How to Choose a Display Mode on Your Windows 11 PC

How to Access Display Modes in 🪟 Windows 11

You can skip the Settings ⚙️ app entirely when managing multiple displays. Press the Win plus P to open the projection sidebar instantly.

The Settings ⚙️ app still has the same choices if you prefer clicking. Go to Settings › System › Display and look under Multiple displays. The shortcut is faster, and it’s the one you’ll want when you’re plugging into a projector in a meeting room.

Press the Magic Combination

1. Connect your second display, TV, or projector to the PC and make sure it’s powered on.
2. On your keyboard, press and hold the Win (it looks like a flag) and then press the P key. A small menu will appear on the right side of your screen.
3. Click the mode you want, or keep the Win held and press P again to move down the list. You can also use the arrow keys and press Enter. The screens change right away.

If the menu opens but nothing seems to happen when you pick a mode, Windows probably doesn’t detect a second display. Check the cable and the input source on the monitor or projector.

Understanding Your Display Mode Options

Use this menu to control what appears on each screen. Windows 11 offers four main display modes to choose from:

• PC screen only: your main screen is the only one in use.
• Duplicate: both screens show the same thing.
• Extend: both screens act as one large desktop.
• Second screen only: only the external screen is in use.

Nothing is permanent. If a mode doesn't suit you, open the menu again and pick another one.

1PC screen only

PC screen only is a Windows 11 display mode that turns off all connected external monitors and shows your desktop only on your primary screen. Choose this option when you want to disconnect from a projector or extra monitor and work using just your laptop or main computer screen.

To use it, press Windows key + P and click PC screen only. The external display goes dark or shows "no signal," and your windows return to the main screen.

What it does: Disables any other connected screens so your main display is the only one showing content. This mode helps save power and routes everything back to your laptop screen.

Using 'PC screen only' is useful when you're on a laptop and don't need to share your screen. This mode helps ensure all content returns to your main monitor after disconnecting an external display. It can also save a bit of power when no extra screens are active.

It's also a good first fix if a window seems to have vanished. It may have been left on a screen you've since unplugged. Switching to this mode pulls everything back to the screen you can see.

2Duplicate

Duplicate is one of the main Windows 11 display modes. It copies everything from your primary monitor onto a second connected screen or projector. Use this setting during presentations or meetings when you need people in the room to see the exact same thing you see on your display.

To use it, press Windows key + P and click Duplicate. Both screens should now show the same desktop.

Everything you see on your main screen will appear identically on the external display.

If the two screens have different resolutions, Windows picks a resolution both can handle, so one of them may look softer than usual. Switching to Extend or a single-screen mode brings each screen back to its own native resolution.

This mode mirrors your primary screen onto a projector or TV, showing the exact same content on both displays. It helps during presentations or meetings by letting an audience follow along easily. Duplicate display mode also helps collaboration by letting a partner view work on a bigger screen.

One thing to watch: whatever is on your screen is on theirs, including notifications and open tabs. Close anything private before you start.

3Extend

Extend is a Windows 11 display mode that turns your extra monitors into one large, combined workspace, so you can drag apps and windows across multiple screens. Select this setting when you need more room to multitask by spreading your open programs across different displays.

To use it, press Windows key + P and click Extend. Your second screen should show an empty desktop that you can drag windows onto.

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.

If the mouse seems to cross to the wrong side, the screens are arranged backwards. Go to Settings › System › Display, drag the numbered screens into the order they sit on your desk, and click Apply.

Snap Layouts (a feature for arranging open windows side by side) helps manage many tasks at once. You can hover over a window's maximize button to see the layouts. Snapping works within each screen, so you can tile windows on one monitor and keep others on the second.

You can keep email open on one screen while writing a document on another. Another common scenario involves displaying notes on one monitor and typing on a separate one. Gamers may use Snap Layouts for a deeper experience, though duplicate displays are more typical for gaming.

4Second screen only

Second screen only is among the available Windows 11 display modes. It shuts off your laptop or primary monitor and sends all video output to an external screen or projector. Choose this setting when you want to use a closed laptop with a large desktop monitor or present from a projector.

To use it, press Windows key + P and click Second screen only. Your main screen goes dark and everything appears on the external display.

Your primary laptop screen or monitor will be turned off.

Be careful with this mode. If the external screen has no signal, you may be left with two dark screens. Press Windows key + P again and choose PC screen only to get your main display back. Windows also usually reverts after a few seconds if the external screen is unplugged.

Using a Windows 11 PC with an external display, keyboard, and mouse is useful when treating a laptop like a desktop. It saves desk space because the laptop can stay closed. This setup also helps if the laptop's built-in screen has issues or if the user prefers the larger external monitor.

By default, closing a laptop lid puts it to sleep, which also turns off the external display. To keep it running with the lid closed, go to Control Panel › Hardware and Sound › Power Options › Choose what closing the lid does. Then set When I close the lid to Do nothing for the power state you use. Change it back if you want normal sleep behavior again.

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, changing your display mode takes only a moment. Press Windows key + P and select 'PC screen only,' 'Duplicate,' 'Extend,' or 'Second screen only' to fit your needs. If a choice doesn't work out, open the menu and pick a different one.