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
    2025-01-13T16:39:52+00:00

    Here's a workaround that works for me:

    Create a macro file that, when double-clicked or otherwise run, starts up a specific program, keeps the focus on it, and switches it to the other monitor using the keystroke sequence Windows-Shift-RightArrow.

    This depends on the program always starting on the wrong monitor, which is my situation.

    To create the macro, I used an old version of Macro Express to make a file WinRight.mxe which, when run, invokes Macro Express to execute that macro. I put WinRight.mxe in the Startup folder. On startup it runs a slideshow program which misbehaves by starting on monitor 1. It should be on monitor 2, and the keystrokes move it there.

    There's a free open source scripting language AutoHotkey that might be able to do the same thing, but I haven't tried it.

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  2. Anonymous
    2024-12-13T14:36:01+00:00

    I feel your pain... I was almost ready to throw my second monitor away because Windows (since 8) randomly decides on which monitor to open my applictions. And fullscreen games mostly open on the secondary monitor...

    I would be happy enough if everything opened and stayed on my main monitor unless i move it to the secondary.

    So far the only thing I could do was to uncheck the "remember window position" and this only works if you check the "minimize windows when monitor gets disconnected". (My system settings aren't in English, so the names are probably slightly different)

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  3. Anonymous
    2024-10-27T19:31:51+00:00

    Hi I just setup my split screen setup for windows 10 and if this helps you guys or ladies then great but what I did so my mouse was able to cross between screens is I connected them both to my graphics card my main monitor is connected with a dvi connection and my second one is connected with an hdmi then right click and go to display settings scroll down to multiple displays and click on show only 1 and change it to extend these displays and now your cursor will cross between your monitors

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  4. Anonymous
    2024-09-24T14:18:24+00:00

    I have been having this problem with some excel files that that I have been preparing for a zoom call; one file in particular kept opening on monitor 2, instead of monitor 1. (The file in question is normally opened by VBA code in another file.) Today, I opened the problem file and dragged it to monitor 1. I made an insignificant change to the file and saved it while it was displayed on monitor 1. After testing it several times I can now say that it opens where I want it to: on monitor 1.

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  5. Anonymous
    2024-08-03T18:08:05+00:00

    This worked for me. Thanks.

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