Windows 10: Dual Monitors, can't set main display on random computers

Dave Evans 1

Hi,

I have seen this on random computers and it's been driving me nuts as I have been unable to fix with uninstalling drivers, reinstalling new versions and other things. ONLY way I have been able to fix is to re-image the machine.

This is a on HP desktops with the same exact monitors on both but, have seen it on Dells in the past.

With dual monitors, Right click on desktop, go to Display settings, scroll down to "Make this my main display"

On a few computers, it's checked, and I cant change it, move it to the other monitor, same result, its' blacked out and can't change it. I am unable to set the main monitor. Unplugging the monitors, and reversing them, Windows automatically corrects for it and the problem is still there.

This is on Windows 10 20H2 but, seen it on Windows 8.1, Windows 7 and even XP before.

Anyone deal with this and a quick way to fix this really annoying issue that pops up time to time?

Jenny Feng 14,081 Reputation points

2021-04-19T02:31:56.53+00:00

anonymous userEvans-9765
Hi,

Just checking in to see if the information provided was helpful.

If the reply helped you, please remember to accept as answer.
If no, please reply and tell us the current situation in order to provide further help.
Dave Evans 1 Reputation point

2021-04-19T12:22:36.813+00:00

The user with the issue has not been in the office for me to test. I'll try to hunt him down in the next day or 2.

Thanks
William de P 6 Reputation points

2022-02-18T03:10:11.613+00:00

I found this issue with my home PC, as a GPU driver update seems to have swapped my monitors primary and secondary status, which was very inconvenient as the secondary monitor is actually in another room. I found that the Windows option for these features in Display Settings was greyed out also, however it may have just been because the monitor status is managed by another program. So my guess Dave would be to look around for another programs managing displays, it may be that these computers have a different driver package and some have these supplementary programs enabled and others do not. Some that I've found installed on my PC are Intel Graphics Command Centre and Nvidia control panel.
Dave Jones 16 Reputation points

2022-02-22T14:35:02.69+00:00

Hi there,

I had the same issue where in Display settings, the ‘Make my main display’ box was a checked and there was no way to change it.

I wanted to be able to make my external display the main one and Laptop second.

I rearranged my monitors at the top of the display settings, saved it then the ‘Make my main display’ setting is now optional and works!

Good luck,
Dave
Nick Boyd 1 Reputation point

2022-07-29T20:31:13.227+00:00

Thank you for the easy answer. Much better than digging through every app looking for some kinda connection to one of my monitors. Which I would have not had a single clue on where to start with. Your fix worked perfectly.
Sandee Charoenwat 1 Reputation point

2023-01-10T13:45:22.02+00:00

I had this problem too, turns out you have to scroll up and select the display you want to make your main (it should turn blue) then scroll down and select make this my main display.
Ali G 0 Reputation points

2023-03-22T21:09:50.4633333+00:00

Thanks Dave Jones I just had this issue and followed your simple instructions and it worked a treat :).

Make this my main display was greyed out.

I accessed the display settings from the screen I wanted to be the main screen, rearranged the displays (1+2) so they were the wrong way around then the 'make this your display display' check box went black again. Once checked the taskbar switched to the screen of my preference.... then I high-tailed it out of there before it changed anything else 😂. Thanks Dave!
Anonymous

2023-07-03T13:00:33.1166667+00:00

Make sure you have highlighted the monitor you want to make as the main display. At the top where it says "Rearrange your displays", click on the display you want to be the main one, scroll down and see if you can then select "Make this my main display"

8 answers

Dave Evans 1 Reputation point

2022-05-19T16:51:25.57+00:00

I am the original asker here. After seeing this tons of times in my office, THE ONLY way to fix it is to go in to the control panel, find the Nvidia or Intel app and change it in there, I sometimes have to use the Windows part to move monitors around as even the OEM program has problems sometimes.

It's a PIA problem that even happens in Windows 11.... and although this thread gives some good ideas, even the OEM thing does not always do it perfectly.

@Mig P

This is not the same problem. Your problem it only shows on one monitor. This issue is about NOT being able to set the MAIN display.
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Chai 1 Reputation point

2022-05-24T06:05:50.613+00:00

Hi,
I'm having the same problem.
My I ask where the Intel app is in the control panel?

Thanks!

Dave Evans 1 Reputation point

2022-05-24T12:49:57.973+00:00

Go into search, Do a search for "Control Panel", this should bring up the old style control panel, and the Intel app should be in there if you installed the drivers for it.
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Dave Evans 1 Reputation point

2023-03-23T12:46:42.4466667+00:00

OK, let's fix this once and for all. I found a workaround that solves the issue 95% of the time. I've been dealing with this issue from Windows 7 days.

I see this time to time on Windows 10 and Windows 11. Yes, fully updated computers. I will right click on the desktop and select "display settings", on "Mutiple displays", and on the "Make this my main display" is checked, I move this to the 2nd monitor, and it's still checked. In Windows at this point you UNABLE to change the primary monitor.

The ONLY work-around that works 95% of the time is find the Video Cards OEM app in the OLD control panel. Nvidia, AMD, Intel, and most other companies install a control panel applet in the OLD control panel. If you do not see this, RE-INSTALL the OEM driver (sometimes Windows update does not install the applet).

Go into this applet and adjust the default monitor. All of them offer this setting, sometimes it's a pan to find but, it is in there. This will fix it and it will stay too.
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Jessica Lee 0 Reputation points

2024-03-22T17:18:57.1833333+00:00
This is to follow up on Reynold Gonzalez, who was correct and found the fastest fix. This is just a condensed version of his response:

Open Settings

Open Displays

Have the orientation of displays (as the screenshot below shows)

Click the monitor you want for your main (single click) - I clicked display 3

Now the "Make this my main display" should not be greyed out.

If you want to change, you can single click on 1 or 2 in example below, and "make main display" will be available again to click.
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Windows 10: Dual Monitors, can't set main display on random computers

8 answers