Possible to re-assign monitor identities/numbers?

Yeah, it doesn't work through Windows built in feature but it does exactly what everyone here wants to do - to be able to choose which monitor they want to switch to from their multi monitor setup.

Maybe you understood wrong what this app does? With it you can create multiple configurations and then switch between them from the taskbar dropdown menu. So let's say you have 3 monitors, then you could do configurations like:

• show only display 1
• show only display 2
• show only display 3
• extend display 1, 2, 3
• extend display 1, 3
• extend 2, 3

So it is much more flexible than the built in feature even if you could manually change the indexes of the monitors.

Hi all,

I read much of this thread while trying to solve this issue for myself. I found a fix that worked for me so thought I would sign up and share. Note this is only tested on a Nvidia gtx 1080

I had the same problem after replacing a projector in my 3 screen setup. What worked for me was a much simpler fix.

SOLUTION

1. Press Windows + P and select "PC screen only"
2. Open Nvidia control panel
3. In the left menu of Nvidia control panel under display select "Setup multiple displays"
4. Make sure the checkbox of the monitor you want as the PC Screen is checked and the rest are unchecked, arrange the displays as you would want them to be even if on.
5.Set this monitor as your primary display by right clicking the monitor in display configuration and selecting "Make primary" . (This step is only necessary for "PC screen only" config as the primary display will remain the same going forwards.
6.Click apply.
7. Press Windows + P and select the next option in the list "Duplicate"
8. Repeat the process and adjust settings appropriately for the "Duplicate" setup.
9. Do the same process for the remaining options in the Windows + P menu, "Extend" and "Second Screen Only".

This solved the problem for me. I hope it helps others!

TL;DR
Go through windows+P menu 1 by 1, setting up and applying the correct display config for each in Nvidia control panel.

Mandoza23 said:

Hi all,

I read much of this thread while trying to solve this issue for myself. I found a fix that worked for me so thought I would sign up and share. Note this is only tested on a Nvidia gtx 1080

I had the same problem after replacing a projector in my 3 screen setup. What worked for me was a much simpler fix.

SOLUTION

1. Press Windows + P and select "PC screen only"
2. Open Nvidia control panel
3. In the left menu of Nvidia control panel under display select "Setup multiple displays"
4. Make sure the checkbox of the monitor you want as the PC Screen is checked and the rest are unchecked, arrange the displays as you would want them to be even if on.
5.Set this monitor as your primary display by right clicking the monitor in display configuration and selecting "Make primary" . (This step is only necessary for "PC screen only" config as the primary display will remain the same going forwards.
6.Click apply.
7. Press Windows + P and select the next option in the list "Duplicate"
8. Repeat the process and adjust settings appropriately for the "Duplicate" setup.
9. Do the same process for the remaining options in the Windows + P menu, "Extend" and "Second Screen Only".

This solved the problem for me. I hope it helps others!

TL;DR
Go through windows+P menu 1 by 1, setting up and applying the correct display config for each in Nvidia control panel.

My VGA, my Primary, is still shown as #3. The #1 is the HDMI, and the #2 is the DVI. All that changed nothing for me. In NVIDIA, the numbering was the same, and I saw no option to change that. What did I miss?

djbillyd said:

My VGA, my Primary, is still shown as #3. The #1 is the HDMI, and the #2 is the DVI. All that changed nothing for me. In NVIDIA, the numbering was the same, and I saw no option to change that. What did I miss?

Same for me as well, doesn't matter what config i try my actual PC monitor is always No. 2 and therefore always labelled as 'Second screen only' in Windows.

djbillyd said:

My VGA, my Primary, is still shown as #3. The #1 is the HDMI, and the #2 is the DVI. All that changed nothing for me. In NVIDIA, the numbering was the same, and I saw no option to change that. What did I miss?

Apologies, it was quite late when posting and I was a bit unclear. This solution does not make help you change the numbering of the monitors. From my research and this thread it seems that may not be possible or is very hard to do. I wouldn't suggest messing with registries. From my understanding this is determined by the gpu, hdmi and connections, HDMI >Displayport> DVI>VGA is the order of precedence if I remember correctly.

The solution fixes the problem of Windows + P menu showing the wrong screens for each option.

I have also updated the order.

SOLUTION

1. Press Windows + P and select "PC screen only"
2. Open Nvidia control panel
3. In the left menu of Nvidia control panel under display select "Setup multiple displays"
4. Make sure the checkbox of the monitor you want as the PC Screen is checked and the rest are unchecked, arrange the displays as you would want them to be even if on.
   
