Frequently Asked Question
Extending, duplicating, and deactivating displays with multiple monitors
Last Updated 6 years ago
When you have multiple displays (such as two computer monitors, or a laptop hooked up to a projector or TV), you have a few options for how to set up these displays. You can extend the display, such that each display is separate, allowing you to move your mouse and drag windows between them. You can also mirror (duplicate) them, which will show the same image on both screens (if the screens are different resolutions or aspect ratios, one screen or the other might look stretched or the picture may not fill the whole screen).
You can use an extended display by dragging items between displays with the mouse. You'd do this by dragging it off the edge of one display onto the other.
You can check how the displays are arranged by right-clicking on the desktop, and selecting Display Settings. In the settings pane that opens up, you can drag to rearrange the displays as desired. Clicking Identify will make numerical identifier overlays appear on each display. (Though I didn't include it in my screen recording below, be sure to hit Apply when you're done — or Cancel if you decide you don't like your changes!)
Extending the display is generally the default for multiple displays in Windows.
You can use Windows + P to quickly change to other display modes, if desired. (Think "P" for "presentation", since this is a reason you would want to switch.) Besides extending and duplicating, you can also disable one display or the other, if desired. Pressing Win + P multiple times will cycle through the different display modes, and you don't need to press anything to select; just leave it on the new setting for a moment or two. You can also use the mouse to select which one you want to use.
If you have your displays set up as extended, and you decide you need to mirror them for some reason, don't worry! You can switch between these different modes, and Windows will remember your configuration for each one independently. I.e., you won't have to rearrange your displays if you switch from extended to mirrored and then back to extended mode.
You can use an extended display by dragging items between displays with the mouse. You'd do this by dragging it off the edge of one display onto the other.
You can check how the displays are arranged by right-clicking on the desktop, and selecting Display Settings. In the settings pane that opens up, you can drag to rearrange the displays as desired. Clicking Identify will make numerical identifier overlays appear on each display. (Though I didn't include it in my screen recording below, be sure to hit Apply when you're done — or Cancel if you decide you don't like your changes!)
Extending the display is generally the default for multiple displays in Windows.
You can use Windows + P to quickly change to other display modes, if desired. (Think "P" for "presentation", since this is a reason you would want to switch.) Besides extending and duplicating, you can also disable one display or the other, if desired. Pressing Win + P multiple times will cycle through the different display modes, and you don't need to press anything to select; just leave it on the new setting for a moment or two. You can also use the mouse to select which one you want to use.
If you have your displays set up as extended, and you decide you need to mirror them for some reason, don't worry! You can switch between these different modes, and Windows will remember your configuration for each one independently. I.e., you won't have to rearrange your displays if you switch from extended to mirrored and then back to extended mode.