Much of the working world has transitioned to having two (or more!) monitors at their workstation. Having multiple monitors can be quite beneficial to your productivity, so check out these tips to make sure you are getting the most out of your extra screen space.
Why Have More Than One Monitor?
Nearly everyone can benefit from multiple monitors. A 2008 study by the
Office21 Research Project shows that adding larger and/or additional monitors is a great way to improve productivity and work speed. The study found that adding additional monitors enabled users to be up to 35% more productive, and that people with smaller sized monitors were slower to accomplish the same tasks as users with larger monitors.
It certainly makes sense - even something simple like comparing two documents on your computer is much better with two screens. After all, is it not easier to lay two pieces of paper side by side on your desk surface to compare them than it is to put one behind the other and constantly flip back and forth? Many users also enjoy being able to have e-mail open on one screen and documents or internet on the other. Transferring data between programs or documents can also be much more simplified and less frustrating.
Assign One Monitor as a Default
In Windows, you can set one of your monitors as your "main display." The main display is the monitor where:
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Programs open by default
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The taskbar appears
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Sign in and lock screens will appear
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New desktop icons are created
Most users choose to assign the main display to be the one that is the most centered in front of the computer chair, but you can choose any of your screens as the main display.
To assign your main display, open the Windows display properties: right click on a blank spot on the desktop and choose Screen Resolution (Windows 7/8) or Display Settings (Windows 10). Select the monitor you wish to make the main display, and click the checkbox for "Make this my main display."
Line Up Monitors
Does your mouse cursor jump around when moving between two monitors? Is one of your monitors much higher or lower than the other one on your desk? In the Windows display properties (see previous tip), you can adjust the position of your monitors to more closely resemble their physical position on your desk.
In the display properties, you'll see a numbered box for each monitor. Simply click and drag to move the box up and down so it matches what is on your desk. This will help ensure a smoother transition when moving your mouse cursor between screens.
Make a Monitor Vertical
Depending on the type of monitor you have, you may be able to rotate it into a vertical position (if your monitor stand doesn't allow it, there are stands available for purchase to achieve this). A vertical monitor can be great for viewing webpages and documents. To do this, in Windows display properties, select the monitor you want to adjust, and change the orientation drop down box from Landscape to Portrait.
Use Keyboard Shortcuts
There are some really handy keyboard shortcuts you can use (these, of course, will work for single-monitor users, too!):
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Windows key + D will minimize all windows and get you to the desktop quickly
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Windows key + Left or Right arrow keys will move the current window to the side of the screen (great for comparing documents)
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Windows Key + Down arrow key will minimize the current window
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Windows key + Space bar will temporarily hide all windows and show the desktop
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Hold down Alt + tap Tab will cycle through all open windows to choose the one you want to bring to the front
Extend the Taskbar
Windows 8 and 10 will let you extend your taskbar across both monitors. Right-click on the taskbar and choose Properties/Settings. Then, just click the "Show Taskbar on All Displays" option. Windows 7 users can accomplish this using an app mentioned in the next section.
Customize Using Apps
Display Fusion
(Windows only) is a great application for customizing your multiple monitor setup. You can use this app to setup separate wallpapers or screen savers per monitor, extend the taskbar for Windows 7 users, save desktop icon locations, and much more. There is a free version, as well as a paid version with many additional features.
F.lux
(Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS and Android) is a fantastic free app to help control the brightness of your monitor screens. F.lux will automatically adjust your monitor brightness depending on the time of day - so it will be brighter during the day, and automatically dim itself as the sun sets. This can be very helpful to reduce eye strain, especially when working late at night on the computer.
