When a computer is connected to multiple displays, such as a projector and monitor or multiple monitors, Windows allows users to quickly change what content each display shows.

When using shared computers, sometimes a user changes this setting and forget to set it back, which can cause issues for future users who are unfamiliar with this feature. If you are one of those future users, this guide is for you!

Contents

[Read here first] The PC isn’t displaying properly on the monitor or projector and I need it to work right now

If all displays appear to be powered on, video mute button on the touch panel is not flashing red, and the correct input is selected, but one of them is blank or they are showing separate content, here is a quick step we recommend trying -

• Log into the PC

  • Note: If the mouse cursor appears on the wrong screen, try to move it past either side edge of the screen to see if it appears on the other display

• Once fully logged in, simultaneously press [win] + [P] on the keyboard

  Open

  

• The following menu should come up on one of the displays. Click on “duplicate.”

  Open

  

• Both displays should now show the same content. Press [Esc] or click outside of this menu to close it.

In Depth Explanation

What are project modes?

Windows gives users 4 main options for how to display content when the PC has multiple displays connected to it. When you press [win] + [P] on the keyboard, a “project” menu will appear that presents the following options. The icons next to each option illustrate how each mode works.

Open

The most intuitive configuration for most people - What you see on one screen is what shows on another

Open

Each display shows a separate desktop, allowing you to move your cursor and application windows from one to the other

Open

Open

Both of these options disable one of the connected displays, depending on which display is designated as the “main” display. Please see this section for more info on main vs. secondary display.

Why should I use each mode?

Whichever modes you choose to use are up to personal preference. Here are some common reasons to use each mode in a classroom, conference, or event setting -

• Duplicate

  • You prefer the easiest option

  • You want to be able to easily see what the class or audience sees without turning your head towards the large display

• Extend

  • You are in a classroom with two instructor monitors (one of them will likely be set up to always duplicate on the large display)

  • You want to show content to your audience while privately viewing other content, such as email or messages.

  • You want to multitask without switching between which windows are displayed

  • You want to hide the controls for zoom from the audience while screen sharing on the main screen

• PC Screen Only

  • You want to to temporarily blank the projector screen while you do something private

    • note: this may blank the opposite screen as expected - please see the following section for additional info

    • We recommend using the video mute/blank screen function on the projector control panel to achieve this outcome. Please unblank the screen for the next user.

• Second screen only

  • You want to temporarily blank the projector screen, and the previous option blanked the monitor screen instead

  • You are using a laptop and want to use a larger display as your only display

“Main” Display vs Secondary Display(s)

• Windows designates one display as the “main” display when using any project mode besides “duplicate.” This is generally intended to be the display that is most convenient for the user to look at (such as the instructor monitor or a laptop screen). When using extended display, this is where most apps and menus will appear, as well as the login screen.

• The display automatically designated as main display may or may not be the display we expect. The main display can be changed in windows display settings (see this article for instructions on how to do this)

Extended display FAQ

How do I get my cursor and app windows on the other display?

• As the name suggests, extended display is intended to “extend” your overall desktop space. Since people often have multiple displays right next to each other, the display settings menu allows users to “arrange” on screen rectangles in a way that resembles the physical positions of your displays. This way, when you move your cursor off one screen towards another, it will appear on that screen in a predictable location.

• Without changing this setting, windows treats extended displays as side by side. Since it doesn’t know where the displays are located physically, you may need to try moving your mouse to either side of one display to figure out which side allows you to go to the other display. With classroom/event space displays, there is rarely an ideal orientation setting anyways, since the displays are not facing the same direction.

• The main way to move app windows to another display is to click and drag them off the side determined in the previous bullet.

• The most relevant exception is using powerpoint in presenter mode. Windows will put the presenter screen on the main display and the main slideshow on the extended display

  • The Presenter screen has a “display settings” button with an option to swap Presenter view and the main slideshow