Moving a fullscreen game from one display to another can be a common challenge, especially since many games are designed to lock onto the primary monitor. This guide explores effective methods, workarounds, and tips to help you run your fullscreen games on a secondary display without hassle.
When attempting to play a game in fullscreen mode on a secondary monitor, users often encounter restrictions that tie the game to the primary display. While some solutions involve adjusting Windows settings, others require in-game configuration or third-party tools. Understanding how fullscreen applications interact with multiple screens is essential for a seamless gaming experience.
Using Windows Display Settings and Taskbar Tricks
One effective approach is to manipulate your Windows display settings to change which monitor is considered the primary display. By making the secondary monitor your main display, many fullscreen games will automatically launch there. To do this:
- Right-click on your desktop and select Display Settings.
- Select the monitor you want your game to run on.
- Check the box labeled Make this my main display.
- You may also need to unlock your taskbar, then drag and reposition it onto the desired monitor to better simulate a primary display environment.
This method creates a profile where Windows treats your secondary monitor as the main one, helping fullscreen applications to launch there. Keep in mind, however, that this change can affect your overall desktop experience and taskbar placement.
For more advanced multi-monitor setups, you can also consider adjusting the physical alignment of your monitors in the display settings, which helps with pixel-perfect transitions when moving the cursor or windows between screens.
Configuring Game Settings for Multi-Monitor Use
Many modern games include display options that let you specify on which monitor they should appear. Before launching the game:
- Access the game’s display or graphics settings.
- Look for options like “Display,” “Monitor,” or “Screen.”
- Select the second monitor from the dropdown or list.
- If the game supports borderless windowed or windowed mode, switching to these can facilitate easier movement between screens without losing fullscreen immersion.
If in-game settings don’t provide a monitor selection, try switching to windowed mode and then dragging the game window onto your desired display. Some games support borderless fullscreen mode, which combines the benefits of fullscreen and windowed modes, allowing for smooth transition between monitors.
Using Keyboard Shortcuts and Built-in Windows Features
Pressing Windows + Shift + Left/Right Arrow can move most open windows between monitors. However, this shortcut might not work for fullscreen applications due to how they handle focus and rendering. Nonetheless, for windowed or borderless games, it can be a quick fix.
Another trick involves temporarily setting your secondary monitor as the primary display:
- Set your secondary monitor as primary using the display settings.
- Launch the game, which should now start on that monitor.
- Revert the primary display setting if desired.
Note that this can cause the taskbar and desktop icons to shift, so it’s more suitable for quick adjustments.
Third-Party Tools and Software Solutions
If Windows settings and game options don’t suffice, third-party software can help manage multi-monitor setups more effectively. Tools like DisplayFusion or Ultramon allow you to assign specific applications to certain monitors and manage window placement more precisely. These programs can force fullscreen games to run on a specific display and maintain the setup across reboots.
Additionally, some utilities can emulate “virtual” displays or modify how Windows perceives your monitor configuration, providing greater flexibility.
Additional Tips and Considerations
- For games that do not support multiple monitors, switching to borderless windowed mode is often the simplest workaround.
- Adjusting your monitor resolution and alignment in display settings can improve visual consistency when moving games between screens.
- Some users have found success using Steam’s Big Picture Mode to control which monitor games launch on, as it can temporarily set the desired display as the primary.
- Be aware that some games may have limitations or require specific in-game configurations to support multi-monitor setups effectively.
By combining these strategies—adjusting display settings, configuring game options, and utilizing third-party tools—you can optimize your gaming experience across multiple screens. For more detailed tutorials on creating custom gaming setups, you might explore resources like how to make a console in game development or learn about building profitable ecosystems for mobile platforms. Also, understanding the cost of mobile gaming app development can give you insights into creating games optimized for multi-monitor environments.
Persistent experimentation and tailored adjustments are key to successfully moving fullscreen games to your second monitor.