Windows 10: How can I select a different background for my two monitors on windows 10?

I would like to have a plain color background on my laptop monitor 1 and have a picture as my background on monitor 2. It won't let me choose the monitor I want to change; it automatically puts the picture on both monitors.

:)

 

Different Backgrounds on each monitor

Hi,



Thank you for writing to Microsoft Community Forums.



We understand that you are unable to set different wallpapers on each monitors.



We would suggest you to refer the steps mentioned below and see if that helps.



Method 1: Identify Displays.



Try using the Identify option to identify the displays and then check if you can set different background. Refer the steps mentioned below:

1. Press Windows key + I, to open
   Settings.
   
2. Click on System, and select
   Display on the left pane.
   
3. Now, under Rearrange your displays, click on
   Identify to identify the displays.
   

Refer screenshot below:









Once the displays are identified as Monitor 1 and Monitor 2, try setting the background.



Method 2: Duplicating Displays



One other thing we can try is to set the displays to Duplicate first and then Extend them.



To Duplicate the Displays, press Windows key + P, and select
Duplicate. Follow the same steps and select Extend.



After Extending the displays, check if we get the option to set different backgrounds.



Method 3: Reinstall Display Drivers.



If Method 1 and 2 didn’t help, we can try uninstalling and reinstalling the Display Drivers. Refer the steps mentioned below:

1. Press Windows key + X, and select
   Device Manager.
   
2. Expand Display adapters.
   
3. Now, right click on the Display
   device and select Uninstall Device.
   
4. Once the device is uninstalled, click on Actions and select
   Scan for hardware changes.
   
5. Restart the computer.
   

Let us know the results.



Regards,

Nikhar Khare

Microsoft Community - Moderator

 

Setting different Backgrounds for Dual Monitors in Windows 10


Hi All,
If you have a dual monitors and want to set a different background for each. You don't need third party program to set them. Here's an easy way:

1. Copy the background images to: C:\Windows\Web\Wallpaper\Windows
   
   
   
   
2. Use CTRL key for multiple selection to select both backgrounds.
3. Right click on one background->Set as desktop background

You should have a separate background for each monitor.

The background images will be stored under:
%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Themes
as:
Transcoded_000 and Transcoded_001 without extension

If you want to swap the images, just rename 0 to 1, 1 to 0. Sign out and sign back in or
right click on desktop and select: Next desktop background





Here's an example:

 

Setting different Backgrounds for Dual Monitors in Windows 10

Works perfectly thank you!