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Changing primary display without the display settings window

Anonymous
2025-01-06T11:10:07+00:00

I am using my laptop as a desktop with a connected monitor as the laptop screen is broken (has been for years) with the monitor as my primary display. However something seems to have gone wrong and now the laptop screen (dead) has reverted to being primary, and I can't change it as the 'display settings' window opens on the dead screen, so I can't find it... How do I change my display settings now?

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Settings

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  1. DaveM121 877.4K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2025-01-06T11:44:41+00:00

    Hi, I am Dave, I will help you with this.

    Start your laptop and ensure Windows has started in the background.

    1

    Look at the Function keys on your keyboard, do one of them have an icon for two screens?

    If one of the function keys have that icon, try pressing that key or Fn + that key to try to switch the video signal to the external screen.

    2

    If that does not solve the problem

    Press the Windows key + P together.

    Wait a couple of seconds.

    Then press the down arrow on your keyboard

    Press Enter, to see if that sends a video signal to the external screen.

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  2. Airbus A350 7,355 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2025-01-06T12:00:11+00:00

    Hello,

    You can push Windows + I to get into Settings. If it shows up on your main display, push Windows + Shift + Left key and it should move the window over to your external monitor. Now, in Settings, go to System > Display and click the internal monitor, push the drop-down under it, and push "Prevent Windows from using this display". That should make the external monitor the only display available to Windows.

    Hope this helps.

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