You would think dual monitor tools are the answer to an easier workday. In practice, it can be a source of minor irritation; when you open an application, it often appears on the wrong display. You put in the effort to move and resize it, only to do the whole thing over again come morning.
Windows has native tools to help you control program placement, and we explain them here in simple terms. We begin by looking at the reasoning behind where Windows puts its windows. From there we will cover five tried and true approaches for getting a program to open on the monitor of your choosing.
Then comes SmartPanels, which with a single click will save and restore your entire layout so you do not have to. There is no need for any technical expertise, and these methods are quick, about a minute each. Consider this your chance to have your screens work with you instead of against you.
Why Windows Keeps Opening Apps on the Wrong Screen
It is a fact that Windows will make a note of where you left off with any program you shut down, and on the next launch it will attempt to put it back in that same place. On paper the arrangement is sound, but in reality the system’s memory is not to be trusted.
One can have those stored positions thrown into disarray in a matter of seconds by anything from a driver update or a sleep cycle to an unplugged cable or the use of a docking station. Then there are the applications that do not bother with the system at all and insist on opening on the primary display. It is worth knowing how this works, since most remedies that force a program to open on a specific monitor are just a way of showing Windows where you want things to be.
How to Make a Program Open on a Specific Monitor: 5 Simple Methods
The methods below work on both Windows 10 and Windows 11, and none of them require extra software. If you want to open app on specific monitor windows 11 or 10, try them in order, since the first one solves the problem for most people.
1. Move the Program, Then Close It
For those on Windows 11 or 10, the fastest method to get an app to open on a particular monitor is to let the operating system do the work by remembering your last session. Follow this procedure:
- Launch the program you want to relocate.
- Drag the window to the monitor where you want it to open from now on.
- Set the size and position exactly how you like them. Avoid maximizing the window, as some apps do not reliably save a maximized state.
- Close the program on that monitor using the X button.
The next time you open the app, it ought to be right where you put it. Should it fail to remember, try making a minor tweak to the window’s dimensions before you shut it down to compel Windows to register the new coordinates.
2. Use Keyboard Shortcuts
For those who like to work from the keyboard, Windows provides a convenient way to do so. A press of Windows + Shift + Left Arrow will move the active window to the left monitor; use the right arrow in the same combination to move it to the right.
In making the transition between displays, the window retains its dimensions and position. Once you have it where you want, simply shut down the application on that monitor, and it will be set to open there going forward.
3. Turn On “Remember Window Locations”
For those in the habit of docking and undocking a laptop, Windows 11 has an option to accommodate that. Open Settings with Win + I and navigate to System > Display. Under Multiple displays, you will find a checkbox labeled “Remember window locations based on monitor connection.”
Put a check in it and any time you hook up a monitor again, your windows will return to where they were put rather than cluttering the laptop screen.
4. Set Your Main Display
Some stubborn programs always open on the main display no matter what you do. In that case, make their preferred monitor the main one:
- Right-click an empty area of the desktop and choose Display settings.
- Click the monitor you want to promote.
- Expand the Multiple displays section, then check “Make this my main display.”
Your taskbar, Start menu, and most notifications will also move to the new main display, so choose the screen you look at most.
5. Edit the Program’s Shortcut
Some programs will take launch instructions to direct them to a particular screen. You can test this method using the app’s shortcut: right-click and go to Properties, then add the relevant parameter in the Target field, such as a “-screen:2” type of switch. Do not count on it as a universal solution, though, since different software handles it inconsistently; consider it more of an added feature.
How to Switch Monitors 1 and 2 in Windows
In some cases, the problem is simply that Windows has put your displays in the wrong order, which means the mouse will leave from an incorrect edge and applications open on the side you do not want.
A quick fix of under a minute to rearrange things is all it takes:
- Right-click the desktop and select Display settings.
- Click Identify. A number appears on each screen so you can tell them apart.
- Drag the numbered boxes at the top of the page until they match the physical arrangement on your desk.
- Click Apply, then move your mouse between screens to confirm the flow feels natural.
Keep in mind that you cannot renumber the screens at will; Windows does that based on how they connect to the graphics card. But by altering the layout or designating a different primary display, one can get the desired result.
Meet SmartPanels: Window Management Without the Busywork
There is a common flaw to all the methods listed above: they must be done repeatedly for every program, and Windows has a way of losing track of things following an update or if a cable is disconnected. While some dual monitor utilities will put a bandage on part of the problem, SmartPanels handles it in its entirety.
Rather than having to train Windows on each application individually, SmartPanels puts your whole workspace into a profile. That means SmartPanels accounts for every window’s position and size, as well as screen assignments on up to six displays. A single click is all it takes to put everything back in order. It even goes so far as to relaunch your tabs in Chrome, Firefox, or Edge and put those browser windows back where they were.
You can set up distinct profiles for various tasks and move between them using hotkeys of your choosing or email one to a colleague. And with a trial that costs nothing, there is no obligation to give it a try on your system.
Quick Fixes When Programs Still Misbehave
If apps continue to open on the wrong screen, run through this short checklist:
- Start by updating the display drivers. Go to Device Manager with Win + X, find “Display adapters,” and right-click on the graphics card to select “Update driver.”
- You will want to make sure your screens are set to extend. Hit Win + P and pick Extend; there is no point in trying to have separate windows on a duplicated display.
- For certain applications, run them as an administrator just once to place them where you want and then shut them down. Elevated permissions are sometimes required for the program to remember its position.
- If it is a fullscreen game, look at the video settings within the title itself rather than relying on Windows to assign the monitor.
- Finally, give your cables a reseat. Should an HDMI or DisplayPort be even slightly loose, Windows may see the monitor as new and forget any positions you have put in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my programs keep opening on the wrong monitor?
While Windows is designed to remember where a program was last put to rest, things like driver updates, sleep mode, or a monitor being unplugged can cause it to lose track. The best way to fix this is to close the application on the correct monitor.
How do I force a program to open on a specific monitor every time?
If one wants a solution that will hold up through reboots and the like, there is the SmartPanels profile. Save the window to it, and the layout can be put back in place with a hotkey or a single click.
Does Windows 11 remember window positions on its own?
To some extent. Windows 11 can remember window positions when a monitor reconnects, but it doesn’t control where applications open during regular use, making other methods necessary.
What happens to my saved layout if I unplug a monitor?
In fact, Windows tends to displace windows onto whatever screen is left and lose track of where they are supposed to be. Reattach the display and one can only hope for the best with the outcome. A SmartPanels profile is a better bet, as it will have everything arranged again in an instant.
Can I make a game open on a specific monitor?
As a rule, yes, though the desktop workarounds do not apply. Fullscreen games tend to choose their monitor from within their own video settings. If that isn’t an option, set your preferred screen as the primary display before starting the game.
Final Thoughts
There are a few simple habits that will ensure your programs open on the screen of your choosing: be sure to close an app on the monitor you intend for it, set your primary display with care, and make certain your drivers are up-to-date. For most users, such inbuilt window management features suffice. But juggling multiple applications across two or more displays can quickly wear on your patience.
SmartPanels is designed to put an end to that sort of tedium. With it, you can save a layout once and have the software restore every window and browser tab at a moment’s notice, even after a reboot or monitor disconnection. The trial is free of charge, so there is no downside to testing it out.
We recommend you download SmartPanels and create a profile; let the tool handle the arrangement of your workspace so you can get on with what matters.