How to Choose a display mode on your Windows 11 PC

How to Access Display Modes in 🪟 Windows 11

There’s a super quick way to access your display settings. You don’t need to navigate through a maze of menus!

Press the Magic Combination

On your keyboard, press and hold the Windows key (it looks like a flag) and then press the P key. A small menu will appear on the right side of your screen.

Understanding Your Display Mode Options

That menu that popped up? It lets you control what appears on each screen. Windows 11 offers four main display modes. Let’s explore what each one does so you can pick the best fit for your needs.

1PC screen only

The ‘PC screen only’ display mode in Windows 11 is perfect when you want to focus on your main screen and turn off any other connected monitors.

Laptop screen mode is useful when you work on a laptop and do not need to share your screen. This mode helps ensure all content returns to your main monitor after disconnecting an external display. Using laptop screen mode also saves a small amount of power when no extra screens are connected.

2Duplicate

Windows 11’s ‘Duplicate’ display mode is great for presentations because it copies exactly what’s on your main screen to another monitor.

What it does: It replicates what’s on your primary screen onto your other connected screen(s). Everything you see on your main screen will appear identically on the external display.

Duplicate display mode connects a computer screen to another screen, such as a projector or TV. This mode shows the exact same content on both screens. Duplicate display mode aids presentations by letting an audience see content on a larger screen. Duplicate display mode also helps collaboration by letting a partner view work on a bigger screen.

3Extend

The ‘Extend’ display mode in Windows 11 makes your extra screens act like one giant desktop, giving you more space to work by letting you move apps between them.

What it does: It makes your connected external screen(s) function as an extension of your main desktop. You gain a larger workspace that spans across all your connected screens. You can move windows and applications between screens, providing more room for your tasks.

Snap Layouts, a Windows 11 feature, helps manage many tasks at once. Users can keep email open on one screen while writing a document on a second screen. Another common use involves displaying notes on one monitor and typing on another. Gamers may use Snap Layouts for a deeper experience, though duplicate displays are more typical for gaming.

4Second screen only

The ‘Second screen only’ mode in Windows 11 turns off your main screen and shows everything just on your connected external display or projector.

Using a Windows 11 PC with an external display, keyboard, and mouse is useful when treating a laptop like a desktop. Closing the laptop lid will not turn off the external display, which saves desk space. This setup also helps if the laptop's built-in screen has issues or if the user prefers the larger external monitor.

Reference:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/screen-mirroring-and-projecting-to-your-pc-or-wireless-display-5af9f371-c704-1c7f-8f0d-fa607551d09c#id0ebd=windows_11

Summary

In Windows 11, you can easily change your display mode using Windows key + P, choosing between ‘PC screen only,’ ‘Duplicate,’ ‘Extend,’ or ‘Second screen only’ to best suit your needs.