How to Get Steam Games to Launch on Second Monitor?
If you’re an avid gamer with a multi-monitor setup, you may have encountered the frustration of having your steam games launch on the wrong monitor. Fear not! With a few simple steps, you can easily configure your system to ensure that your games appear on your desired second monitor. In this article, we will guide you through the process of getting your Steam games to launch on your second monitor effortlessly.
Setting Up Your Second Monitor
Before we dive into the specifics of launching Steam games on your second monitor, let’s ensure that your second monitor is properly set up and functioning correctly. Follow these steps:
1. Connect your second monitor to your computer and power it on.
2. Right-click on your desktop and select “Display settings” or “Screen resolution.”
3. In the display settings, locate the arrangement section.
4. You will see two monitors represented. One will be labeled as “1,” and the other as “2.” Drag and position the monitors to reflect their physical arrangement in your setup.
5. Once you have arranged the monitors correctly, click on “Apply” and then “Keep changes” to save the settings.
At this point, your second monitor is ready to use.
Configuring Steam for Your Second Monitor
Now, let’s focus on configuring Steam to launch your games on your second monitor:
1. Launch Steam on your computer.
2. Click on “Steam” in the top-left corner of the Steam client.
3. From the drop-down menu, select “Settings.”
4. In the Settings window, navigate to the “Interface” tab.
5. Look for the “Display” section and check the box that says “Run Steam when my computer starts.”
6. Next, click on the “Library” tab in the Steam Settings.
7. In the Library tab, you will find “Windowed Mode” and “In-Game Overlay” options. Ensure that “Enable Steam Overlay while in-game” is checked.
8. Under “Windowed Mode,” select “Fullscreen” or “Borderless Window” depending on your preference.
9. Now, navigate to the “In-Game” tab in the Settings window.
10. Ensure that “Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game” is checked.
11. Tick the “Use Desktop Game Theatre when launching desktop games while SteamVR is active” option if you use SteamVR.
12. Click “OK” to save the changes.
Your Steam client is now configured to launch games on your second monitor.
How to get steam games to launch on the second monitor?
To get your Steam games to launch on your second monitor, follow these steps:
1. Launch Steam on your computer.
2. In the Steam client, go to your Library.
3. Right-click on the game you want to play on your second monitor.
4. From the drop-down menu, select “Properties.”
5. In the Properties window, click on the “General” tab.
6. Now, click on the “Set Launch Options” button.
7. A small window will appear. Type the following command:
-display 2
Note: If your second monitor is labeled as “3,” replace the number in the command accordingly.
8. Click “OK” to save the changes.
9. Close the Properties window.
10. Launch the game, and it should now appear on your second monitor.
Congratulations! You have successfully configured Steam games to launch on your second monitor. Happy gaming!
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I identify which monitor is my second monitor?
To identify your second monitor, navigate to the display settings on your computer and check the arrangement section. The monitor labeled as “2” is your second monitor.
2. How do I switch my primary monitor?
To switch your primary monitor, go to the display settings, click on the monitor you want to set as the primary, scroll down, and check the box that says “Make this my main display.”
3. Can I have different games running on each monitor simultaneously?
Unfortunately, Steam doesn’t offer native support for running different games on separate monitors at the same time. However, you can utilize software like Borderless Gaming to achieve this.
4. Can I play games on my second monitor while browsing on my primary monitor?
Yes, you can play games on your second monitor while browsing or performing other tasks on your primary monitor. Multi-monitor setups are designed to enhance multitasking capabilities.
5. Do all games support launching on a second monitor?
Most Steam games support launching on a second monitor. However, some older or less popular games might not have this feature. You can check a game’s official documentation or consult the community for more information.
6. What should I do if the game launches on the wrong monitor despite configuring Steam correctly?
If the game launches on the wrong monitor, try pressing the keyboard combination “Win + Shift + Left/Right Arrow” to move it to the desired monitor.
7. Do I have to configure the launch settings for each game individually?
Yes, unfortunately, you need to configure the launch settings for each game individually through the properties window in Steam.
8. Can I change the monitor during gameplay?
While most games require you to relaunch them to change the monitor, some games have an option within their settings menu to switch monitors without relaunching.
9. How can I disable the Steam Overlay for a specific game?
To disable the Steam Overlay for a specific game, right-click on the game in your library, select “Properties,” go to the “General” tab, and uncheck the “Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game” option.
10. Can I play games in a borderless window on my second monitor?
Yes, you can play games in a borderless window on your second monitor by selecting “Borderless Window” under the “Windowed Mode” option in the Steam settings.
11. Can I launch non-Steam games on my second monitor using this method?
No, this method specifically applies to Steam games. For non-Steam games, you may need to manually configure their launch options in their respective settings.
12. How can I disable the Steam client from launching on startup?
To disable the Steam client from launching on startup, go to the Steam settings, click on the “Interface” tab, and uncheck the box that says “Run Steam when my computer starts.”