Solved My mouse believes my 2nd screen is still connected (goes off screen)

Hi everybody,

My PC's main monitor is connected with DisplayPort. My motherboard has a HDMI port available.
So, I tried connecting a 2nd screen to my PC, using that HDMI port.
Windows 11 automatically positioned it to the right of my main screen (extended desktop mode).
I used the 2nd screen for a while. Then I turned it off (button), and then I disconnected it physically from my PC (unplugged the HDMI cable).

Now my PC is back to only my main monitor, and indeed Windows doesn't see a 2nd monitor anymore (either in the Settings or in the Device Manager)...
... except for my mouse. It keeps going off screen to the right, like the 2nd monitor was still connected, when it clearly isn't.
I thought it was a simple bug that would be easily solved with a reboot. Alas, a reboot changed nothing.

What can I do? Thanks in advance!

Hi Jose,

Same here, stupid Windows behavior or maybe I missed something.
To solve the cursor going off screen, hit Windows key + P.
In this menu you choose PC screen only, that solves that.

Now a funny thing.
If you don't have a 2nd screen, NEVER choose 2nd only, as your PC screen goes dark and you have no visible way to get out off that.
You have to keep hitting WIN key + P blind to get back to your PC screen.
If you don't think of this you are locked out.

They could have Windows check what is connected I think.
But maybe there is more to it.

Ciao, Han

Thanks @han jansen for your kind reply and also for your advice.

Unfortunately, it didn't work for me. When I hit Windows + P, "PC screen only" is already selected. And no matter what I do (e.g. selecting "Extend" then selecting "PC screen only" back), my mouse keeps going off screen.

Jose Hidalgo said:

Unfortunately, it didn't work for me. When I hit Windows + P, "PC screen only" is already selected. And no matter what I do (e.g. selecting "Extend" then selecting "PC screen only" back), my mouse keeps going off screen.

Click to expand...

On my system which does the same as you are describing, if I choose "Duplicate" (vs. PC screen only) the mouse behaves correctly.

Still doesn't work on mine, sorry. If I select "Duplicate" and then I do Win + F again, "PC screen only" has automatically been selected. So my PC understands well that there's only one screen now. It's only my mouse that doesn't understand it.

Hi guys. Today I have given this issue another 30 min or so.
Plugged back my 2nd screen. Tried many things. Even installed Dual Monitor Tools at some point, to see if I could block the cursor somehow.

Then I turned off my 2nd screen AGAIN, and I unplugged the HDMI cable AGAIN.
And for some reason, my mouse behaviour seems to be back to normal.
Now it goes to the very right of my main screen, on the last pixel column where it's barely visible but it's still there. It doesn't go beyond my main screen.

Problem solved... I guess? Go figure!

Your computer was just pining away for the second screen and was looking for it. I guess you finally convinced it that it was really gone!

If there is any mouse software uninstall it. It might be a bug in the software. See how the mouse behaves with the default Windows driver without the software.

However what you see as a bug for others might be desirable. For all of us that want to capture the screen, getting the mouse off screen is desirable, we don't want it show on the video.

For all of you that want to capture the screen without the mouse, just install Screenshot Captor, set the right settings and be done with it.

SnagIt also had an option to include or hide the mouse pointer.