Having two monitors has been the secret weapon of desktop productivity for years. Of course, buying a large ultra-wide screen is a much more elegant solution these days. However, simply connecting a second monitor is a quick and affordable way to expand your workspace. Not to mention, laptop users with external screens have a dual monitor setup by default!
These free dual monitor programs make it easy to set up and manage your multiple monitor setup in Windows. Thus, you spend less time setting up your monitor and more time being productive.
Dual Monitoring Tools
It is not only free dual monitor software, but also open source dual monitor software. Actually, we have to say “packages”, as it is actually a collection of modules that you can mix and match. For example, Dual Wallpaper is a separate tool that allows you to set a different wallpaper on each screen. So if that’s all you need, that’s all you need to download.
DMT allows one or a few rather interesting tricks. For example, the DMT cursor allows you to customize the behavior of the mouse cursor. You can lock the cursor to one monitor, make it harder to move between monitors, or allow free movement. This is very handy if you have a case where the cursor accidentally ends up where it shouldn’t, it can be a lifesaver.
DMT is in the notification area and you can quickly access all modules from there. It’s not pretty (or pretty), but these tools are incredibly useful!
DisplayFusion ( Free version)
DisplayFusion is probably the most famous multi-monitor software. Not in vain! It’s the app that brings it all together: multi-monitor taskbars, variable wallpapers, keyboard shortcuts and more. The paid “Pro†version offers a lot more options, but for the vast majority of people, DisplayFusion Free will be more than what you need to get the most out of your dual monitor setup.
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Windows 8 users in particular will love the small amount of specialized customization included in the free version. You can hide the lock screen, turn off Windows 8 hot corners, and resize app window borders. All the moments that annoy many users of this operating system.
DisplayFusion also offers wonderful advanced window snapping features that make it much easier to manage windows across multiple monitors. Which includes the ability to snap windows to track edges. An annoying oversight in Windows itself.
Anyone using Windows with more than one monitor should at least try DisplayFusion It is truly a transformative tool. You’ll get a Pro trial right from the start, so you can try out the Pro features to see if they’re worth the asking price.
tool opens in a new tab MultiMonitor
Not every dual monitor program needs to be developed or reworked to be useful. MultiMonitorTool is a great example of this. It is a simple and lightweight utility that puts a lot of power right at your fingertips.
First, it will accept instructions from the command line and you can see a preview of the multi-monitor configuration you are currently using. This makes it ideal for multi-monitor computers in a public place. In addition to the command line interface, you can perform common tasks such as moving windows between monitors using keyboard shortcuts.
This tool will work with versions of Windows from XP to current versions of Windows 10. So if you need to use a public computer such as in a lecture hall, or otherwise use old hardware across multiple setup monitors, the MultiMonitorTool is a true helper.
MultiMon Taskbar 2.1 (Free)
A newer version of the MultiMon Taskbar is available with version number “3.5”. However, this is the “Pro” version, for which there is a price tag. Therefore, users looking for a free tool should choose version 2.1, which is not necessarily a bad thing. There are simply differences in functionality.
The free version of the dual monitor software adds taskbars to extended monitors in Windows. This can be done for three monitor configurations. The taskbar of each monitor displays only the applications on that monitor. This includes preventing applications from being displayed on the taskbar of the primary monitor that are not that monitor.
This free tool is only intended to work up to Windows 7, but there are still many computers that have this old operating system installed. MultiMon is also fairly stable software, so if you have a multiple monitor system in the right year it’s worth checking out.
Windows 10 (You didn’t see this soon!)
Microsoft has turned its attention to the world of third-party multi-monitor utilities. This means that if you are already using Windows 10, there are a number of features built into the system that you would have needed a third-party solution for in the past.
Windows now have many built-in customization options for multiple monitors with support for virtually any location and combination of resolutions and orientations. Windows 10 natively supports a different wallpaper on each screen. Multi-monitor taskbars? It’s already done!
Windows 10 also has a great virtual desktop feature, keyboard shortcuts for quickly switching modes across multiple monitors, and simple keyboard shortcuts for snapping or maximizing windows.
Truth be told, for most users, the best dual monitor control features are already built into Windows 10. Third-party developers have done a lot of free R&D for Microsoft who just needed to copy the features that worked for them. own operating system.
Is it the best?
We still recommend purchasing an ultra-wide screen for improved performance and no bezel in the middle of the screen if you’re starting with a clean slate. But if you find that living with two monitors is what you want, then these dual monitor programs are essential to keep it all under control.
Don’t forget that you can also easily add an additional screen via USB. Either with a dedicated USB display, or with a tablet like Apple iPad and an app like DuetDisplay. This is a great trick if you don’t need two monitors all the time or want to use them on the go.
There are even dockable USB laptop monitors that make it possible to install two or three monitors in mobile installations. The above dual monitor apps can certainly come in handy with these solutions!
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