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Screen settings change when I make a different screen the main display

Anonymous
2025-05-04T12:23:30+00:00

I have three screens and after launching Windows my main screen (bigger) shows my desktop with all my icons as normal. The other two screens have a desktop with no icons and that is as I want them to be. I use this set up for Xplane 12 (a flight simulator) with the game on my bigger (you might say my main screen) and use the other two screens for a programme called Air Manager where I have sets of instruments displayed as generated by Air Manager.

The problem I am having is that one of the 'instrument' displays is a touch screen and therefore apparently needs to be set as the main screen. When I set that the overall settings change where the display is now spread over the two desktops (the bigger one and the touch screen) The second smaller screen is unaffected. Putting it another way the desktop with icons is now spread over two screens. I cannot seem to find a way of stopping this from happening.

I have had the touch screen working in the past but it does seem to be very sensitive to the order in which things are done as to whether the touch facility actually works.

If it will help I can post some screenshots or photos.

Thanks in anticipation.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Display and graphics

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  1. Anonymous
    2025-05-05T16:26:42+00:00

    Hi rogo2023

    Thank you for posting in Microsoft Community.

    I understand that you are having a problem with your Screen settings change when I make a different screen the main display. To address the issue you are experiencing with your multiple displays in Windows 11, you can try the following steps:

    > Use Tablet PC Settings to Configure Touch Input

    When a touchscreen is attached, Windows may try to assign touch input to the screen marked as “primary.” You can override this behavior by calibrating your touch devices:

    Open Tablet PC Settings: – Open Control Panel and type “Tablet PC Settings” (or search for it in the Start menu). – Click on Setup. This allows you to choose which monitor should receive touch input. – Follow the prompts to specify that touch input should be associated with your touch display only, even if it isn’t Windows’ default “main display.”

    Note: This calibration can sometimes force Windows to stop “promoting” the touchscreen to serve as your desktop icon host.

    > Adjust Display Arrangement in Windows Settings

    Windows expects the “main display” to hold the desktop icons. You might instead want to keep the large display as your primary for icons while still enabling touch on the second screen:

    Primary Display vs. Touch Input: – Go to Settings → System → Display. – Identify your displays by clicking Identify. – Pick the large screen as your primary display by clicking “Make this my main display.” Even though touch might not work by default on that screen, the Tablet PC Settings (from step 1) should ensure that the touch input goes only to the touch monitor.

    Experimentation Is Key: – Sometimes, you may need to reverse and then reassign the settings to “trick” Windows into not spreading your desktop. For example, assign the main desktop to the large display, then use Tablet PC Setup to reassign touch calibration.

    > Experiment with the Order of Monitor Initialization

    You mentioned that the sensitivity of the touch screen being set as main is very dependent on the order in which things are set on startup. Try this:

    Temporary Disconnection: – With all displays powered, shut down Windows and disconnect the touch monitor. Boot into Windows so the large display becomes the only main desktop. – Then reconnect the touch screen after Windows has booted up. – Use the Tablet PC Settings “Setup” procedure to assign touch input to the touch display without letting Windows extend the desktop icons there.

    Persistent Profile: – Save a custom display profile (if supported by your graphics driver or a third‑party tool) that locks the desktop icons to the large screen.

    >Perform Repair in-place upgrade: This will reinstall your Operating System and will keep your files and apps. This will take some time depending on the computer performance and internet speed. You can follow the steps from this link:How to perform repair upgrade in Windows 11 - Microsoft Community

    Best Regards,

    Lonex P.

    Microsoft Moderator

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  1. Anonymous
    2025-05-05T20:13:11+00:00

    Thanks Lonex P, that was a great reply. It totally captured my problem and gave me a very comprehensive guide to 'get sorted'. I will keep a copy of it just in case I need to use it again.

    I given you feedback.

    All the best,

    Roger

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