HOW DO I MAKE A PROGRAM OPEN ON A SPECIFIC MONITOR THAT I DESIGNATE EVERY TIME I WANT TO OPEN IT?

Question

This isn't a new question but I've seen it asked here for 15 years and 3 OS variants with no actual answer (you'd think this would be something to work on instead of obfuscating how to get to your control panel, file, and drive locations while trying to turn my +$3K pc into a sub $400, non-portable tablet with no touch screen).

HOW DO I MAKE A PROGRAM OPEN ON A SPECIFIC MONITOR EVERY TIME?

Note, the question is NOT how to move a program after you open it; it is NOT how to change primary display; it is NOT how to anything other the actual question asked as specifically as the question is. If there is no answer and Windows just isn't able to (and our programmers don't care to work on it) just say so.

I have an OLED gaming monitor that I paid more for than I would ever have wanted to pay for a monitor and would like it to last as long as possible. I would therefore like it not to be the primary display. I only use it for media and gaming. The problem is that windows doesn't let me choose secondary displays to open games and reverts half of the applications I open and move over back to the primary display. I can do this with some games but most default to only opening on the primary monitor. I have a good LCD monitor I use for productivity and streaming while playing games that I would like to remain my main display where most apps, and all non-media apps, are default opening. So far the only way I know to do it is to turn the OLED off unless I am using it. This solution is clunky and kind of like using a kitchen knife to sharpen pencils when a pencil sharpener is can be made.

So please don't answer this if you are going to give the same non-answers I've been reading while searching for an answer to this (going back 15 years btw, because someone really cares about the user experience). If you have a real answer please give it, again, even if it is "we don't have a way and don't care to make one."

Answer 1

Does not work for me either. This is for ShawnZ's reply on Feb 17/2024.

Answer 2

Here's a workaround that works for me:

Create a macro file that, when double-clicked or otherwise run, starts up a specific program, keeps the focus on it, and switches it to the other monitor using the keystroke sequence Windows-Shift-RightArrow.

This depends on the program always starting on the wrong monitor, which is my situation.

To create the macro, I used an old version of Macro Express to make a file WinRight.mxe which, when run, invokes Macro Express to execute that macro. I put WinRight.mxe in the Startup folder. On startup it runs a slideshow program which misbehaves by starting on monitor 1. It should be on monitor 2, and the keystrokes move it there.

There's a free open source scripting language AutoHotkey that might be able to do the same thing, but I haven't tried it.

Answer 3

I love the way you specified exactly what you were asking - had the same question myself.

My browser was continuing to open on second monitor even though it was not on because it was remembering that is where is was once closed. I've moved it back to main monitor and closed it... which did NOT fix the issue. No matter what I tried, it always opened on #2.

My fix (which someone else may have posted as I didn't read ALL of the messages) - was to disable monitor 2 in display settings... then opened the browser. It had no choice but to open on #1. I re-enabled monitor 2, and it now continues to open correction on #1.

I agree with most of the comments I read hear and agree that this is something that should not be this difficult.

Answer 4

Thank you!! This worked