Multi-monitor setups open windows, apps and dialogue boxes in "Main Monitor" and not "Active" Monitor

2025-08-12T13:31:26.1166667+00:00

As of at least the May 2025 update, a behavior change has occurred in Windows, affecting Windows 10 and 11, around where application windows, applications and dialogue box windows open when accessed in a multi-monitor setup.

I have 3-monitors - laptop and 2-external monitors - connected through my Surface Hub. One of the monitors is designated as my Primary. The Primary hosts the "System Tray", although I have my taskbar set to show the Start Menu, Search Icon, and Task View icons on all 3 monitors. Active applications have the icon on the taskbar of the monitor where they are hosted and not on all three. All three monitors are set to Extend and none are Duplicated.

Prior to the May 2025 update, when I have my Outlook application hosted on Monitor 2 (no the primary) and launch Compose Email, an Email Editor window for composing the email opened in Monitor 2 where Outlook was hosted. Since the May 2025 update, that Email Editor now opens in Monitor 1 (designated the Primary). Irritating, but easy to move over. Not efficient, as it takes extra actions (Win +Shift + Right Arrow, or Drag with Mouse). However, as I am typing my email message and need to place a hyperlink in the email, I highlight the text and right-click to open the dialogue box for entering the URL, only that dialogue box opens in Monitor 1, not the active Monitor 2 where I am composing the email. I have the web browser open in Monitor 1 and sometimes have to move the dialogue box to access the URL, but no matter what, clicking on the web browser window to select the URL brings the web browser forward and sends the dialogue box backward. I have to use Alt + Tab or Win + Tab to get back to the dialogue box to complete the entry of the URL and task of hyperlinking the text.

This issue of dialogue boxes opening in the Primary monitor of a multi-monitor system is not limited to Outlook, it affects all Microsoft 365 applications and, for that matter, all applications within the Windows environment. It decreases the efficiency, adds additional movement/actions, and increases the time to complete tasks. While some tasks literally take seconds to complete, so independently may seem frivolous to be concerned with, each task is but one action in any project, and the compounding of these issues adds up to some significant delays and overall decrease in efficiency.

I have tried to address this issue through Outlook Help --> Contact Support, but this is more of a Windows OS issue and not an isolated application or suite of applications issue. If this is a behavior that is intended, understand the negative impact it is creating. In this situation, I would respectfully ask that the behavior be identified as a setting and a toggle added to settings that allows users to select if they want new windows, applications, and dialogue boxes to open in the active, main, or other designated monitor.

If this behavior is unintended, please fix it ASAP with a very near-future update ... preferably the next update.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Desktop, Start, and personalization | Other
{count} vote

1 answer

Sort by: Most helpful
  1. Hendrix-V 230 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2025-08-13T03:20:40.43+00:00

    Hi Michael Maggiotto Jr, PHR, SHRM-SCP,

    Thank you for reaching out! 

    This is Hendrix from Q&A Community Support team and I’m here to assist you regarding the issue you're encountering with multi-monitor setups on windows.

    FYI, this is happening because:

    1. Windows typically decides where to open new windows based on:
    • The primary display setting.
    • The last monitor where the app was closed.
    1. Some apps override Windows’ behavior by remembering their own last position.
    2. Mixed DPI scaling (e.g., laptop at 150%, external monitors at 100%) can cause context menus and pop-ups to appear on the wrong screen234.

    And below are my suggested current workarounds:

    1 - Keyboard Shortcuts

    Use Win + Shift + Left/Right Arrow to move windows between monitors quickly.

    2 - Adjust Display Settings

    • Set the correct primary monitor in Settings > System > Display.
    • Align monitors properly in the layout.
    • Use the same scaling (100%) across all monitors if possible (though this may reduce readability on high-DPI screens)3.

    3 - Disable “Remember Window Locations”

    In Settings > System > Display > Multiple Displays, uncheck “Remember window locations based on monitor connection”.

    Note: Some apps ignore this because they store their own window positions

    4 - Directly report this issue through Windows Feedback Hub


    To assist others who might have similar questions and to help us improve our support system, we kindly encourage you to "Accept the answer" if it successfully addressed your concern. Accepting an answer lets other users know that this solution worked for you, and it also helps us track the effectiveness of our support efforts. 

    Warm regards, 

    Hendrix Vu | Microsoft Q&A Support Specialist 

    0 comments No comments

Your answer

Answers can be marked as Accepted Answers by the question author, which helps users to know the answer solved the author's problem.