Having multiple monitors is like a dream come true, especially if you’re trying to increase your productivity or keep up with the increased hustle and bustle of daily life. I’ve been using a dual-monitor setup since building my PC in 2020, and over the years, I’ve come across a few additional programs that I’ve added to my arsenal to make using them even better.
For the longest time, I just used them as they were out of the box, plug-and-play. No additional software is needed. But over time, programs have been recommended to me that make my dual-monitor setup more powerful and productive. From open-source utilities to apps that make your device act as a secondary screen, the possibilities are endless.
For power users, PowerToys is a must
FancyZones makes this worth a download in itself
PowerToys is a program so nice that I need to write about it twice. It’s a program that is covered fairly often here on MUO, and for good reason — it’s one of the best programs that power users can install, regardless of whether they have a dual-monitor setup or not. But if you do happen to have a dual-monitor setup, it has plenty of ways to optimize screen space, simplifying cursor tracking and monitoring, as well as tools like Workspaces or FancyZones to maximize your productivity.
While PowerToys may have a bevy of tools that make a dual-monitor setup sing, it’s also incredibly useful for daily activities. Advanced Paste, for example, is one of the most powerful tools that PowerToys brings to the table, and it comes at no additional cost to you. If you’re even remotely intrigued about what PowerToys can offer you, be sure to check out all the features it offers.
- OS
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Windows
- Developer
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Microsoft Corporation
- Pricing model
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Free, Open-source
Multi-monitor taskbars, monitor fading, and more await you in this powerful program
DisplayFusion was a program that was recommended to me by a commentator here on the site, and I’m beyond happy that they recommended it to me. I replaced DualMonitorTools with this shortly after installing it and using them together, and I couldn’t be more stoked about this program. The biggest reason I love it? Multi-monitor taskbars. It may sound silly, but I enjoy running specific programs on each of my displays, especially since I’ve been using one of them vertically for years now. Certain applications, like Discord or TeamSpeak, just look naturally better on a longer display, so I’d rather take that focus off of my main display and only have it on my taskbar over on the other display.
DisplayFusion also supports third-party Start menu options, so those who are curious to see how multiple taskbars on their monitors may work can try it out without worrying that it’ll break something like Start Menu X. Every setting that DisplayFusion offers is also highly customizable, but if you want the full experience, you may need to purchase a license for the program. If you want to see what the free version can offer you over the paid version, check out their differences here.
- OS
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Windows
- Developer
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Binary Fortress Software
- Price model
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Free tier/Paid options
- Version
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12
.0
For brightness control, Monitorian can’t be beat
Sometimes, your monitors are just too darn bright
If you’re anything like me, you like to work in a dark room, blinds drawn, with as little natural sunlight coming in as possible. I’ve got a small light on the ceiling that puts out a dim, pure white LED that illuminates the room slightly, but otherwise, I’m totally good with working in the dark. But, as you likely know, bright monitors in dark rooms can make your eyes feel like they’re on fire after a while. Monitorian is one of those apps that I stumbled upon that helps me ensure that I’m keeping my eyes remotely safe at all hours of the day.
It all started because my OLED monitor has controls on the back of it. It’s annoying to get to, and even harder to reach while I’m in the zone. Using Monitorian, I can use software to dim my monitors to a more acceptable level of brightness without needing to fiddle with the knob on the back of the screen or try to remember what buttons do what on my vertical display. It sounds like something you would never need, but it’s incredibly useful once you discover it. There’s a reason why we’re still recommending it three years after talking about it.
- OS
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Windows
- Price model
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Free, Premium
- Developer
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emoacht
- Version
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4
.13
Or if you want a third display, this works wonders, too
This has been the most recent addition to my collection of applications that make working with dual monitors even better. The reason I like using GlideX is that it lets me use my budget Android tablet as a secondary screen. This works perfectly when I want to check in on the private server that I put together for my friends and me to play around in RUST, or if I don’t want to switch inputs to access my mini PC on my main monitor. Or, if you want a third display? You can hook it up to your PC, run the program, and you’re set.
Seeing as I recently repurposed a mini-PC to become a private server for some of my favorite games, as well as a way to learn more about self-hosting, I have it plugged into my main OLED display via HDMI. If I’m working on something else, I don’t want to have to switch between DisplayPort and HDMI. If I boot the Mini PC up at the start of the day, I can open GlideX on both devices and have my tablet working overtime while I work on my main desktop with no interference. Plus, the tablet has full touchscreen support for Windows 11, so I can mess around without needing to hook up a mouse to that secondary PC at any time.
- OS
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Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
- Price model
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Free
Dual monitors work even better with these tools
You’d be surprised what your dual-monitor setup is capable of with the right tools. That’s why I’ve spent time experimenting, learning, and customizing to turn my desktop into something that fits my exact specifications. You may be surprised to see how helpful these tools could be, especially once you really dig in and test them out for yourself.
I didn’t expect this simple change to make Windows 11 so much better
This change turned out to be smarter than I expected.
