How to Hook Up External Speakers With a Dell Laptop

It's easy to hook up desktop speakers to a laptop computer.

Many people--perhaps including you--keep large amounts of audio and video media stored on their laptop computers. Since laptops are portable, you can take your media with you wherever you go. But you won't get the best sound quality out of the the small speakers built into your laptop. A set of external computer speakers will do a much better job. Fortunately, it's quick and easy to hook them up to your laptop.

Things You'll Need

• External computer speakers

Instructions

1. Set the volume of your computer at 50%, using the method you normally employ to set the volume. This varies from Dell laptop to Dell laptop, but holding down the "fn" key and pressing the volume up or down key is a good method.

2. Set up your external speakers, one on either side of your laptop. Plug the speakers' power cord into a power strip or wall outlet.

3. Plug the audio cable of the external speakers into the headphone jack of your Dell computer. This is located on the right side of the case with most Dell computers. If you've ever used headphones with your laptop, you already know where it is. Turn on the speakers and set the volume at a low level.

4. Adjust the volume on the external speakers while playing a piece of music or video clip.