Prevent Powerpoint 2020 from changing multiple monitor settings

Jerry 31 Reputation points
2020-12-01T18:16:26.09+00:00

To start, I know how to change in PowerPoint which monitor to send a presentation. And, I know how to change which monitor is my main display and how to manage multiple monitior configuration in Windows Display Settings. I run on Windows 10, and all of my drivers and software are up-to-date. I have an Intel video card on an HP Elitebook. I currently have 2 external monitors connected through a DisplayLink USB hub. I have no issues at all in multiple monitor configuration or usage. My problem exists as a default setting in PowerPoint which keeps reverting.

That being said, when I run Zoom meetings, I prefer the presentation on my left, speaker notes and Zoom control window split on the laptop, and Zoom chat/participants/breakouts/etc. and other supporting docs and windows on the right. In PowerPoint, from Set Up Slide Show, I set the presentation to "Monitor 2" (the Windows 10 assigned number) which is physically on my left and can I present normally.

Then I conclude the meeting, click Save, and shut down the app or even restart the computer. Later, when I open the presentation file for another Zoom meeting, it has reverted to the "Automatic" setting which always chooses Monitor 3, and is the monitor on my right. This is the crux of my issue with the program and is maddening that my manual setting is overwritten.

Imagine if the program randomly re-wrote my text or reconfigured objects on a slide or moved slides around. I have a static configuration, which Windows 10 and/or PowerPoint completely disregards.

My question is, how do I PERMANENTLY set the default monitor configuration to be saved within a PowerPoint document and prevent reverting to "AUTOMATIC?"

PowerPoint Management
PowerPoint Management
PowerPoint: A family of Microsoft presentation graphics products that offer tools for creating presentations and adding graphic effects like multimedia objects and special effects with text.Management: The act or process of organizing, handling, directing or controlling something.
220 questions
0 comments No comments
{count} vote

Accepted answer
  1. Emily Hua-MSFT 27,526 Reputation points
    2020-12-02T06:49:34.803+00:00

    @Jerry

    Currently we could not set multi-monitor default configuration when PowerPoint used every-time.
    We need to open PowerPoint and then set it to run on a specific monitor via manual efforts.

    Here is a similar feedback on this issue on PowerPoint UserVoice forum, "multi-monitor default configuration". I have voted up, you may also vote it to help Microsoft engineers have a better visibility on what issues that you’re experiencing with PorwerPoint and which features are most important to you.

    Thanks for you understanding.


    If an Answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and upvote it.
    Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.

    0 comments No comments

2 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
  1. Jerry 31 Reputation points
    2020-12-02T16:43:36.183+00:00

    So, it is designed to forget user commands, and it must be manually changed every time, back to the same setting it was previously and repeatedly set? On purpose?


  2. Jerry 31 Reputation points
    2020-12-03T16:17:22.687+00:00

    I appreciate your help. If it is designed to be that way, I am doubtful a ticket would help anything.