How to undo 'remove display from desktop'

Question

I have connected two external monitors to my laptop and extended the displays. I have configured each display properly and made one of the external displays my main display.

I have then gone to choose what happens when closing the lid to 'do nothing'

and finally I have gone back to display settings and having selected the laptop display in advanced setting have switched the 'remove display from desktop' to on.

This has worked well and now I just have to open the lid of the laptop to press power on button and close the lid. I don't need to use this display and it saves power and keeps laptop keyboard clean.

Today I needed to undo this feature to enable me to use laptop screen and the screen is not listed so how do I undo this remove display from desktop to reinstate laptop screen?

thanks

Answer 1

When Remove display from desktop is enabled, Windows treats the laptop panel as fully disabled. To restore it, try this first:

1. Disconnect all external monitors.

Fully shut down the laptop.

Power it back on with the lid open and do not connect any external displays yet.

Once Windows loads, go to Settings > System > Display, then select Detect.

If the screen still does not appear, force Windows to reset display topology:

Press Windows + Ctrl + Shift + B to restart the graphics driver.

If that does not help, check Device Manager > Display adapters and Monitors to confirm the internal display is not disabled. Reinstalling or updating the graphics driver often restores the panel.When Remove display from desktop is enabled, Windows treats the laptop panel as fully disabled. To restore it, try this first:

Disconnect all external monitors.

Fully shut down the laptop.

Power it back on with the lid open and do not connect any external displays yet.

Once Windows loads, go to Settings > System > Display, then select Detect.

If the screen still does not appear, force Windows to reset display topology:

Press Windows + Ctrl + Shift + B to restart the graphics driver.

If that does not help, check Device Manager > Display adapters and Monitors to confirm the internal display is not disabled. Reinstalling or updating the graphics driver often restores the panel.

Helpful links:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/change-your-screen-resolution-and-layout-in-windows-5effefe3-2eac-e306-0b5d-2073b765876b

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/troubleshoot-external-monitor-connections-in-windows-5b46f4a4-9634-06bb-7622-f960facdfd49

https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/update-drivers-through-device-manager-in-windows-ec62f46c-ff14-c91d-eead-d7126dc1f7b6

Answer 2

To reinstate your laptop screen after you have set it to "remove display from desktop," you can follow these steps:

1. Open Display Settings: Right-click on the desktop and select "Display settings" from the context menu.
2. Detect Displays: In the Display settings window, scroll down and click on the "Detect" button. This may help Windows recognize your laptop screen again.
3. Change Display Configuration: If your laptop screen still does not appear, try pressing the Windows logo key + P on your keyboard. This will bring up the Project menu. Select "PC screen only" or "Extend" to see if the laptop display is recognized.
4. Check Advanced Settings: If the laptop display is still not listed, go to the advanced display settings and ensure that the laptop display is not disabled. You may need to select the laptop display and change its settings to enable it.
5. Restart Your Laptop: Sometimes, a simple restart can help Windows recognize the display configuration changes.

If these steps do not resolve the issue, you may need to check for any driver updates for your graphics card or consult the manufacturer's support for further assistance.