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As an avid gamer, you probably want to view your games and multiple files simultaneously. The solution is simple- second monitor.
You can move your game from your primary display to second monitor to enhance your gaming experience. Purchase a second screen and plug it into your laptop for display purposes. Or, if you're feeling more inclined to spend money on this project, buy a docking station that hooks up with multiple screens. You can also opt for the synergy program that allows you to play games on any other device that has Internet access.
Key Takeaways
- Learning how to move a full screen game to a second monitor makes your gaming experience very enjoyable.
- Most games, will start on your primary monitor when you launch them.
- Moving a game to a second monitor can be challenging, especially if you’ve never done it before.
- Multiple monitors for gaming offer a more immersive and clearer views and eliminate distractions from other programs on your main computer screen.
Keep reading to figure out how to move games from the primary gaming monitor to second monitor.
How Do I Move a Game From One Monitor to Another?
Synergy Program
Synergy is a program that allows you to move your mouse and keyboard from one computer to another, and it also allows you to share a clipboard between multiple computers.
How does it work?
1. Setup the synergy program on your computer (computer A) and share the mouse/keyboard with another computer (computer B).
2. Start the game on the primary gaming screen.
3. Press End on the primary display settings to "push" the cursor to Computer B.
4. On Computer B, press Ctrl+Alt+D to "pull" the cursor to this computer.
5. On Computer B, press End to "push" the cursor back to Computer A.
6. Start Synergy on Computer B (to access the mouse/keyboard) and start your game on this computer (Computer B).
7. Press Ctrl+Alt+D to "pull" your mouse/keyboard to this computer.
8. Press End to "push" the cursor back to Computer A. Now your multiple displays are ready to use! You can switch between them by pressing Ctrl+Alt+D on one of the machines.
Use Windows Task Manager
Press Ctrl+Alt+Del, open Task Manager, and go to the "Applications" tab.
You should see a "Background processes" window at the bottom of the tab with all processes running in the background if you have trouble finding it, press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open the Task Manager in the "classic view" and head straight for Applications.
Open up any game you want to move to the second monitor, make sure it's visible on your primary display (the one with the taskbar).
Now find it in the background processes window, right-click it and choose "Move to monitor." The program will now close and re-open on your second monitor.
To make sure it works, drag the game window back to your primary monitor and again choose "Move to another monitor." This time it will stay on your main screen.
Use NVIDIA or AMD Catalyst Control Center
This solution is for those with NVIDIA or AMD graphics cards. This technique uses the control center provided by graphic card manufacturers to move the game window to second monitor.
The NVIDIA and AMD Catalyst Control Center contain options to move games to second monitor. The basic idea is to create a "Display Group '' that includes both monitors, then all you have to do is set it as the main display, and the game will appear on both screen displays.
Use Docking Station
Docking stations are a great way to create additional screens without buying a second monitor. It allows you to use your laptop as a desktop simply by docking it into the docking station and connecting the DVI/VGA/HDMI cable from your monitor.
For example, I have a Dell Inspiron 11z laptop with Intel HD 3000 graphics. When I connect it to my ViewSonic VA1912wb 19" widescreen monitor, the Intel HD 3000 automatically switches to a "Multiple Display settings. It allows me to stretch the game across both screens by setting my laptop's display as "extend these displays."
You can do so by right-clicking on your desktop and selecting the "Graphics Properties"->"Multiple Display" tab.
Buy an Additional Screen(S)
If you can afford to buy an additional screen, this is the solution for you. The only downside of purchasing an extra screen is that it will be dedicated solely to your game. This means surfing the web or watching Youtube while playing games will have to wait.
It also reduces your laptop's portability factor, but if you can live with it, then this is the solution for you.
Use a Projector Mode
If you have an external HDMI port on your laptop, use projector mode to use a laptop as a HDMI monitor and move a full screen game onto second monitor without much hassle.
For example, I have an Acer Aspire R7-571 17" laptop with an NVIDIA GTX 860M 4GB graphics card. It has one HDMI out and one mini display port. I usually use the mini display to connect my laptop to my desired monitor. However, when I need to game with friends on the big screen, all I have to do is plug it into a projector and game away.
Use a TV as a Computer Screen
The solution to use a TV as a computer monitor is much simpler than the rest. Simply buy a decent TV with HDMI input and connect your desktop to it.
Many TVs support an HDMI input with a 60hz refresh rate (minimum requirement for most games). This dual monitor setup is much cheaper than buying a second monitor, but the downside is that you're not going to have a lot of space for multi-tasking.
Steps on How To Move Game To Second Monitor
When you are done with how to move a full screen game to a second monitor, follow these short steps to move a full screen game to the second computer.
Determine the Game Parameters
Before you start to move a fullscreen game to multiple monitors, you need to find out which part of the screen it uses up. To do this, open the game and press CTRL+ALT+DELETE.
Click on Task Manager and select your game from the applications tab or search for it in the taskbar. You can also check the size of the game window by looking at the number next to it.
Set Your Game to Windowed Mode
When you play a full screen game, you might have noticed that the taskbar is hidden. You can turn off this feature so that nothing covers up your game window.
Go to properties of the game in the Task Manager and switch it over to Window Mode instead of Fullscreen.
The advantage of Windowed Mode is that you can still use your second monitor, and there will be a border around the game window so that other things don't overlap with your game window.
Change the Screen Resolution
The next step is to change your screen resolution.
