How To Make Two Monitors Show Different Things Windows 10

Whether you lot're content creator, programmer, information analyst, gamer, or someone who'southward recently been forced to work from dwelling house, a system with multiple monitors non only looks great, but it can significantly improve productivity when multitasking with several apps. However, a multi-monitor setup is only practical every bit long every bit y'all configure it correctly.

Windows ten has several features and settings to back up one, 2, 3, 4, and fifty-fifty more monitors without the demand for third-political party software for the best experience.

In this Windows 10 guide, we'll walk you through a agglomeration of tips to configure and use a multi-monitor setup, whether you're connecting an external display to your laptop, or y'all're connecting ii, three, or more monitors to your workstation.

Earlier configuring a multi-monitor setup
How to rearrange multiple displays on Windows ten
How to adjust displays scale and layout on Windows x
How to select multiple displays viewing mode on Windows 10
How to manage avant-garde display settings on Windows 10
How to testify taskbar across multiple displays on Windows 10
How to alter groundwork on multiple displays on Windows 10

Earlier configuring a multi-monitor setup

Before configuring multiple monitors on your device, brand certain that all the necessary cables are connected to the monitors and the computer. This includes connecting power and video point using VGA, DVI, HDMI, or DisplayPort (recommended) cables.

If you're not sure, confirm the make and model of the monitor (usually from a sticker in the back), and search online for the manufacturer transmission to get a improve idea on how to connect the display.

How to rearrange multiple displays on Windows 10

While you tin can connect a monitor to any available video ports on the graphics carte, when setting upwardly a dual-monitor or triple-monitor setup, it's easy to plug them in the incorrect club. Although they will still work, y'all may run into problems using the mouse and running applications until you rearrange them correctly.

To rearrange monitors on Windows 10, use these steps:

Open Settings.
Click on System.
Click on Display.
Under the "Select and rearrange displays" section, drag and drop each display to rearrange them co-ordinate to their physical layout on your desktop.

Source: Windows Fundamental

Quick tip: When rearranging monitors in the "Brandish" settings folio, make sure that all monitors marshal at the top perfectly. Otherwise, you'll take problems moving the mouse cursor between monitors from the corners.
Click the Apply push.

Once you lot complete the steps, Windows 10 will save the physical layout, and you'll exist able to piece of work beyond each display and run apps without bug.

If you're not sure which monitor you're selecting, click the Identify push to figure out. If one of the monitors isn't showing up, brand sure it's receiving power and connected correctly, and click the Observe push button. In the case that yous're nevertheless having issues, reset their connections (or restart the estimator), and try the Detect button again.

How to adjust displays calibration and layout on Windows 10

When connecting ane or multiple displays to a computer, Windows x does a pretty proficient job detecting and configuring the well-nigh optimal settings. Nevertheless, depending on your requirements, you may need to accommodate scaling, resolution, and orientation for each monitor.

Selecting correct scale

Windows ten includes settings to adjust the scaling, which are useful when setting upwards diverse monitors of different sizes and screen resolutions to make text, apps, and other items wait the same size beyond the displays. Or, if y'all have a 4K display, for example, adjusting the scale settings tin help to make items bigger and more than readable.

To select the correct scale setting that suits your requirements, use these steps:

Open Settings.
Click on Organization.
Click on Display.
Under the "Select and rearrange displays" section, select the monitor that you lot want to adjust.
Use the Change the size of text, apps, and other items drop-downward carte to select the appropriate scale option.

Source: Windows Central

After y'all complete the steps, you may need to echo steps No. 4 and 5 to change the scaling settings on the other monitors, so click the Sign-out option to utilize the changes.

While y'all tin can adjust the scaling settings on a per-monitor basis, when possible, it's always best to use the same make and model of the monitors with the aforementioned configuration. Otherwise, you may encounter issues, and Windows 10 may take problems scaling elements.

If you're in the market for a second monitor to expand your laptop or desktop canvass, nosotros recommend the Dell UltraSharp U2719D because of its accurate color reproduction, size, slim vessel design, VESA mount compatibility, and value.

Custom scaling

To specify a custom scaling value, use these steps:

Open Settings.
Click on System.
Click on Display.
Under the "Select and rearrange displays" section, select the monitor that you want to adjust.
Under the "Scale and layout" section, click the Advanced scaling settings option.

Source: Windows Central
Under the "Custom scaling" department, specify the scaling size betwixt 100 and 500 percent.

