A game minimizing when you click the second monitor is often normal behavior for exclusive fullscreen mode. The easiest fix is usually to run the game in Borderless Windowed mode so it can remain visible while another application has focus.
Change the game’s display mode
Open the game’s video or graphics settings and look for Fullscreen, Windowed, and Borderless/Borderless Windowed. Choose Borderless when available, apply the setting, and test by clicking an app on the second display.
Check the game before changing Windows
Some games deliberately minimize whenever they lose focus, while others have settings such as “pause on focus loss” or “minimize on focus loss.” Review the game’s own options and current support information first.
Disable overlays only when they are implicated
Steam, Discord, Xbox Game Bar, NVIDIA/AMD utilities, recording tools, and performance overlays can interact with fullscreen applications. Turn them off one at a time for testing rather than disabling everything permanently.
Verify display and graphics settings
Update the GPU driver from the hardware manufacturer, confirm the monitors use the intended resolution and refresh rate, and check whether the problem occurs in one game or every fullscreen application.
Utilities that force games to remain fullscreen can create input or anti-cheat problems, so prefer the game’s supported borderless mode. Windows 10 standard support ended in 2025; current games and graphics drivers increasingly target Windows 11.
Test with one monitor temporarily
If behavior remains unclear, disconnect or disable the second display for one test. That distinguishes a multi-monitor focus issue from a game that minimizes even on a single display.
Fixes at a glance
| Fix | Where |
|---|---|
| Borderless Windowed mode | The game’s video or display settings |
| Toggle fullscreen quickly | Press Alt+Enter in many games |
| Make the gaming monitor the main display | Settings > System > Display > select the monitor > Make this my main display |
| Silence pop-ups while gaming | Settings > System > Focus assist > When I’m playing a game |
| Disable fullscreen optimizations | Right-click the game’s .exe > Properties > Compatibility |
Make the gaming monitor your main display
- Right-click the desktop and choose Display settings.
- Click the box for the monitor you play on. Use Identify if you’re not sure which is which.
- Scroll down and check Make this my main display.
Many games open on the main display, so this keeps them where you expect.
Stop notifications from stealing focus
Pop-ups and notifications can pull focus away from a fullscreen game and minimize it. In Settings > System > Focus assist, turn on the automatic rule When I’m playing a game. Also close apps that show pop-up windows, such as update checkers.
Disable fullscreen optimizations for one game
- Find the game’s .exe file, right-click it, and choose Properties.
- Open the Compatibility tab.
- Check Disable fullscreen optimizations and click OK.
This helps some older games behave better with multiple monitors. If it makes no difference, turn it back off.
Frequently asked questions
Does Borderless mode lower performance?
On modern Windows versions the difference is usually small, but some games run slightly faster in exclusive fullscreen. Test both if frame rate matters.
Can I lock the mouse to one screen?
Many games keep the cursor on their screen in fullscreen or borderless mode. Some have a “confine cursor” option in their settings.
Are the steps different on Windows 11?
Slightly. For other dual-monitor tasks, see how to take a screenshot of one screen with dual monitors.
Kermit Matthews runs Live2Tech from just outside Philadelphia. He started on a university help desk, spent years as the IT person for small businesses, and has been writing tech guides full time since 2020. Each guide is checked on a device he owns, and re-checked when a menu moves. More about Kermit.