Add a Launch Option to Select Which Monitor to Launch on for Multiple Monitors

[Swiss]

I'm not sure if this command exist already, but it's not listed in the Steam support page for possible commands: https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/7D01-D2DD-D75E-2955

Add a command to select which monitor a game will launch on for computers with multiple monitors, this will make it easier to control games that may not have the option built into their settings that also launch in fullscreen.

I suggest using: "-monitor x" or "-m x" where X is the monitor number.

For example: -monitor 2 / -m 2 will both launch the game on the second monitor.

Thank you.

[✨Saint✨]

Right click on your desktop.
Select display settings
Select the display you want as your main.
Scroll down to multiple displays and select the "make this my main display".

[Reggaejunkiedrew]

As an alternative, check out DisplayFusion. You can set hotkeys to change profiles and have each profile setup with a different primary monitor, I have it setup so pressing Alt + < changes my left to primary, and Alt + > changes my right to primary.

[Swiss]

Originally posted by ✨Saint✨:

Right click on your desktop.
Select display settings
Select the display you want as your main.
Scroll down to multiple displays and select the "make this my main display".

:saint:

Already did when I first got my second monitor, but that doesn't determine which monitor a game will launch on as I first thought it would, both Terraria and Noita have launched on my second monitor, Skyrim SE has done it before as well.

Originally posted by Reggaejunkiedrew:

As an alternative, check out DisplayFusion. You can set hotkeys to change profiles and have each profile setup with a different primary monitor, I have it setup so pressing Alt + < changes my left to primary, and Alt + > changes my right to primary.

I feel it's important to avoid third party software as much as possible when possible, sometimes it can be very useful, especially when it's required for doing lots of things, but otherwise it becomes a big solution to a small problem.

[Reggaejunkiedrew]

Originally posted by SwissxMimikyu:

Originally posted by Reggaejunkiedrew:

As an alternative, check out DisplayFusion. You can set hotkeys to change profiles and have each profile setup with a different primary monitor, I have it setup so pressing Alt + < changes my left to primary, and Alt + > changes my right to primary.

I feel it's important to avoid third party software as much as possible when possible, sometimes it can be very useful, especially when it's required for doing lots of things, but otherwise it becomes a big solution to a small problem.

Fair enough, I like the suggestion for what it's worth, but I doubt it's something we'll see implemented any time soon, and I'm not sure it would work from a technical standpoint. I don't think it would work consistently between different games/engines, and might be a little out of Steams territory. Might be possible for Steam to change primary monitor via launch option, but i have no idea.

[Dalfamurni]

I'd love this for Halo Infinite. The game tries to remember which monitor you had it on last time you played, but only succeeds about 20% of the time. I think older games that lack this feature outright are less annoying than a modern game that can't make up its mind. Kinda feels like it's trolling me (though obviously it's just an error). If a feature like this could help alleviate this aggravation I'm all for it.

[Fluffers]

Originally posted by ✨Saint✨:

Right click on your desktop.
Select display settings
Select the display you want as your main.
Scroll down to multiple displays and select the "make this my main display".

:saint:

This is a terrible suggestion for anyone who prefers to have their main monitor be one that isn't the one they play games on.

[RebelKittenxRae]

There is a way to do this with big picture mode, but recently I've been having the issue of my main display not switching back upon Steam closing... Basically, BPM is supposed to do a temporary override swap of the main display if you set your preferred display in the client settings, and it opens all games on that selected monitor. Then, once you close Steam, it's supposed to swap your main display back. As of the most recent Steam update, mine is no longer swapping the main monitor back and I've had to manually switch it in my windows settings...

[LionProdigy94]

for those of you saying to make it the main display. that defeats the purpose of what a lot of us having this issue are trying to accomplish. and for those saying to download another app or program. thats just taking ram and processor from my game. and everyone saying use win+shift+> it breaks the resolution and shiftcntrlb doesnt fix it for every monitor. STEAM NEEDS A WAY TO DESIGNATE WHAT MONITOR GAMES LAUNCH ON.

[Termiations]

Originally posted by LionProdigy94:

for those of you saying to make it the main display. that defeats the purpose of what a lot of us having this issue are trying to accomplish. and for those saying to download another app or program. thats just taking ram and processor from my game. and everyone saying use win+shift+> it breaks the resolution and shiftcntrlb doesnt fix it for every monitor. STEAM NEEDS A WAY TO DESIGNATE WHAT MONITOR GAMES LAUNCH ON.

Totally agree on this, this should be facilitated by Steam one way or the other, e.g. by providing global and game-specific options to display (a) game(s) on a secondary (or maybe even a tertiary) monitor, not being the monitor that is marked als 'main monitor' in the Windows settings.

[Pyrokzg]

This is still a problem and I wish your suggestion was taken on as it would solve so many problems with multi monitor setups.

[Aviatrix]

Originally posted by ✨Saint✨:

Right click on your desktop.
Select display settings
Select the display you want as your main.
Scroll down to multiple displays and select the "make this my main display".

:saint:

I see this 'advice' everytime someone wants to launch a game on a second screen, but all it does is mess with the desktop/window setup and isn't really helpful at all.

[killbugs18]

go to the game in the steam menu. hit launch options. type -windowed

You can then drag the window to the screen you want and hit alt+enter to full screen. just did it with FF7r

[lycannoble]

Originally posted by killbugs18:

go to the game in the steam menu. hit launch options. type -windowed

You can then drag the window to the screen you want and hit alt+enter to full screen. just did it with FF7r

Just resends the game back to the previous screen for me

[TheeArtee]

An easy temp fix is to just switch your windows. [Window Key + Shift + Left/Right Arrow]. Worked like a charm for me.