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

Since ten years, I have a four-monitor setup. I use a very versatile app called DisplayFusion from BinaryFortress. Amongst other things, such as specifying background images, in it, one can specify for every app on which monitor it should open, regardless of where the mouse pointer is. It works perfectly. It is also possible to move the mouse pointer to another monitor immediately after clicking the icon to open an app, and the app will then open on the monitor where the mouse pointer has been moved to.

About the 'problem' of the mouse pointer not following the physical order of the monitors, this can be corrected in the monitor setings by dragging each monitor to the correct location. It takes some trial-and-error effort. What is shown as 1-2-3-4 might not actually work, whereas 2-1-3-4 might. It depends on the video cards setup. Also be aware that, when dual booting to Linux, the Linux distro might throw a spanner in the works.

Answer 2

In case anyone is still looking for a work around, there was a discussion on Reddit nine years ago, https://www.reddit.com/r/techsupport/comments/3idqo6/chrome\_shortcut\_to\_open\_on\_a\_certain\_monitor/?rdt=46020

They used a different command set which specified a target pixel for the window to open at, allowing the user to specify a pixel on a separate monitor. My hope was to have two different Chrome profiles open on two separate monitors, but as soon as Chrome is open on a screen, all other shortcuts seem to over ride to that screen, regardless of commands.

Answer 3

10 01 2024, this does not work. It still opens on the main screen.

I've used shortcut commands before, so it's not the syntax of the command.

Answer 4

"I am not an AI" as Microsoft proves to not even read the question past reading the title and give entirely unrelated solutions to the problem.

I don't know if you guys get PAID to give incorrect support or what, but it's been notorious.

With how unhelpful you guys are, you might as well be replaced by AI at this point.

Answer 5

When the shortcut specifies -screen:1 (or any number), it gets the message

Any suggestions?