Moving a window between monitors
To move a window from one monitor to another, click and drag its title bar to the edge of your current screen. When your cursor reaches the edge, the window will move onto the adjacent monitor. On Windows, you can also right-click the taskbar button for that window, select Move, then use arrow keys to slide it across. On Mac, drag the window's title bar to the other display, or use Mission Control to see both screens and drag directly.
The simplest method works on every system: grab the title bar at the top of the window and drag it toward the edge of your monitor until it crosses over. Your operating system will automatically detect the second monitor and place the window there. If dragging feels slow or sticky, your system may be processing the move — wait a moment before releasing.
Some windows remember which monitor they were on and return there when you reopen them. Others always open on your primary monitor. If a window keeps jumping back, check the program's settings for a "remember window position" option, or move it again and close the program from that monitor rather than minimizing it.
Key Takeaways
- Drag the window's title bar to the edge of your screen; it will move to the adjacent monitor when you release it.
- On Windows, right-click the taskbar button and select Move if dragging does not work smoothly.
- On Mac, drag the title bar directly to the other display or use Mission Control to see both at once.
- Some programs remember which monitor a window was on; others always reopen on the primary monitor.
- If a window is stuck off-screen, use keyboard shortcuts or the taskbar to bring it back into view.
Why a window might not move when you drag it
If dragging the title bar does not move the window, the program may be in fullscreen mode. Exit fullscreen first — usually by pressing F11 or looking for a fullscreen toggle in the View menu. Some older programs also lock windows to a single monitor; check the program's settings or preferences for a "lock window position" option and turn it off.
On Windows, if the title bar is unresponsive, try the keyboard method instead: right-click the window's taskbar button, select Move, then press the arrow keys to slide the window left or right. Release when it reaches the monitor you want. This method works even when the mouse drag feels sluggish.
If the window is partially off-screen or hidden, you may not be able to grab its title bar. Use the taskbar or Alt+Tab to bring it into focus, then try moving it again. On Windows, you can also right-click the taskbar button and choose Maximize to restore it to full view on the current monitor.
Moving windows on Windows
Windows 10 and Windows 11 both support dragging windows between monitors. The easiest method is to click and hold the title bar, then drag toward the edge of your current monitor. When your cursor crosses the boundary, the window will follow onto the next display. Release the mouse button and the window stays on the new monitor.
If you have more than two monitors, drag toward the specific edge where the monitor you want is located. Dragging left moves the window to the monitor on the left; dragging right moves it to the monitor on the right. If you drag too far, you can drag it back the same way.
For the keyboard method, right-click the window's button in the taskbar at the bottom of the screen. A menu will appear with options including Move. Click it, then use the left and right arrow keys to shift the window across monitors. Press Enter when the window reaches the monitor you want, or press Escape to cancel.
Moving windows on Mac
On Mac, drag the window's title bar — the colored bar at the very top — toward the edge of your current display. When your cursor reaches the edge, keep dragging and the window will move onto the adjacent monitor. This works the same way as Windows and requires no special settings.
If you have multiple displays arranged in different positions, drag toward the physical location of the monitor you want. If your second monitor is to the right, drag right; if it is above, drag upward. Mac will move the window to whichever display your cursor enters.
You can also use Mission Control to move windows between displays. Press Control+Up Arrow (or swipe up with four fingers on a trackpad) to see all open windows and both monitors at once. Click and drag a window from one display to the other, then press Escape or click the desktop to return to normal view. This method is useful if you want to see both monitors while deciding where to place the window.
Keeping windows on the same monitor
Some programs always open on your primary monitor, even if you last closed them on a different one. To change this, close the program from the monitor where you want it to open. Many applications store the monitor location in their settings when you close them normally, but not when you minimize them or switch away.
Check the program's preferences or settings menu for options like "Remember window position" or "Save window state on exit." If this option exists and is turned on, the program will reopen on the same monitor next time. If it is off, the program will reopen on the primary monitor regardless of where you last used it.
For programs that do not have this setting, you can move the window to your preferred monitor each time you open it. This is common with older software or programs that were not designed with multiple monitors in mind. The drag method takes only a few seconds once you are used to it.
Recovering a window that moved off-screen
If you disconnect a monitor or rearrange your displays, windows that were on the disconnected monitor may move off-screen or become invisible. To bring them back, click the program's taskbar button to focus the window, then right-click it and select Move. Use the arrow keys to drag it back into view on your remaining monitor.
On Windows, you can also use the keyboard shortcut Windows Key + Arrow Keys. Press Windows Key + Right Arrow to snap the window to the right half of your current monitor, or Windows Key + Left Arrow to snap it to the left half. This forces the window back into view even if it was hidden.
On Mac, click the window in the dock or use Command+Tab to switch to the program, then drag its title bar back onto your visible display. If the title bar is not visible, try pressing Command+M to unminimize the window, then drag it into place.
Arranging multiple windows across monitors
Windows 10 and 11 include a snap feature that automatically resizes windows to fit half or a quarter of your monitor. Drag a window's title bar to the left edge of your monitor and hold it there for a moment — the window will snap to fill the left half. Drag to the right edge to snap it to the right half. This works on each monitor independently, so you can have two windows side by side on one monitor and another window on the second monitor.
On Mac, you can use the green maximize button in the top-left corner of a window to enter fullscreen mode on that monitor, or use a third-party app like Rectangle or Magnet to snap windows to halves and quarters. These apps let you organize multiple windows across multiple monitors with keyboard shortcuts.
For both Windows and Mac, dragging windows between monitors and then snapping them into position lets you create a custom layout. Once you have arranged them the way you want, most programs will remember this layout and reopen windows in the same positions next time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I move a window to another monitor if they are not the same size?
Yes. The window itself does not change size when you move it between monitors of different resolutions. If you move a window from a high-resolution monitor to a lower-resolution one, the window may appear larger relative to the screen, but it will still fit. You can resize it manually by dragging the edges if needed.
What happens to a window if I unplug a monitor?
Windows that were on the unplugged monitor will move to your primary monitor automatically. If the window was larger than your primary monitor, it may be resized to fit. You can move it back to the second monitor when you plug it in again, and most programs will remember the position for next time.
Why does my window keep moving back to the first monitor?
The program may have "remember window position" turned off in its settings, or it may not support this feature at all. Check the program's preferences menu. If the option does not exist, you will need to move the window to your preferred monitor each time you open it, or use a third-party window manager app to automate this.
Can I move a fullscreen window to another monitor?
Not while it is in fullscreen mode. Exit fullscreen first by pressing F11, clicking the fullscreen button, or using the program's View menu. Once the window is in windowed mode, you can drag it to another monitor. Some programs let you open fullscreen on a specific monitor if you move the window there first, then enter fullscreen.
Is there a keyboard shortcut to move windows between monitors?
Windows does not have a built-in shortcut for this, but you can use Windows Key + Arrow Keys to snap windows to the left or right half of your current monitor. On Mac, you can use third-party apps like Rectangle that assign keyboard shortcuts for moving windows between displays. The drag method remains the fastest for most users.