enable tablet mode when connected to external monitor

I take hand-written notes on my Surface device, connected to an external monitor when lectures are running.

Generally, when removing the keyboard, Win 11 goes into tablet mode. However, if it's connected to an external monitor, it stays in desktop mode.

Is there a way to for Win 11 to switch to tablet mode while connected to an external monitor?

There's usually an Fx key that toggles the built-in screen, the external screen only or both at the same time, has that been tried? Different brands and models may use different F key, the Vostro I'm on now uses F8. Some may use a combination of Fn plus another F key.

tablet mode isn't available when connected to multiple displays

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Press the Windows key +P set the secondary monitor to be the only monitor in the "Multiple Displays" button.
Then in Display Settings, Reset touch on that display. After setting it up as the 'only' display, then recalibrate it

Spunk said:

Press the Windows key +P set the secondary monitor to be the only monitor in the "Multiple Displays" button.
Then in Display Settings, Reset touch on that display. After setting it up as the 'only' display, then recalibrate it

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I don't see "reset touch" or similar option in Display Settings.

This is after selecting secondary monitor to be the only monitor.

To configure tablet mode in Windows 11, it is important to understand that Microsoft has removed the manual toggle for tablet mode, and it now operates automatically based on the device's form factor and touch capabilities.6 Here's how you can manage and configure tablet mode:

1. Automatic Activation: Tablet mode in Windows 11 is automatically enabled when the device detects that the keyboard is detached or when the device is converted into a tablet form factor. For example, if you have a 2-in-1 device, tablet mode will activate when you flip the screen to a tablet orientation.4
2. Disabling Tablet Mode: To disable tablet mode, you can reattach the keyboard or convert the device back to a traditional laptop form factor.3 If your device has a detachable keyboard, reattaching it will disable tablet mode.
3. Taskbar Optimization: To optimize the taskbar for touch interactions when tablet mode is detected, go to "Settings" > "Personalization" > "Taskbar," and enable the "Optimize taskbar for touch interactions" option.4
4. Touch Keyboard Settings: You can configure the behavior of the on-screen touch keyboard by going to "Settings" > "Time & Language" > "Typing" > "Touch keyboard," and choose when the keyboard is displayed on the screen.4
5. Display Orientation: To change the screen orientation, go to "Settings" > "System" > "Display," and under "Scale & Layout," use the dropdown to choose a display orientation layout.4
6. Rotation Lock: If your screen is not rotating automatically, check the "Rotation lock" setting. You can enable or disable it in "Settings" > "System" > "Display".3
7. Registry Modification: For advanced users, there is a registry modification that can help manage tablet mode. Run the following command in an elevated Command Prompt: reg add "HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\PriorityControl" /v ConvertibilityEnabled /t REG_DWORD /d 1.7

It is important to note that Windows 11 does not have a dedicated option to manually turn on or off tablet mode, and the feature is enabled on touch screen devices by default.2 If you encounter issues with tablet mode, you can try restarting your device, updating Windows, or running an SFC scan to repair corrupt system files.2
AI-generated answer. Please verify critical facts.

@Spunk, I owe you a thanks. You just solved a very long standing problem for me.

I have an old Windows tablet. It runs Windows 11 great with one annoying exception: File Explorer refuses to display in Compact Mode. No matter what settings I have tried, no matter what registry settings I use, nothing makes a difference. However, ironically, if I remote desktop to that tablet, then File Explorer will honor the option to display in Compact Mode, but only in a remote desktop session.

The very last item in your post, the registry setting for item #7, solved that problem for me (by setting it to zero).

It was not a huge deal, just that one tiny thing that did not work flawlessly in Windows 11.

Thanks!

A quick follow-up to my last post...

Apparently a side effect of setting the registry entry is that this now prevents the option in File Explorer to use checkboxes from working. So, I have a choice of which I want to "break" - either I get no check boxes or I get no compact mode