode, press F11 again.

Tip for Laptop Keyboards

Some laptops use the function keys for controls such as volume, brightness, or media playback.

If pressing F11 does not activate full screen mode, hold the Fn key and press F11.

Recommended Auctions Live Screen Setup

Laptop or primary screen: Keep the Auctions Live Control Panel on this screen. This allows the operator to scribe bids and control the auction without displaying these controls to the audience.

Audience display: Keep the Auctions Live Presentation on this screen and place the browser into full screen mode.

This setup allows one Windows PC or laptop to operate both the auction controls and digital Multi-Lot / In-Room presentation while keeping the two views separate.

Recommended Display Settings

Where supported by the television, projector, or monitor, set the external audience display to a resolution of 1920 x 1080 with no display zoom.

This helps ensure the Auctions Live digital presentation is displayed correctly on the audience screen.

Important Notes

Always configure and test the external display before the auction begins.

Confirm that the Auctions Live Control Panel remains visible only on the laptop and that the Presentation is showing on the audience display.

Where possible, use a wired connection between the Windows PC and the television, projector, or audience display. This provides a more reliable connection than wireless screen sharing.

Always move the Presentation browser window onto the audience display before entering full screen mode.

If full screen mode opens on the wrong display, leave full screen mode, move the presentation window completely onto the audience display, then press F11 again.

Troubleshooting

Both screens show the same content: Windows is set to duplicate the displays. Press Windows key + P and select Extend.

The mouse will not move easily between the screens: Open Display settings and rearrange the numbered display boxes so they match the physical position of the screens.

The presentation opened on the laptop screen: Click and drag the presentation browser window onto the external audience display.

The presentation goes full screen on the wrong display: Press F11 to leave full screen mode, move the presentation window completely onto the audience display, then press F11 again.

The external display is not appearing in Windows: Open Settings, select System, then select Display. Expand Multiple displays and select Detect.

The external display is still blank: Check that the display is powered on, the correct input source has been selected, and all cables or adapters are securely connected.