Source: Windows Central
Click the Employ push.

After you complete the steps, sign out of your account and sign back in to test the new settings. If the new scaling configuration doesn't look right, use the same steps again and endeavor a unlike value until you lot find a comfy setting.

If y'all desire to switch to the predefined scale settings, you must first plough off custom scaling and sign out. Otherwise, the option will be grayed out.

Selecting correct resolution

Usually, afterward connecting a monitor, Windows ten will set the recommended pixel resolution automatically, only you can besides change the resolution manually with these steps:

Open up Settings.
Click on Arrangement.
Click on Display.
Under the "Select and rearrange displays" section, select the monitor that you want to adjust.
Under the "Scale and layout" department, apply the Resolution drop-downward bill of fare to select the correct pixel resolution.

Source: Windows Central

Once y'all consummate the steps, repeat steps No. 4 and 5 to change the resolution on the remaining monitors.

If yous're looking to brand text and other items bigger on the screen, you should exist changing the scaling settings, not the display resolution.

Selecting correct orientation

Windows x also allows you to rotate the screen horizontally or vertically, which is particularly useful when you have monitors with stands that rotate, and y'all want to use them with a unlike orientation for reading or coding.

To change the orientation per-monitor, use these steps:

Open Settings.
Click on System.
Click on Display.
Under the "Select and rearrange displays" section, select the monitor that you want to adjust.
Under the "Scale and layout" section, use the Orientation drop-down menu to select the style:
- Landscape.
- Portrait.
- Landscape (flipped).
- Portrait (flipped).
Source: Windows Key

In one case you consummate the steps, the display volition shift to the orientation you selected.

How to select multiple displays viewing fashion on Windows 10

Using the available settings, yous can likewise choose the viewing style for your displays. For example, if you lot're using a second monitor, you can expand the main screen to the new brandish, or you tin mirror both monitors, which is an ideal pick when showing a presentation. If yous're using a laptop with an external monitor, you lot can fifty-fifty disable the main display, and just apply the second monitor every bit your main.

To alter the viewing fashion on Windows ten, use these steps:

Open Settings.
Click on System.
Click on Brandish.
Under the "Select and rearrange displays" department, select the monitor that you want to adjust.
Under the "Multiple displays" section, apply the drop-down menu to set the appropriate viewing fashion:
- Duplicate desktop — Shows the same desktop on both displays.
- Extend — Expands the primary desktop to the secondary display.
- Disconnect this display — Turn off the selected monitor.
Source: Windows Fundamental

Afterward you lot complete the steps, you may need to repeat steps No. iv and 5 to set the display style on the remaining monitors. Likewise, note that using these settings, you can brand any of the monitors as your primary display.

Switching display modes with shortcut

In addition to using the Settings app, Windows 10 also allows you lot to switch brandish modes on the fly using the Project feature, which you tin access using the Windows primal + P keyboard shortcut.

Windows 10 project options multi-monitor setup Source: Windows Fundamental

Once you invoke the shortcut, a flyout will open from the right side with four options, including:

PC screen only — Only the main display is used.
Duplicate — Secondary displays will mirror the primary monitor.
Extend — Both screens are combined to offer an extended desktop.
Second screen only — Only the secondary displays is used.

Typically, when using a multi-monitor setup on a desktop or laptop, you desire to employ the "Extend" pick. This allows yous to use the main monitor normally and the secondary monitors at their native resolution creating a single large sheet.

Duplicate is a good option when using a 2d monitor or projector to show a presentation. In contrast, the Second screen but selection is slap-up when you want to close the lid on a laptop and work just with the external monitor.

How to manage advanced display settings on Windows 10

Although it's not ever recommended to modify your avant-garde brandish settings, because not all monitors are created equal, sometimes, yous may need to make a few adjustments to meliorate color accuracy and remove screen flickering.

Important: We only recommend adjusting the advanced settings if you have a rough idea of what to do. Typically, you should be fine with the default brandish settings.

Setting a custom color profile

If your monitors aren't rendering the colors accurately, y'all can use a custom color profile to better colour accurateness using these steps:

Open Settings.
Click on System.
Click on Brandish.
Click the Advanced display settings option.

Source: Windows Central
Click the Display adapter properties option for the display that you lot desire to set a custom color profile.

Source: Windows Key
Click the Color Direction tab.
Click the Colour Direction push.

Source: Windows Key
Click the Devices tab.
Select a display from the list.
Check the Utilise my settings for this display pick.
Click the Add together push.

