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

can you actually answer the question then? none of this works bro, you've been useless for months.

Answer 2

I found a solution to this: it is from https://www.flexlabs.org/2021/02/making-windows-open-applications-on-a-specific-monitor

When you have multiple monitors Windows will generally open applications on the main one, but that might not always be the case. Furthermore, sometimes you want a specific app to always open on your second monitor, leaving the primary one free.

For a long time I tried to find any way to configure that, and when I didn't find anything I assumed there was no way to control that. But a while ago I stumbled upon a SuperUser question, and one of the answers was exactly what I was looking for.

This doesn't seem to be common knowledge, so I decided to post about it here both to spread the knowledge, and for my own records for the time when I will inevitably forget this once again (this is not something you have to configure often and it is the third time I went on a search for this key sequence)

To change which monitor an app should open by default, do the following:

• Ensure all instances of the app are closed. (this step might not be required, but I've noticed that without it it sometimes refuses to work)
• Open your program.
• Move it to the monitor on which you would like it to open by default.
• Hit the Windows key + Shift + Enter.
• Close the application, and open it again - it should now open on the correct monitor

Answer 3

this also not working too.

Answer 4

I feel your pain... I was almost ready to throw my second monitor away because Windows (since 8) randomly decides on which monitor to open my applictions. And fullscreen games mostly open on the secondary monitor...

I would be happy enough if everything opened and stayed on my main monitor unless i move it to the secondary.

So far the only thing I could do was to uncheck the "remember window position" and this only works if you check the "minimize windows when monitor gets disconnected". (My system settings aren't in English, so the names are probably slightly different)

Answer 5

How is this still a problem in this day and age. Microsoft solving problems no-one asked for and ignoring useful features users need.

I am trying to set up automated screens to be used for a entire company. If screens just appear wherever some user will close them and stop the viewer. I can do these things on vnc //display2

Why does windows not have this in its shortcut. We have windowed maximised why not display 1 display 2 maybe even a function to not allow minimising a window.

I can't have citrix machines being staggered or blocking another viewpoint expecially if I have to run autohotkey scripts.