HOW DO I MAKE A PROGRAM OPEN ON A SPECIFIC MONITOR THAT I DESIGNATE EVERY TIME I WANT TO OPEN IT?

Anonymous
2024-02-15T00:34:12+00:00

This isn't a new question but I've seen it asked here for 15 years and 3 OS variants with no actual answer (you'd think this would be something to work on instead of obfuscating how to get to your control panel, file, and drive locations while trying to turn my +$3K pc into a sub $400, non-portable tablet with no touch screen).

HOW DO I MAKE A PROGRAM OPEN ON A SPECIFIC MONITOR EVERY TIME?

Note, the question is NOT how to move a program after you open it; it is NOT how to change primary display; it is NOT how to anything other the actual question asked as specifically as the question is. If there is no answer and Windows just isn't able to (and our programmers don't care to work on it) just say so.

I have an OLED gaming monitor that I paid more for than I would ever have wanted to pay for a monitor and would like it to last as long as possible. I would therefore like it not to be the primary display. I only use it for media and gaming. The problem is that windows doesn't let me choose secondary displays to open games and reverts half of the applications I open and move over back to the primary display. I can do this with some games but most default to only opening on the primary monitor. I have a good LCD monitor I use for productivity and streaming while playing games that I would like to remain my main display where most apps, and all non-media apps, are default opening. So far the only way I know to do it is to turn the OLED off unless I am using it. This solution is clunky and kind of like using a kitchen knife to sharpen pencils when a pencil sharpener is can be made.

So please don't answer this if you are going to give the same non-answers I've been reading while searching for an answer to this (going back 15 years btw, because someone really cares about the user experience). If you have a real answer please give it, again, even if it is "we don't have a way and don't care to make one."

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Display and graphics

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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  1. Anonymous
    2024-11-14T17:59:15+00:00

    I found a solution to this: it is from https://www.flexlabs.org/2021/02/making-windows-open-applications-on-a-specific-monitor

    When you have multiple monitors Windows will generally open applications on the main one, but that might not always be the case. Furthermore, sometimes you want a specific app to always open on your second monitor, leaving the primary one free.

    For a long time I tried to find any way to configure that, and when I didn't find anything I assumed there was no way to control that. But a while ago I stumbled upon a SuperUser question, and one of the answers was exactly what I was looking for.

    This doesn't seem to be common knowledge, so I decided to post about it here both to spread the knowledge, and for my own records for the time when I will inevitably forget this once again (this is not something you have to configure often and it is the third time I went on a search for this key sequence)

    To change which monitor an app should open by default, do the following:

    • Ensure all instances of the app are closed. (this step might not be required, but I've noticed that without it it sometimes refuses to work)
    • Open your program.
    • Move it to the monitor on which you would like it to open by default.
    • Hit the Windows key + Shift + Enter.
    • Close the application, and open it again - it should now open on the correct monitor

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  2. Anonymous
    2024-06-18T03:24:41+00:00

    You would think Microsoft would either work towards a solution to allow a program to automatically startup in a particular display, or at least tell us that it can't be done instead of purposely misleading us, their customers.

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  3. Anonymous
    2024-06-01T14:31:29+00:00

    Where is Shortcut 4? When i right click on the app icon I don't see a Shortcut 4 or a "Target". I'm on Windows 11 and there is nothing like that for me.

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  4. Anonymous
    2024-08-01T22:37:49+00:00

    Nope, still doesn't work here, and I'm current with all updates.

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  5. Anonymous
    2025-01-10T11:54:45+00:00

    "I am not an AI" as Microsoft proves to not even read the question past reading the title and give entirely unrelated solutions to the problem.

    I don't know if you guys get PAID to give incorrect support or what, but it's been notorious.

    With how unhelpful you guys are, you might as well be replaced by AI at this point.

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