Stop using a display on Windows

Overview

With Windows, if you have N displays plugged in, Windows will always try to use all N displays.

However, in Display Settings you can tell Windows to stop sending a video signal to specific displays.

If two displays are plugged in

If only two displays are connected, Windows gives you the option to "Show only on 1" or "Show only on 2".

If 3 or more displays are plugged in

In Windows 11, the options look a little different if you have 3 displays connected. Below, 3 are connected, and the way to get Windows to stop using one of them is to click Disconnect this display.

How Windows shows a disconnected display

Once you have disconnected a display, Windows still shows you the display in Display Settings. But its current state will show as "Disconnect this display".

Re-connecting a display

Once you've disconnected a display, you can always reconnect it by clicking that button and selecting an extend or duplicate option.