How to set a main display in Windows 11

Overview

The following knowledge base article outlines how to set your "main display" in Windows 11.

Instructions

1. Navigate to Display settings. You can do this by right clicking on your desktop background and selecting 'Display settings'. You can also use the search bar at the bottom of your screen to search for 'Display settings'.

A Windows 11 desktop screen with a blue abstract wallpaper. On the left side, there are several desktop icons, including Recycle Bin, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Adobe Acrobat, Google Chrome, etc. On the right side, there is a context menu open with options such as View, Sort by, Refresh, New, Display settings, Personalize, and Show more options, with "Display settings" highlighted.

 

2. In display settings, select 'Identify'. This will briefly display a number on all your monitors. You will want to make note of the number that appears on the screen/monitor you want to set as your main display. 

A Windows 11 display settings screen. The main section shows two rectangular display icons labeled "1" (blue) and "2" (gray), with a highlighted red "Identify" button. The sidebar on the left lists various settings options, including System, Bluetooth & devices, Network & internet, Personalization, Apps, and more. Below the display icons, there are options for managing display settings, such as "Multiple displays" with checkboxes for remembering window locations and minimizing windows. The bottom area shows the "Brightness & color" settings, with a slider bar for adjusting brightness.

 

3. Select the monitor that you would like to be your main display. You can do this by clicking the box/rectangle with the corresponding number. The currently selected display will be highlighted blue. (E.g. If you want your laptop to be your main display and it flashed the number 2 when you selected 'Identify', you will want to select the box with the number 2 in the display settings. Your currently selected monitor will be blue, while the other monitors will be grey.) 

The Windows 11 "Display" settings menu under the "System" settings. On the left side, there's a vertical navigation bar listing various system settings options, including System, Bluetooth & devices, Network & internet, and more. The main section to the right displays options for configuring displays. At the top, there is an illustration of two monitors labeled "1" and "2", with monitor "2" highlighted in blue and surrounded by a red border. Below, checkboxes and options relate to multiple display configurations, such as "Make this my main display" and options for window management on multiple displays.

4. Once you have the correct monitor selected, select the 'Make this my main display' check box. This check box is found under the Multiple Displays section.

(NOTE: If you do not see 'Make this my main display', click on 'Multiple displays' and it will open a drop down menu with the applicable settings. If the setting is greyed out, it means the selected display is already your main display.)

Windows 11 settings window focused on the "Display" settings under the "System" category. The main section of the window displays settings related to multiple displays. Two displays are illustrated as rectangular shapes labeled "1" and "2," with display "1" in gray and display "2" in blue. Below, a section titled "Multiple displays" includes options such as "Make this my main display" (unchecked and surrounded by red border), along with three other options: "Remember window locations based on monitor connection," "Minimize windows when a monitor is disconnected," and "Ease cursor movement between displays." Additional options like "Detect other display" and "Connect to a wireless display" are also visible.

5. This will set the selected monitor to be your main display. Below is what you should see once you've set your selected monitor to be your main display correctly.

A computer settings window, specifically focused on the "Display" section. The interface shows two monitors arranged horizontally at the top, labeled "1" and "2," with monitor 1 in light gray and monitor 2 in blue. Below this, there's a section labeled "Multiple displays," offering options for presentation mode management, with checkboxes for tasks like remembering window positions and easing cursor movement. A red arrow points to the option "Make this my main display", which is checked and greyed out.

Troubleshooting

Still have questions?  Contact the Technical Service Desk or complete a Desktop & Mobile Device Support request.  

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