Main Display - Change in Windows 8

How to Change Your Main Display in Windows 8 and 8.1​

   Information

If you have more than one display connected to your PC, then this tutorial will show you how to make any display your main display in Windows 8, Windows RT, Windows 8.1, and Windows RT 8.1.

   Note

You can also drag and drop the monitors to arrange them in the order you want them to display.

OPTION ONE

To Change Your Main Display in Screen Resolution Settings

​

1. Do step 2 or 3 below for how you would like to open Screen Resolution.​

​

2. Right click or press and hold on an empty area on your desktop, click/tap on Screen resolution, and go to step 4 below. (see screenshot below)​

​

​

​

3. Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click/tap on the Display icon.​

​

A) Click/tap on the Change display settings link in the left pane, and go to step 4 below. (see screenshot below)​

​

​

​

4. At the top, you will see your current main display with the small window and notification area icons in the lower left corner, and the "This is currently your main display" indication. (see screenshot below)​

​

​

​

5. At the top, click/tap on the display that you want to make your main display, check the Make this my main display box, and click/tap on OK to apply. (see screenshot below)​

NOTE: If you do not know which display is which, then you can click/tap on the Identity button to display the number on your display(s) to see.​

​

​

OPTION TWO

To Change Your Main Display in PC Settings

NOTE: This option is only available in Windows 8.1 and Windows RT 8.1.

​

1. Open PC settings, and click/tap on PC & devices on the left side. (see screenshot below)​

​

​

​

2. Click/tap on Display on the left side of PC & devices. (see screenshot below)​

​

​

​

3. At the top on the right side, select a display (ex: monitor) that you want to make your main display. (see screenshot below step 2)​

NOTE: If needed, you can click/tap on the Identify link to have the display number briefly appear on each display to help know which one to select.​

​

4. On the right side, check the Make this my main display box, and click/tap on the Apply button. (see screenshot below step 2)​

​

   Note

If you see this below, then it means that the currently selected display is already set as your main display.

   Note

​

​

​

​

​

​

5. When finished, you can close PC settings if you like.​

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Change the Screen Resolution of Displays in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Change Screen Orientation in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Change the Screen Refresh Rate in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Adjust the Display Screen Brightness in Windows 8
• How to Duplicate, Extend, or Switch Display to a "Second Screen" in Windows 8
• How to Turn "Make everything on your screen bigger" On or Off in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Add or Remove "Screen resolution" from Desktop Context Menu in Windows
• How to Change the Display DPI Size in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Change DPI Scaling Size for Displays in Windows 8.1
• How to Change the DPI for Modern UI in Windows 8
• How to Configure Pen and Touch Displays in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Calibrate or Reset Screen for Pen or Touch in Windows 7 and Windows 8
  

 

[meth]

My question is how do you change the number associated to a display? I asked because my monitor is #2 (should be #1) and my tv is #1 (should be #2). Normally it wouldn't bother me but when you go to Devices -> Project on the charms bar, the option "PC screen only" is hardcoded to display #1, which in my case is incorrect because it's my tv and not pc monitor. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Brink]

Hello Meth,

The number is based on the connection to the graphics card.

See if disconnecting the TV completely, delete the TV , shut down the PC, change the monitor to be connected to another port on the graphics card, then turn on the PC will have the monitor as 1 again.

 

[meth]

Tried that but no luck. Also tried the method on this page HowTo Switch monitor 1 Monitor 2 Identity - Overclockers Forums but that also did not work.

 

[Brink]

Have you already tried swapping the same connections on the graphics card between the two?

What type of connections are they?

 

[meth]

Yes I have. I've got 1 hdmi (the one going to the tv and set as #1) and 2 dvi ports for the monitor (#2). I've tried switching between the 2 dvi ports to no avail.

 

[Brink]

What brand is your graphics?

There may be a setting in it's control panel that may allow you to change the display numbers, or at least to delete them to start over.

 

[meth]

It's an asus r9 270 (just got it). I haven't found any setting in the control panels to change the "identify" number of a display (windows & ccc). Deleting everything and just starting off with the main monitor is fine (it's set to #1). But as soon as I plug in the hdmi, that becomes #1 and the monitor (dvi) is #2.

 

[Brink]

Does the monitor (PC screen) revert back to #1 when the TV is not connected?

For now, instead of selecting to project to "PC screen only" for the wrong #1, selecting "Second screen only" should work for your PC screen then since that will be for #2.

 

[meth]

If the hdmi cable is unplugged, yes it reverts to #1. But as soon as it's plugged back in, PC monitor goes to #2. I have been using "Second screen only" for the PC monitor, but this is what I'm trying to avoid having to do.

 

[Brink]

If the hdmi cable is unplugged, yes it reverts to #1. But as soon as it's plugged back in, PC monitor goes to #2. I have been using "Second screen only" for the PC monitor, but this is what I'm trying to avoid having to do.

Yeah, it was just for a workaround for now.

Does the TV have a DVI or DisplayPort connection on it?

If so, then you might see how it does with the TV connected using one of those to the a DVI or DisplayPort of the graphics card.

If not, then you might try an HDMI to DVI adapter to connect the HDMI cable from the TV to the adapter, then connect the adapter to the #2 DVI port on the graphics card.

 

[meth]

I'd have to try the adapter and see what happens. Hopefully it will still send 5.1 audio. I'll let you know.

 

[meth]

I tried the dvi->hdmi adapter and still the same result. I guess it's because even if it's a different port, it's still the same monitor on the other end. I hate these little annoyances which seems like can't be fixed unless you reformat.

 

[Brink]

If able, try different connections and ports to see if you may get luck with one.

 

[meth]

I've tried different ports with the same outcome. Seems like I'm out of luck!