This tutorial will show you how to set a display to be the main display when you have multiple displays connected to your Windows 11 PC.
If you have more than one display connected to your PC, then you will be able to select which display you want to use as the main (primary) display by default for all users.
The display set to be the main display will act as the active desktop, show the clock and taskbar corner icons. The sign-in, lock, Ctrl+Alt+Del screens, and most items will open on the main display by default when you initially open them.
- Option One: Change Main Display in Settings
- Option Two: Change Main Display in NVIDIA Control Panel
- Option Three: Change Main Display in Intel Graphics Control Panel
- Option Four: Change Main Display in AMD Radeon Settings
1 Open Settings (Win+I).
2 Click/tap on System on the left side, and click/tap on Display on the right side. (see screenshot below)
3 Select the display at the top you want to make the main display. (see screenshot below step 6)
If you are not sure which display belongs to what number, then you can click/tap on the Identify button to have each display's number briefly appear on the displays to see.
4 Click/tap on Multiple displays to expand it open. (see screenshot below step 6)
5 Check Make this my main display. (see screenshot below step 6)
If Make this my main display is already checked and grayed out, then this display is already set as the main display.
6 You can now close Settings if you like.
This option is only available if you have NVIDIA graphics and drivers installed.
1 Open the NVIDIA Control Panel.
2 Click/tap on the Set up multiple displays link under Display in the left pane. (see screenshot below step 3)
3 Right click on the display number you want to make the main display, click/tap on Make primary, and click/tap on Apply. (see screenshot below)
The display number with an asterisk (*) on it is the current primary (main) display.
You can click/tap on Identity in the context menu to briefly display the number on the display it is for.
4 Click/tap on Yes to confirm. (see screenshot below)
You will only have 20 seconds to click/tap on Yes before your changes automatically revert back to what it was set to before.
5 You can now close the NVIDIA Control Panel if you like.
This option is only available if your computer has Intel graphics and drivers installed.
1 Open Intel Graphics Control Panel from All apps in the Start menu.
2 Click/tap on the Display icon at the bottom. (see screenshot below)
3 Click/tap on Multiple Displays in the left pane. (see screenshot below step 4)
4 Select the display you want in the Primary Display drop menu, and click/tap on Apply. (see screenshot below)
5 Click/tap on Yes to confirm. (see screenshot below)
Your changes will automatically be reverted in 15 seconds if you do not click/tap on Yes to confirm.
6 You can now close the Intel Graphics Control Panel if you like.
This option is only available if your computer has AMD graphics and drivers installed.
1 Open AMD Radeon Settings.
2 Click/tap on Display. (see screenshot below)
3 Select the Display # you want to make the main display.
4 Toggle on the Preferred Display button to Enable.
5 You can now close AMD Radeon Settings if you like.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
