Windows 11 Not Respecting Edge Of Dual Monitor

I have a pretty typical dual monitor setup. They are assigned as display #1 (my primary monitor on the bottom) and display #2 (my top monitor) in Windows 11. And Windows is set to extend them.

I've noticed that when some apps or Windows folders sit too close to the edge of monitor #1, and I click a fly-out or right click context menu, it will instead jump up to the top screen (instead of next to the icon/app where it's located on the primary/bottom monitor). I've read that others have this issue when using different scaling for each monitor, but that's not the case for me.

This is supremely annoying and I'd like it to always keep everything on the monitor I'm working from.

How can I ensure everything I click/open stays on the bottom/primary screen from which it was clicked, and not cross that border over onto the other monitor? This definitely is a new issue on Windows 11 (as I've had the same setup for years, and Windows 10 behaved properly).

 

Here are a few steps you can try to resolve this issue:

1. Check Display Settings:
- Go to Settings > System > Display.
- Ensure that the monitors are correctly identified and arranged in the display settings. Drag the monitors to match their physical arrangement.

2. Adjust Taskbar Settings:
- Right-click on the taskbar and select Taskbar settings.
- Scroll down to Multiple displays and ensure that the taskbar is only shown on the main display.

3. Update Graphics Drivers:
- Outdated or corrupted graphics drivers can cause display issues. Update your graphics drivers through Device Manager or the manufacturer's website.

4. Disable Snap Assist:
- Sometimes, Snap Assist can cause windows to jump between monitors. Go to Settings > System > Multitasking and turn off Snap windows.

5. Check for Windows Updates:
- Ensure your system is up to date by going to Settings > Windows Update and checking for updates.

6. Registry Edit (Advanced):
- If you're comfortable with editing the registry, you can try this:
1. Press `Win + R`, type `regedit`, and press Enter.
2. Navigate to `HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop`.
3. Look for the value `MonitorSize` and ensure it matches your monitor setup.
4. Be cautious with registry edits, as incorrect changes can cause system issues.

If these steps don't resolve the issue, it might be worth checking for any specific updates or patches from Microsoft addressing this behavior in Windows 11.

 

Thanks for all these suggestions Maxwell. I went down the list, trying each one (some I'd already tried, like the video drivers/Windows updates ones), and unfortunately nothing seemed to fix it when turning those settings off.

I did notice I don't have the "MonitorSize" entry in my registry, so here is a screenshot of everything listed. If you see anything that might seem relevant to stop the context menus (or any other menus) from jumping across to the other monitor, you can let me know and I'll try to tweak.

Would be nice if there is a setting here I can tweak (or value I can add) that'll force it to stay on the bottom monitor (like it does when the second monitor isn't connected).

Screenshot:
https://i.imgur.com/cVkyYr2.jpeg
https://i.imgur.com/cVkyYr2.jpeg

 

The MonitorSize setting in the registry isn’t typically essential for most users and setups. It’s more of a troubleshooting step that can sometimes help with specific display issues. For dual displays, this setting might not directly address the problem you’re experiencing with context menus jumping between monitors.

However, it can be worth trying if other solutions haven’t worked. The MonitorSize setting essentially tells Windows the size of your monitor, which can sometimes help with display arrangement issues.

For dual displays, the more critical settings are usually found in the display settings and graphics driver configurations. Ensuring that your monitors are correctly identified and arranged in the display settings, and that your graphics drivers are up to date, are typically the most effective steps.

However, since you've mentioned the “MonitorSize” entry is missing from your registry, here are a few additional steps you can try:

1. Create the “MonitorSize” Entry:
   
   • Open the Registry Editor (Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter).
   • Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop.
   • Right-click on the right pane, select New > String Value, and name it MonitorSize.
   • Double-click on MonitorSize and set its value to match your monitor setup (e.g., 1920,1080 for a 1920x1080 resolution).
2. Check “WindowArrangementActive” Setting:
   
   • In the same registry path (HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop), look for WindowArrangementActive.
   • Ensure its value is set to 1. If not, double-click it and change the value to 1.
3. Adjust “Monitor” Settings in Registry:
   
   • Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\GraphicsDrivers\Configuration.
   • Look for entries related to your monitors. You might see keys like SIMULATED_... or NOEDID_....
   • Expand these keys and check the 00 subkey for PrimSurfSize.cx and PrimSurfSize.cy. Ensure these values match your monitor’s resolution.
4. Disable “Auto Arrange” in File Explorer:
   
   • Open File Explorer, go to the View tab, and click on Options.
   • In the Folder Options window, go to the View tab and uncheck Auto arrange icons.

 

Thanks for all these very helpful suggestions Maxwell! I do really appreciate it.

On of the first things I tried (after ensuring everything was up to date) was to see if I could find any answers in my NVIDIA control panel. But alas, nothing there seemed to help, any further than what the settings in my Windows system display menu provided.

I also checked through your list, and tried everything. Nothing changed unfortunately, but here were my findings:

• Create the “MonitorSize” Entry:
  • I crated this entry and set it to 2560,1080 (which is my primary monitors resolution). But I didn't create a second one here for the other monitor (as that wasn't in the instructions). Should I have done that? Thus far it didn't generate a change.

• Check “WindowArrangementActive” Setting:
  • This was already set to what the instructions stated.

• Adjust “Monitor” Settings in Registry:

• I found multiple entries here for my monitors (about five or six different folders). I assume this is due to me disconnecting/reconnecting my monitors in multiple slots over time on my video card as I was experimenting. However, every value I saw for the PrimSurfSize.cx/cy did reflect my monitor resolutions of 2560,1080 (in the 00 folder) and 2560,1440 (in the 01) folder

I know this is a lot to keep trouble shooting, and I do appreciate you making the attempt. Willing to try anything else, if you happen to have any ideas.