If you’re tired of your game minimizing every time you click away onto your second monitor, you’re not alone. Windows 11 users with dual monitors can fix this mess, but it’s kinda weird how some of these steps work — or don’t. Sometimes a simple driver update doesn’t cut it, and other times you have to mess with display settings or game options. Bottom line: with a few tweaks, you can keep your game running on one screen while multitasking without it sputtering and minimizing like it’s got a mind of its own.
How to Stop Games Minimizing Dual Monitors Windows 11
To stop your game from acting up whenever you click on your second monitor, here’s what I’ve found works best. It’s about messing with drivers, display preferences, and in-game settings. Expect that after doing these, your game should stay putting along on one screen, even if you’re bouncing around on the other.
Method 1: Update Your Graphics Drivers
Why bother? Well, because Windows drivers sometimes get flaky or outdated, especially if you’re running dual monitors and high-res gaming. Upgrading the graphics driver might fix focus issues and improve overall performance.
When it’s happening, go to Device Manager, then expand Display adapters. Right-click your GPU (like NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel), and pick Update driver. Choose Search automatically for drivers. On some setups, that’s enough, but better yet — head to the manufacturer’s website (like NVIDIA driver downloads or AMD drivers) and grab the latest. Sometimes, even if the driver isn’t new, a clean install from those sites fixes focus bugs. Note: on some machines, the driver update process might need a reboot or even a manual uninstall first. Just keep that in mind; Windows can be weird about driver installs.
Method 2: Adjust Display Settings
Why? Because Windows can get confused about primary displays, especially if you’ve been plugging and unplugging monitors or using multiple graphics outputs. Setting the right monitor as ‘main’ can help ensure Windows keeps your game focused and prevents it from minimizing.
Right-click on the desktop, choose Display settings. Select the monitor you want as your primary (usually the one you game on). Then, check the box for Make this my main display. If you don’t see the option, your display might not be detected correctly — try reconnecting or toggling display modes.
Side note: Sometimes, Windows’ display detection bugs out after updates or driver installs, so you might find your monitors aren’t showing correctly. Resetting the display arrangement or reconnecting cables might help on these days.
Method 3: Disable Game Mode
Why? Because Game Mode is supposed to optimize things, but sometimes it makes dual monitor stuff worse — especially when you click away and Windows tries to prioritize performance over focus. Turning it off can help your game stay put.
Open Settings, go to Gaming, then Game Mode. Turn it off. It’s kind of funny how Windows’ built-in ‘optimization’ can actually mess with multi-monitor setups.
Method 4: Switch to Borderless Windowed Mode
Why? Because some games in full-screen mode give up focus when you click elsewhere. Borderless windowed mode keeps the game visually in full-screen but makes the window behave more like an app. Moving your cursor between screens without minimizing becomes way easier.
In your game’s video or display settings, hunt down the display mode options and select Borderless Windowed. If you can’t find it in the game, check the forums or Google; some titles require console commands or config edits. Tip: Some older games may not have this, and that’s where third-party software like Borderless Gaming can help.
Method 5: Enable Focus Assist
Why? Because notifications and popups can sometimes steal focus or cause Windows to think you’re doing something else, triggering minimize or focus shifts. Turning on Focus Assist minimizes those distractions.
Go to Settings, pick System, then Focus Assist. Set it to Priority only or Alarms only during gaming. You can customize the priority list if you want certain notifications to come through and others to stay quiet. This way, your game gets left alone.
Extra tip: Sometimes, a quick reboot after these changes helps solidify the new settings. Windows can be stubborn on dual monitors, so don’t be surprised if a reboot is needed to “clear the cache.”
Tips to Stop Games Minimizing Dual Monitors Windows 11
- Match refresh rates across monitors; flickering is annoying and sometimes affects focus if they’re mismatched.
- Keep Windows updated — those cumulative updates sometimes iron out dual monitor bugs.
- Close unnecessary background apps; less resource competition means fewer surprises.
- Use third-party tools like DisplayFusion or Winhance to customize multi-monitor behavior.
- If persistent, consider upgrading hardware — newer GPUs handle multi-screen setups better, especially for gaming.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my game minimize when I click on my second monitor?
This usually happens because the game is in full-screen mode, which loses focus as soon as you click elsewhere. Switching to borderless windowed mode usually helps.
Will these steps hurt my game’s performance?
Not really — in fact, turning off Game Mode and optimizing display may actually help a bit. But if you tweak too much or use third-party tools, it can get unpredictable.
What if my game doesn’t offer borderless windowed mode?
Then consider using software like Borderless Gaming or Winstick. They can force borderless windowing on a lot of games.
Can I still turn on Game Mode with dual monitors?
Yeah, but it’s hit or miss. Usually, disabling it for gaming in dual setups is better because Game Mode can interfere with focus behavior.
When should I update my graphics drivers?
Check monthly or whenever you notice unusual graphics quirks. New drivers can fix focus-related bugs too, so don’t skip updates.
Summary
- Update graphics drivers regularly to keep everything compatible
- Set your primary monitor correctly in display settings
- Disable Game Mode to keep focus stable
- Switch games to borderless windowed mode when possible
- Use Focus Assist to cut down notification distractions
Conclusion
Dealing with dual monitors and gaming can be a pain, but it’s totally doable. Sometimes Windows insists on throwing a wrench in the works, and other times it’s just a matter of tweaking a few settings. By updating drivers, setting the main display properly, and switching to borderless mode, your game should stay put even when clicking around on that second screen. It’s kinda satisfying to finally get everything running smooth, so don’t give up. Hopefully, this combination of tweaks saves someone hours of frustration and lets them focus on what actually matters: gaming or multitasking without constant interruptions.