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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."
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.
Drag the desired app to the monitor you want it to open at, minimize it to half size, close it by clicking X, then if you end the task and reopen it (If it's an app that remains in the background after closing) it should start opening in that monitor specifically.
Nice, so I need to do this for all my programs... and no it still doesn't work. I wish I never "upgraded" to win11. luckily my work PC is old enough I can't even do it. Win11 feels like Win8/Vista. the one you should have never even touched
I found this on another site (https://smartwindows.app/blog/how-to-make-a-program-open-on-a-specific-monitor-in-windows/) and only that worked for me:
"
Drag and Drop
You can drag and drop a program in the following way to open it on a specific monitor:
"
I find it astounding and severely disappointing how in 2024 this:
A) is the proposed solution - shouldn't require tweaks to paths in order to determine which display a user wants a particular app to always open on (and hilarious that it is 0 based).
B) How this proposed solution DOESN'T EVEN WORK! I have tried various iterations for all 4 displays that I have:
-> "...\progam.exe" -screen1
-> "...\progam.exe" -screen2
-> "...\progam.exe" -screen3
-> "...\progam.exe" --screen1
-> "...\progam.exe -screen:1"
-> "...\progam.exe"-screen1
.
.
.
<Insert other minor tweak attempt here, it doesn't matter, none of them work>
C) That Microsoft doesn't have a built in method, such as a simple drop down menu to select from.
Seems like a pretty basic concept, but no they are instead concerned about how else they are going to annoy me about edge not being my default browser.
Nothing of all the suggested online options worked for me. I found the solution myself, and I am sure it will help a lot of you guys. Here it is:
Open Settings, go to Display, click and drag the stupid second display from the right to the left of the main display (or opposite direction, depending on your setup), and click Apply. That's all folks! That's how you deal with the Windows flaws and glitches...