Source: Windows Fundamental
On the "Associate Colour Profile" page, click the Browse push and locate the new color profile.

Source: Windows Central
Double-click the .icm file to install the new profile.
Click the Close push button.

Source: Windows Cardinal

Once you complete the steps, y'all may demand to repeat steps No. ix through 13 to set a custom contour for the other monitors.

When configuring a custom color profile, you should utilize those created by your display manufacturer or from a trusted source. If you lot're not sure, you lot can use these steps to download the correct color profile for your monitors.

Changing the refresh rate

Usually, a refresh rate (frames per second) of 59Hz or 60Hz is more than enough to operate a computer, though you'll definitely want to look at the all-time monitors for Xbox Series X and Series S if you plan to game at higher framerates. However, if you're noticing screen flickering, or if y'all have monitors that support a college refresh rate, bumping the settings can provide a better and smoother viewing feel — peculiarly for gamers.

To arrange the refresh charge per unit of a monitor, use these steps:

Open up Settings.
Click on System.
Click on Display.
Click the Advanced brandish settings option.

Source: Windows Central
Click the Display adapter properties option for the display you desire to modify the refresh rate.

Source: Windows Cardinal
Click the Monitor tab.
Under the "Monitor Settings" section, use the driblet-downwardly menu to set the correct refresh rate.

Source: Windows Central

After y'all consummate the steps, you may demand to repeat steps No. 5, half dozen, and 7 to change the refresh rate on the remaining monitors.

How to show taskbar beyond multiple displays on Windows 10

On a multi-monitor setup, the taskbar by default will appear only in the main brandish, but you can change the settings to show it across all the displays using these steps:

Open Settings.
Click on Personalization
Click on Taskbar.
Under the "Multiple display" section, turn on the Show taskbar on all displays toggle switch.

Source: Windows Central

If you want to control in which taskbar the buttons for running apps should appear, and so utilize the Show taskbar push on the drop-downwardly menu and select one of the available options:

All taskbars.
Main taskbar and taskbar where window is open.
Taskbar where window is open.

Also, you can use this guide to optimize the space on the taskbar to pin even more apps or to continue it every bit minimal as possible.

How to change groundwork on multiple displays on Windows 10

Windows 10 offers a lot of settings to accommodate the await and feel of the desktop, but when using multiple monitors, setting up unlike background images on each display is one the well-nigh significant customization that you tin make to personalize your experience.

To show different wallpapers on a multi-monitor setup using a slideshow, use these steps:

Open up Settings.
Click on Personalization.
Click on Background.
Employ the "Groundwork" drib-down menu and select the Slideshow selection.

Source: Windows Fundamental
Click the Scan button.
Select a binder with a collection of images that you'd like to display on the monitors.
Click the Choose this folder push button.
Use the "Change motion picture every" driblet-downwards card to select the rotation frequency.
Plow on the Shuffle toggle switch.
(Optional) If you're using different sized images, use the Choose a fit driblet-down menu and select the Fill choice.

Once you consummate the steps, the images will rotate on the desktop background using the rotation frequency that you selected.

Customizing each monitor with a unlike background

If you desire to set a different background paradigm for each monitor, use these steps:

Open Settings.
Click on Personalization.
Click on Background.
Use the "Background" drib-down carte and select the Movie pick.

Source: Windows Central
Click the Browse button.
Select the wallpaper and click the Cull picture choice.
Right-click the image and select the monitor you want the wallpaper to evidence.

Source: Windows Central
Repeat steps No. 5, 6, and vii to set a custom background for another monitor.

Later yous complete the steps, each monitor volition display a custom wallpaper.

In addition to the instructions outlined above, here are a few additional tips to keep in mind when setting upward a figurer with multiple monitors. For example, unless information technology's a laptop, you shouldn't try to arrange the brightness or color using Windows x or another application. Instead, you should use the controls built into the monitor.

In the instance that the 2d monitor isn't getting detected, check its connections, and use the Detect button in the Settings app. If you lot're still having issues, you can use this guide to troubleshoot and set common problems.

Finally, when using ane or multiple monitors, you may come beyond a black screen, which information technology's typically a video driver related problem. If you're not sure how to fix this effect, you can follow these steps to resolve the problem.

More Windows 10 resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10, visit the following resources:

Windows x on Windows Central – All y'all demand to know
Windows 10 help, tips, and tricks
Windows ten forums on Windows Fundamental

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