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

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  1. Anonymous
    2025-04-12T00:02:15+00:00

    when the application is opened on the monitor you want it to stay on, press windows+shift+enter, then close and reopen the application and it will always pop up on the desired monitor👍😄

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  2. Anonymous
    2024-12-20T14:15:23+00:00

    How is this still a problem in this day and age. Microsoft solving problems no-one asked for and ignoring useful features users need.

    I am trying to set up automated screens to be used for a entire company. If screens just appear wherever some user will close them and stop the viewer. I can do these things on vnc //display2

    Why does windows not have this in its shortcut. We have windowed maximised why not display 1 display 2 maybe even a function to not allow minimising a window.

    I can't have citrix machines being staggered or blocking another viewpoint expecially if I have to run autohotkey scripts.

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  3. Anonymous
    2024-08-02T01:38:49+00:00

    The solution you provide does not work 100% of the time. I have a couple apps that open on a secondary monitor no matter what., which is what I think much of this frustration is about. The inability to have particular apps open on particular monitors, consistently as well. Why is this so hard, or not accomplished by now? If it can be, that ok, but an explanation of why it can't be would be wonderful to learn.

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  4. Anonymous
    2024-07-31T13:12:07+00:00

    Seems like a lot of people are saying that this doesn't work. I just tried it and it did for me, maybe there was an update or something since this was written. Anyways the format I used is like this:

    "C:\Program Files\Software\Folder\Application.exe" -screen:3

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  5. Anonymous
    2025-02-13T15:34:05+00:00

    Hi there. I stumbled on this and it worked.

    1. Open the program that you want to use, and put it on the monitor you want it to always be on. Do not go into full screen, just make it as big as possible without full screen mode.
    2. Close the program.
    3. Open the program. It opens up on the correct monitor (not full screen)
    4. Go to full screen mode on that program.
    5. Close the program.
    6. Open the program (it now opens in full screen mode on the monitor that you wish. Was monitor 5 for me) I also had the "-screen:5" suffix in the target box, but I don't think that matters.

    Worked for me.

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