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

Dear Normal User 020

If you want to open a program to a specific screen in Win11 multi-screen environment, you can follow the steps below:

1. Right-click the program shortcut or app icon. 2.
2. Select "Properties" in the pop-up menu. 3.
3. Switch to the Shortcuts tab. 4.
4. Find the "Target" field and add a space at the end of the field and the following command: -screen:X (where X is the number of the screen you want the program to open, e.g. "-screen:1" means open to the second screen). 5. Click "Apply".
5. Click the Apply button and then click OK to save the changes.

Now, when you double-click the program shortcut or application icon, it will automatically open to the specified screen. Note that this method only works for dual-screen setups running in Extended Desktop mode.

TIPS: STEAM games boot to URLs, so you may need to find the game's main program to add this parameter setting.

Best Wish

Shawn Z | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

Answer 2

Does not work for me.

Answer 3

Dear Noah Lewis

Thank you for posting in the Microsoft community.

PowerToys FancyZones utility for Windows | Microsoft Learn

You can use this widget to keep track of which program you are used to opening in which window.

Finally, I am not an AI LOL

Best Wish

Shawn Z  | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

Answer 4

I am trying to have the Steam program open on my main display as well.

In the target field of the properties window, I have "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\Steam.exe" -screen:0

I also tried -screen:1 and -screen:2

I also tried putting "-screen:0" in its own quotation marks in the field.

None of these have steam open up on my main display.

I feel like this feature shouldn't be so difficult to use. Sort of feels like the window should open on the last screen that it was closed on. Instead, it feels more like the OS just throws it at whatever screen is its favorite on that particular day. Very counterintuitive and not user friendly.

Answer 5

Nothing of all the suggested online options worked for me. I found the solution myself, and I am sure it will help a lot of you guys. Here it is:

Open Settings, go to Display, click and drag the stupid second display from the right to the left of the main display (or opposite direction, depending on your setup), and click Apply. That's all folks! That's how you deal with the Windows flaws and glitches...