Windows 11, Do you have dual monitor problems like mine?

5551212 41

Windows 11

I have 2 external displays. One a 4K the other 1080p. I don’t use the laptop screen. The desktop is streched across the two monitors. Have always run it this way in W10 without any problems. Using a ThinkPad 30AN0135US dock.

Am now using W11 with latest W11 Intel and NVDA drivers as I have hybrid graphics on the P43s.

19-Oct Eject USB HDD from dock causes 2nd external monitor on stretched display to lose all icons and show desktop only then icons reappear as normal.

20-Oct Closing exploer window on 2nd external monitor after a search for files triggers a randome screen black out, disppearing of icons then resumption in about a few seconds.

20-Oct When highlighting a file for copy, using the select key to highlight many and then clicking copy causes the cursor to jump to the next available non highlighed file below those highlighted. This is usually done on the 2nd external monitor. Its super annoying!

20-Oct When ejecting USB drive, explorer window on 2nd monitor triggers a randome screen black out, disppearing of icons then resumption in about a few seconds.

21-Oct Closing exploer window on 2nd external monitor after looking at contents of drives including USB drive triggers a randome screen black out, disppearing of icons then resumption in about a few seconds.

Eliminating the extrnal drive doesn’t produce the above result.

White Water 11 Reputation points

2021-11-24T14:22:24.257+00:00

Yesssss, same here
Justin D'Amico 6 Reputation points

2021-12-27T19:13:13.83+00:00

Same issue, multiple docking stations later and the problem isn't resolved. The docking station companies didn't have an answer. I googled and tried the DIY fixes. I purchased a new laptop and regret updating to windows 11 right now.
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Rob 11 Reputation points

2022-02-18T12:23:37.673+00:00

Same issue here with Lenovo X1 Carbon and ONTEN hub. After screen lock then waking up the extended desktop changes to duplicated or the screens open up in the wrong resolutions.
Have to unplug the USB-C connector to the hub to fix it. Windows 11 with Feb 22 update.
Lipi 6 Reputation points

2022-04-12T20:55:29.043+00:00

Hi

I have the same kind of problem with Asus B9450 laptop+simpro dock using Intel UHD graphics.

Screen nr 1 2560x1440 is capable working fine if used alone (Show on 1)
Screen nr 2 1920x1080 is capable.

Both of them are connected to the dock using Display port male 2 male cables, both monitors have displayports too.

When using extended mode, both screens are using 1920x1080 although the screen nr1 is capable to do much more, the ideal would be that screen nr 1 is 2560x1440 and the second is 1920x1080.
No higher resolution can be selected, on screen 1. When I change back to Show on 1 screen it changes to 2560x1440 automatically.

Changing the refresh rate on any screen (60 Hz) does not make any difference. Drivers are up to date.

Any idea ?

Thx
Florin Burdea 6 Reputation points

2022-04-24T16:28:11.393+00:00

Thanks for posting!
I have the same "wonderful" issue with 2 Dell external monitors, that are daisy-chaining wonderfully on Win 10, but since I've upgraded to "Qeen11" my second monitor can only be used with 1280x800, instead of 2560x1440 in extended mode, and in "duplicate" mode, both displays will change to 1280x800 resolution.
Last but not least, my Intel and NVIDIA drivers are up-to-date (manually made sure), but that update didn't change anything.
Lipi 6 Reputation points

2022-04-24T18:38:45.723+00:00

HI

I tried Custom Resolution Utility (CRU), but did not fix the issue, but made things more complicated.
Try it maybe will help you, using restart.exe or recovery mode.
Vahid T 1 Reputation point

2022-04-28T10:55:06.457+00:00

I have the same problem with a type-c to hdmi connection. Every time I restart windows I should unplug the cable and plug it in again to solve the problem. I think this issue is because of a vga driver update. It occurred after an update.
ttaylor2727 6 Reputation points

2022-05-01T19:54:23.27+00:00

I have the same issue as well and it is ANNOYING!

When I reboot, the startup usually takes about 2 minutes to complete.

While that is happening, the taskbar on ALL monitors does not display except the Main display.

If you hover over the main display taskbar, it shows the loading sign.

Then as soon as it is close to finishing all my start-up apps start to pop up on the screen.

I do have 8 monitors connected with 3 US Pluggable Docking stations (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ECDM78E/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1).

Then Ugreen (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N6GD9JO/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1) device was added to toggle between my work laptop and personal desktop (one with the issue)

This works fine on my work laptop which is Windows 10.

Any thoughts or help or when it might be fixed would be appreciated.

If I remove all my monitors and then just plug in one directly to the desktop, it works fine.

I've uninstalled all the display link drivers and reinstalled them and it doesn't help.

Dell Computer Info:

XPS 8930
Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-9600K CPU @ 3.70GHz 3.70 GHz
Installed RAM 32.0 GB (31.8 GB usable)
System type 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor
Pen and touch No pen or touch input is available for this display

Edition Windows 11 Home
Version 21H2
Installed on ‎11/‎17/‎2021
OS build 22000.652
Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.22000.652.0
Florin Burdea 6 Reputation points

2022-05-08T07:23:33.02+00:00

Hi Lipi,
I've trided CRU, but that didn't help in my case.
In the meantime, I've installed SPACEDESK DRIVER SOFTWARE for Windows (to add a tablet as a 3'rd monitor), and when I am using the SPACEDESK DRIVER (wireless monitor connection) with the tablet as a 3'rd monitor I can now also use both my 2 Dell external monitors daisy-chained without resolution issues!!!
Both monitors run now with 2560x1440 resolution in extended mode, which was previously not possible.
HOWEVER, if I disconnect my tablet, then my Dell external monitors will go back to the previous resolution issue - crazy but true. This translates to me like this: as long as SPACEDESK driver is in action, then everything is fine, otherwise I'm back to the initial pain.
This will be for a while "my solution", since I am using my tablet with a pencil as a "whiteboard" to share my screen in online meetings (since drawing with a mouse was killing me).
I believe what I am experiencing is a "lucky" circumstance, and only in this set-up I can enjoy the capabilities of my external monitors.

