Windows 11 doesn’t have a setting to change a monitor’s identity number. The numbers come from the order your graphics card detects each display, which mostly depends on which port each monitor is plugged into. To change them, swap the monitors’ cables between ports on your graphics card. If you just want a different monitor to act as “number one,” you don’t need to renumber anything. Make it your main display and drag the monitors into the right order in Settings > System > Display.
Here’s how each option works, plus how to clear old monitor numbers when Windows shows a 3 or 4 but you only have two screens.
What you probably want to change
| Goal | What to do |
|---|---|
| Taskbar, Start menu, and new windows open on a different monitor | Set that monitor as the main display |
| Your mouse moves the wrong way between screens | Drag the monitors into their real positions |
| The actual numbers (1, 2, 3) are in the wrong order | Swap cables between ports, or reset the saved display settings |
| Numbers skip, like 1 and 3, or go higher than your monitor count | Remove hidden old monitors, then reset display settings |
Step 1: Identify which monitor is which
- Right-click the desktop and choose Display settings, or press Windows + I and go to System > Display.
- Click Identify. A large number appears on each screen for a few seconds.
Step 2: Make a different monitor your main display
This is usually what people mean by “make this monitor number 1.”
- In Display settings, click the monitor you want as your main screen.
- Scroll down and check Make this my main display. If you don’t see it, choose Extend these displays from the menu next to Identify first.
The taskbar clock, Start menu, notifications, and most new windows now appear on that monitor. Its identity number doesn’t change, but it behaves like the first one.
Step 3: Arrange the monitors to match your desk
- In Display settings, drag the numbered rectangles so they match how the screens sit on your desk.
- Line up the top or bottom edges if your monitors are the same height, so your mouse doesn’t catch at the edge.
- Click Apply.
Arrangement controls how your mouse moves between screens. For a two-screen setup, see how to use dual monitors on Windows 11.
Step 4: Change the actual numbers by swapping ports
Windows numbers monitors in the order the graphics card reports them. That order is tied to the physical ports, not to the screens themselves.
- Shut down your PC.
- Swap the cables of the two monitors you want to renumber. For example, move the monitor in the first DisplayPort to the second DisplayPort, and the other way around.
- Turn the PC on and click Identify again.
A few tips:
- Plug all monitors into the same graphics card. Mixing the motherboard’s video ports with a graphics card’s ports can cause odd numbering, or one monitor might not work at all.
- Try different port types. Some cards list DisplayPort before HDMI, for example.
- Docking stations and USB display adapters get their numbers after the monitors connected directly to your PC.
Step 5: Clear old monitors that cause wrong numbers
Windows remembers every monitor you’ve ever connected. If you see numbers like 2 and 3 with only two screens, remove the leftovers.
- Right-click Start and choose Device Manager.
- Click View > Show hidden devices.
- Expand Monitors. Grayed-out entries are monitors that aren’t connected right now.
- Right-click each grayed-out monitor and choose Uninstall device.
- Restart your PC.
Step 6: Reset saved display settings (advanced)
If the numbers are still wrong, you can make Windows forget its saved monitor layouts so it detects everything fresh. This involves the Registry, so back it up first.
- Disconnect all monitors except your main one.
- Press Windows + R, type regedit, and press Enter. Click Yes.
- Click File > Export and save a backup of the Registry.
- Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\GraphicsDrivers.
- Right-click the Configuration key and choose Delete. Do the same for the Connectivity key if it’s there.
- Restart your PC, then connect your other monitors in the order you want them numbered, one at a time.
Windows rebuilds both keys automatically. You’ll need to set your resolution, scaling, and arrangement again afterward.
What about NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel software?
The NVIDIA Control Panel, AMD Software, and Intel Graphics Command Center can set the primary display, arrange monitors, and set up multi-display modes. They also number monitors, sometimes differently from Windows, but none of them can change the numbers Windows shows in Display settings.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my main monitor labeled 2?
Because it’s plugged into a port that the graphics card detects second. It still works as your main display if Make this my main display is checked. Swap ports if the label bothers you.
Do monitor numbers matter?
Mostly no. They’re just labels. What matters is which display is the main one and how the monitors are arranged. Some games and apps ask for a display number, so knowing which is which with Identify helps.
Why did my monitor numbers change after an update?
Graphics driver updates and Windows updates can re-detect your displays. Check your cables, then reset your main display and arrangement in Display settings.
Can a monitor keep the same number on a different PC?
No. Each PC numbers monitors based on its own ports and graphics hardware.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.