To do this, go to the Control Panel and click on Display Settings. Select Extend my Windows Desktop and then click on Apply and OK.
Once you've done that, reboot your PC.
Move the Game to Second Monitor
Now that you've changed the screen resolution, it's time to move the game window to second monitor.
Use one of the many ways listed above to move a fullscreen game window to your desired monitor.
Change Screen Resolution Back
Now that you've move a fullscreen game to second monitor, it's time to go back and make sure that everything is normal with your regular monitor.
To do this, open the game and press the Windows key + CTRL + SHIFT + LEFT ARROW or RIGHT ARROW (to move right or left, respectively). The cursor changes to a four-way arrow.
Press the appropriate arrow key until you move a fullscreen game back to your regular monitor.
Delete the Shortcut
Now that you've moved your game to second monitor and changed it back don't forget to delete the shortcut from your desktop.
To do this, right-click on the shortcut and click Delete. Confirm that you want to delete it by clicking Yes.
Play
That's all there is to it! You can now play games without having to worry about the inconvenience of tasks filling up your screen.
Just remember to change it back after you're done playing!
Optimizing Your Gaming Experience
There are a few things you can do to improve your gaming experience. One is to use hotkeys.
Hotkeys are shortcuts that allow you to quickly and easily perform specific tasks in your game.
For example, you can use the keyboard shortcut "Ctrl + Alt + Delete" to open the task manager on most computers.
Adjust Computer Graphics
Another thing that you can do to improve your gaming experience is to adjust your graphics settings. Many games include a menu to adjust the resolution, color depth, and anti-aliasing levels.
You may also disable certain graphical features that are not needed or cause performance issues.
Clean Your Hard Drive
Cleaning the hard drive is necessary to keep your computer in top condition and improve your gaming experience by freeing up space and improving performance.
When you play games, the computer has to read data from the disk, which can slow things down if there's not enough space on the disk. By cleaning out old files, you free up some space on your disk so that the computer doesn't have to work as hard to find the data it needs. This makes games run faster and smoother.
Cleaning your hard drive also helps keep your computer healthy by getting rid of any junk files that might be clogging up the system. When these files accumulate, they cause problems with the computer's performance.
Use Software Tools
Some games, like first-person shooters like CS:GO, require a lot of precision to aim and shoot accurately. In these cases, a mouse with onboard sensors that detect how fast and how far you move can provide a significant advantage over a mouse that doesn't have these sensors.
Games that involve strategic planning or require quick reflexes can also benefit from using software tools like macros to record and playback sequences of keystrokes.
This way, you don't have to spend time typing the same thing over and over again - you just hit one button to replay the sequence.
Proper Gaming Configuration
Firstly, ensure your computer has a fast processor and plenty of RAM. You may also want to consider overclocking your processor and adding more fans to keep your system cool.
A good gaming keyboard and mouse can also help improve your performance. And finally, don't forget to tweak the in-game display settings for the best gameplay experience.
What Are the Benefits of Moving a Game From One Monitor to Second Monitor?
There are several benefits of using multiple monitors for gaming. They offer an added level of immersion, they provide a clearer view of the map and objectives, and they eliminate distractions from other programs on your main computer screen.
Ultimately, it all comes down to comfort. Finding a sweet spot for your game is more important than you think. Therefore, if you're thinking of going multi-monitor to play games at their full potential, you won't be disappointed!
How do I Move My Screen to My Second Mac Monitor?
To set a second monitor as the main display in macOS. Click the Apple icon in the menu then System Preferences, then Displays. Right-click the display you want as the main one, then select Main Display. Alternately, drag the small white bar in the current main display to the one you want as the primary monitor.
Final Word on How to Move Game to Second Monitor
Yes, you can graduate from only one monitor gaming. Move your game from one monitor to second monitor through these different ways.
If your 2nd monitor is not displaying, sometimes it’s just a setting messing things up. Look into your “Display Settings” by right-clicking on an empty area within your desktop. Find the detection button and Windows will automatically try to detect the monitor.
What's more? You are free to go with one that works best for you. Only ensure that you enjoy a larger playing field and an immersive gaming experience.
FAQs
1. What connection do I need for two monitors?
First and foremost, you need to have a graphics card that supports dual monitors. Most modern cards do, but it's worth checking before you go out and buy a new one. Once you've confirmed that your card can handle it, the next step is to connect the other monitor to your computer. This is usually done via a VGA, DVI, or HDMI cable, depending on the ports available on your card and other monitor.
2. How do I setup dual monitors on a laptop?
To start the dual monitor setup, using your mouse, select Start > Settings > System > Display settings to configure Windows 10 to recognize dual display.
- In the Multiple displays section, choose an option from the drop-down menu to choose how your PC will be shown across your display.
- Once you've made your selections for what appears on your displays, click Keep changes to finish the dual monitor setup.
3. Can you run 2 monitors off 1 DisplayPort?
Yes, daisy-chaining is a phrase that refers to the capacity to connect a series of devices using only one wire between each pair of devices. DisplayPort v1. 2 daisy-chainable displays now have both an input and an output. The DisplayPort output is used to connect to the next display downstream.
4. How do I extend HDMI to two monitors?
To connect two monitors to an HDMI input, you will need a video splitter. This device takes a single input and splits it into two or more outputs. There are many different types of splitters on the market, so make sure to get one that is compatible with your monitors and HDMI source. Once you have the splitter, simply connect it to the HDMI input and the monitors to the outputs.