Cheers,
Florin
Wawan Setiawan 1 Reputation point

2022-05-28T04:38:20.703+00:00

problem on my second monitor when my windows 11 laptop is in screen lock position, after unlocking the laptop screen, my second monitor can't be read, have to unplug the dongle and plug it back in to make it work, this is very inconvenient, please microsoft update this external monitor problem on windows 11.
Andy Ballard 1 Reputation point

2022-05-29T19:30:23.707+00:00

5 on this site fixed it for me.

https://windowsreport.com/windows-11-cant-change-resolution/
Tugay Özgül 0 Reputation points

2023-02-19T05:23:19.91+00:00

If you are using secondary monitor with USB or Type-C dock, the monitor will not perform more than 1920x1080 even if it is 4K, you should have use type-C output monitor but if you do not have optionally you can use Display port to Type-C output cable too and it will be affective with all resolutions. For the blank screen problem, it seems like there is an output problem, I have tried two monitors separately with Type-C and HDMI they worked, so there is a problem while using them together, I can suggest you to find and install monitor driver directly, do not let the Windows select Generic monitor driver.

14 answers

suresh achanta 6 Reputation points

2021-11-09T01:35:42.973+00:00

Hello,
I'm facing a lot of problems in windows with multiple screens. I'm using ASUS Laptop with 11800H, 32GB RAM, RTX 3060. I have connected Laptop to two LG 27" UHD monitors.

I used to use Laptop as CPU, I don't open laptop screen, I use only two monitors. Whenever I wake up the monitors from sleep mode, all windows moved to one place and the size also be changed. Sometimes the font size of one of the monitor(connected with type C cable) changed. I scaled up the font size to110% actually. but only one monitor font going to be changed, When minimize and reopen it it will come back to normal again.

It should be fixed early, getting irritated with windows resize and misplacement after waking up the monitor from sleep mode, I didn't have this problem with windows 10.
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Marc Derksen 1 Reputation point

2021-11-12T13:43:03.067+00:00

Similar problem here; after wake up only the laptop screen is used and USB C monitor is not working.
Unpluging the USB cable or restarting Windows solves it.
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William Ferguson 6 Reputation points

2022-01-04T00:44:47.503+00:00
I am getting all of the the above plus this issue as well :

Some apps (only VB apps noted so far), trying to open a modal window or dialog while on the secondary display causes the app to appear to hang. I suspect that the modal dialog is being opened but is not displayed nor clickable. The only way to exit the app at that point is to kill it from the TaskManager. If the app is on the main display then it opens and can be clicked.

I want to rollback to Windows 10.
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Robert Bennett 6 Reputation points

2022-02-05T15:19:59.84+00:00

I am having the same problem - Main Monitor is 4k (3840 x 2160) and I can set that with no problem but second monitor is a 2k and I am unable to set above (1280 x 720). Hoping continuing to build this chain gets an answer. I am using an HP Laptop with a HP Thunderbolt Dock 230W G2 - both monitors are connected with Display Port Cables to the docking station. When using my work laptop with the same station no problems but personal laptop was straight for a little while and then settings changed somehow and have never been able to go back.

If I open my laptop so that screen is detected I can then set up the 2nd monitor correctly (2560 x 1440) but I do not want to use the laptop screen while docked - but will do so until a the dual set-up problems are addressed.
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Danielle Wermund 5 Reputation points

2024-02-24T16:36:08.75+00:00
OK. Just wanted to add my experience. I have a Dell laptop with the following ports: hdmi, usb-c (not display port compatible)! Usb 3.0 and usb 2.0. I have 2 lg 29 in ultrawide monitors. Both work with 2560x1080 from hdmi port. I had a hard time figuring out why I couldn't get 2nd monitor to have correct resolution (kept at 1920x1080 max) I bought about 5 adapters. At some point I realized usb-c did not support display. Finally realized I had usb 3.0 - hdmi adapter was plugged into usb 2.0 port. Voila plugged in usb 3.0 - hdmi adapter into usb 3.0 port. My 2nd monitor has 2560x1080 resolution in display settings. Spent weeks on this problem.

Check hdmi cable works in hdmi port.

Check if usb c is compatible as display adapter (it would be specified, if not listed it isn't compatible)

Check which ports are usb 3.0 I bought insignia usb 3.0 - hdmi 4k adapter Model:NS-PA3UHD Now that I figured it out it is likely I could have found a cheaper adapter. Biggest thing is to determine what each of your ports are. Buy the right adapter. Dual ultrawide now work. My setup is side by side. I am going to post this info wherever I can because no answer provided this much detail. I hope I help with any headaches anyone having. Your support gal
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T. Kujala 8,706 Reputation points

2021-10-24T08:14:15.653+00:00

Hi @5551212 ,

Have you checked the following page?

Windows 11 will finally resolve this widely criticized multi-monitor issue
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White Water 11 Reputation points

2021-11-24T14:36:00.62+00:00

That doesn’t help at all, we are having trouble with WINDOWS 11 right now, your linked article talks about how awesome win11 WILL BE, WILL BE is now - worse than before.
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Windows 11, Do you have dual monitor problems like mine?

5 on this site fixed it for me.

14 answers