What determines the monitor my app runs on?

JosephStyons picture JosephStyons · Sep 9, 2008 · Viewed 182.4k times · Source

I am using Windows, and I have two monitors.

Some applications will always start on my primary monitor, no matter where they were when I closed them.

Others will always start on the secondary monitor, no matter where they were when I closed them.

Is there a registry setting buried somewhere, which I can manipulate to control which monitor applications launch into by default?

@rp: I have Ultramon, and I agree that it is indispensable, to the point that Microsoft should buy it and incorporate it into their OS. But as you said, it doesn't let you control the default monitor a program launches into.

Answer

TryingToHelp picture TryingToHelp · Feb 4, 2009

Here's what I've found. If you want an app to open on your secondary monitor by default do the following:

1. Open the application.
2. Re-size the window so that it is not maximized or minimized.
3. Move the window to the monitor you want it to open on by default.
4. Close the application.  Do not re-size prior to closing.
5. Open the application.
   It should open on the monitor you just moved it to and closed it on.
6. Maximize the window.

The application will now open on this monitor by default. If you want to change it to another monitor, just follow steps 1-6 again.