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If your game minimizes when you click or switch to a second monitor, first try the game’s own Borderless or Windowed Fullscreen mode. If that option is unavailable or does not help, test ordinary Windowed mode, then check that Windows is extending and correctly arranging your displays.
These are troubleshooting options, not guaranteed fixes: behavior depends on the game, Windows version, and hardware. Try the reversible checks below one at a time and retest after each change.
Why a game may minimize when you use another screen
Some games leave fullscreen or change how they present when they lose focus. A game’s display-mode support and your Windows display setup both matter, so the most useful first test is usually a different display mode in the game itself.
Compare the game’s display modes
| Mode | What to expect when using another display | Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Exclusive fullscreen | May leave fullscreen or minimize when the game loses focus, depending on the title. | Test it if you need a game-specific fullscreen or HDR setup; behavior and performance vary. |
| Borderless / Windowed Fullscreen | Often the first mode to try if you want the game to remain visible while using another screen. | Not every game offers it or behaves the same way. Performance, frame latency, HDR, refresh rate, overlays, and anti-cheat compatibility can vary. |
| Windowed | A fallback to test if borderless mode is unavailable or still misbehaves. | How it behaves and performs depends on the game and your setup. |
7 checks to try
1. Switch to Borderless or Windowed Fullscreen
Use the game’s own display-mode setting first. Microsoft Q&A community answers recommend borderless or windowed-fullscreen mode for this situation; this is community troubleshooting guidance, not a Microsoft guarantee.
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- Open the game’s video, graphics, or display settings.
- Choose Borderless, Borderless Window, or Windowed Fullscreen, if available.
- Apply the setting and click or switch to an app on the second monitor to retest.
2. Try ordinary Windowed mode
If borderless mode is missing or does not help, test ordinary Windowed mode. Some games support Alt+Enter as a windowed-mode toggle, but the shortcut does not work in every title.
- Choose Windowed in the game’s display settings, if offered.
- If the game has no visible setting, try Alt+Enter once and see whether the game changes modes.
- Switch to the second display and check whether the game stays visible.
3. Confirm Windows is set to Extend
Windows+P opens the display projection choices. Choose Extend if you want to move items between displays. This verifies your multi-monitor setup; it is not itself a documented fix for focus-triggered minimizing. Microsoft Support explains that extended displays let you move items between screens.
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- Press Windows+P.
- Select Extend.
- Retest the game by clicking an app on the other monitor.
4. Check display detection and arrangement
Correctly arranged display tiles help the pointer move between screens in the direction that matches your physical setup. Microsoft Support documents identifying, detecting, and arranging displays in Windows.
- Open Settings > System > Display.
- Use Identify to see which display is which. If a screen is missing, try Detect.
- Drag the display tiles to match how the monitors sit on your desk, then apply if prompted.
- Retest the game.
5. Check the game’s target display setting
Some games offer a setting to choose which display the game uses; others do not. If yours has one, confirm it targets the monitor where you want to play. This is a practical check, not a universal Windows setting or guaranteed fix.
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- Look in the game’s video or display settings for a monitor or display selector.
- If the option exists, select the intended gaming display.
- Test the game in borderless or windowed mode again.
6. On Windows 11, test Optimizations for windowed games if performance is poor
This setting is not presented as a minimizing fix. Microsoft Support says Optimizations for windowed games applies to DirectX 10 and DirectX 11 games running in windowed and borderless-windowed modes, and describes performance and frame-latency benefits. Its availability and results depend on the game and system.
- In Windows 11, open Settings > System > Display > Graphics.
- Open the game’s options, if listed, and review Optimizations for windowed games.
- Change the option only if you are troubleshooting windowed-mode performance, then restart the game and compare.
Do not look for this Windows 11 option as a fix on Windows 10. Microsoft Support states that Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025; that support-status fact is separate from game-minimizing troubleshooting.
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7. Consider a focus utility only after built-in options
DisplayFusion documents a Prevent Window Deactivation feature intended to keep game windows maximized when switching windows or screens. It is a third-party, compatibility-sensitive option—not a universal solution. DisplayFusion warns that behavior varies and that the approach will not work for online games using Easy Anti-Cheat or BattlEye.
- Check the game’s rules and anti-cheat compatibility before considering a focus utility.
- Read DisplayFusion’s documentation for its feature and limitations.
- Do not use it with a game protected by Easy Anti-Cheat or BattlEye, according to DisplayFusion’s guidance.
If the game still minimizes
Test one change at a time and note the game title, Windows version, display mode, and what action triggers the behavior. If the first mode change does not help, those details can help narrow down whether the issue is game-specific or related to the display setup.
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FAQ
What should I try first if my game minimizes when I click my second monitor?
Try the game’s Borderless or Windowed Fullscreen mode first. If that is unavailable or does not help, test ordinary Windowed mode.
Does Windows+P > Extend stop a game from minimizing?
Extend enables a desktop that spans multiple displays so you can move items between them. It confirms the intended display setup, but Microsoft’s display guidance does not establish it as a fix for focus-triggered minimizing.
Will borderless mode work in every game?
No. Games differ in which modes they offer and how they behave. Compare borderless, windowed, and fullscreen on your own setup, including any HDR, refresh-rate, performance, overlay, or anti-cheat needs.
Does Windows 11 Optimizations for windowed games fix minimizing?
Microsoft describes it as a performance feature for DirectX 10 and DirectX 11 games running windowed or borderless-windowed. Microsoft does not say it prevents games from minimizing.
Is a focus utility safe for every online game?
No. DisplayFusion documents compatibility limits, including that its Prevent Window Deactivation approach will not work for online games using Easy Anti-Cheat or BattlEye. Check the game’s compatibility before considering it.
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