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

Where is Shortcut 4? When i right click on the app icon I don't see a Shortcut 4 or a "Target". I'm on Windows 11 and there is nothing like that for me.

Answer 2

Nice, so I need to do this for all my programs... and no it still doesn't work. I wish I never "upgraded" to win11. luckily my work PC is old enough I can't even do it. Win11 feels like Win8/Vista. the one you should have never even touched

Answer 3

You would think Microsoft would either work towards a solution to allow a program to automatically startup in a particular display, or at least tell us that it can't be done instead of purposely misleading us, their customers.

Answer 4

Perhaps this will help?

On Windows 10:

1. go to display settings
2. click on the monitor where you want things to open - where it says "rearrange your displays" make the target monitor where you want stuff to open.
3. Scroll down under "multiple displays" and click "make this my main display.

This won't affect specific programs, but at least you can control where your apps open (they open on the main display)

It would be handy to have a left click - properties - specify monitor type menu for specific programs. So I dunno - for now we make due.

Answer 5

In the start message specifically noticed that it's NOT a desired solution...