5. Set this monitor as your primary display by right clicking the monitor in display configuration and selecting "Make primary" . (This step is only necessary for "PC screen only" config as the primary display will remain the same going forwards.
6. Click apply.
7. Press Windows + P and select the option in the list "Second screen only"
8. Repeat the process and adjust settings appropriately for the "Second screen only" setup. The only checkbox with a tick in Nvidia control panel should be the screen you intend to use as second screen.
9. Do the same process for the remaining options in the Windows + P menu, "Duplicate" and "Extend".
10. This solved the problem for me. I hope it helps others!

TL;DR
Go through windows+P menu 1 by 1, setting up and applying the correct display config for each in Nvidia control panel.

Mandoza23 said:

Apologies, it was quite late when posting and I was a bit unclear. This solution does not make help you change the numbering of the monitors. From my research and this thread it seems that may not be possible or is very hard to do. I wouldn't suggest messing with registries. From my understanding this is determined by the gpu, hdmi and connections, HDMI >Displayport> DVI>VGA is the order of precedence if I remember correctly.

The solution fixes the problem of Windows + P menu showing the wrong screens for each option.

I have also updated the order.

SOLUTION

1. Press Windows + P and select "PC screen only"
2. Open Nvidia control panel
3. In the left menu of Nvidia control panel under display select "Setup multiple displays"
4. Make sure the checkbox of the monitor you want as the PC Screen is checked and the rest are unchecked, arrange the displays as you would want them to be even if on.
5. Set this monitor as your primary display by right clicking the monitor in display configuration and selecting "Make primary" . (This step is only necessary for "PC screen only" config as the primary display will remain the same going forwards.
6. Click apply.
7. Press Windows + P and select the option in the list "Second screen only"
8. Repeat the process and adjust settings appropriately for the "Second screen only" setup. The only checkbox with a tick in Nvidia control panel should be the screen you intend to use as second screen.
9. Do the same process for the remaining options in the Windows + P menu, "Duplicate" and "Extend".
10. This solved the problem for me. I hope it helps others!

TL;DR
Go through windows+P menu 1 by 1, setting up and applying the correct display config for each in Nvidia control panel.

No problem. I have resigned that there is no "solution" to affect the numbering, but I got excited when I saw your post and had to try it anyway. No biggie though....

I would still LOVE to know what the actual factors are in assigning one of my hdmi ports as 1 and the other 2, i mean is it the ports, cables, etc..

larebz said:

I would still LOVE to know what the actual factors are in assigning one of my hdmi ports as 1 and the other 2, i mean is it the ports, cables, etc..

You, and whole slew of us, would like to know!

- - - Updated - - -

larebz said:

I would still LOVE to know what the actual factors are in assigning one of my hdmi ports as 1 and the other 2, i mean is it the ports, cables, etc..

And the thing is, there are systems that, when you set them up, they automatically make the VGA the primary, and number it #1.
The two systems I am familiar with are cheap DELL computers. So, why, when I pay 900 bucks to build one, that it can't do the same thing. I am baffled, with the BS, and no one has tried to dazzle me with brilliance!

Thanks to @djbillyd and everyone to do something to contribuit with this thread. I have the same issue with three screens on W10. Sadly I gived up with "change the numbers", but, I already take an alternative solution: Display Fusion. This program (i know, could be better do this without a 3er party solution) give you the chance to set shorcuts for diferents setups (is the only feature what I use). Free edition have this feature included.
When i set the main monitor Bios start to show in that monitor, i dont know if that was only luck. Start windows screen too...
I make a user here only to say that.
Thanks again guys, fuond nothing about this issue on google made me feel insane.
Regards,

LanceUpp said:

Thanks to @djbillyd and everyone to do something to contribuit with this thread. I have the same issue with three screens on W10. Sadly I gived up with "change the numbers", but, I already take an alternative solution: Display Fusion. This program (i know, could be better do this without a 3er party solution) give you the chance to set shorcuts for diferents setups (is the only feature what I use). Free edition have this feature included.
When i set the main monitor Bios start to show in that monitor, i dont know if that was only luck. Start windows screen too...
I make a user here only to say that.
Thanks again guys, fuond nothing about this issue on google made me feel insane.
Regards,

Well, this is still an issue. Where VGA had been the "1" on those DELL's, but not on any other, I went one further. I "upgraded" my GPU to one that doesn't have a VGA option. It has 2xHDMI, 1xDP, and 1xDVI-D. The "1" monitor on it, is the DVI-D. And naturally, that isn't the monitor that I use as the main monitor. I am going to buy another GPU, WITHOUT a DVI-D, or any VGA. The one I have in mind is MSI Radeon RX 580 DirectX 12 RX 580 8GT 8GB 256-Bit GDDR5 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX. Not sure if it'll be any better, or if I will have any more control of what I can do. But it's another effort. MS wom't do squat!!!