Surface pro: moving apps to main monitor when docking / while docked

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timmmay

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#225794 6-Dec-2017 07:28

I tend to have a bunch of apps open when I have my surface docked - Word, Excel, explorer, outlook, skype, etc. Occasionally I want to take the surface to a meeting, so I undock it. When I dock it again I have to manually move each window back to the external monitors. The Surface sits there with the keyboard covering the screen, closed, in the dock.

Even the next day, after a reboot, any apps that were open on the surface screen open there, so I have to fold down the keyboard and drag it back to the main monitor.

Is there any way to move all new and active Windows to the main screen when the computer's put in the dock, or apps started while it's docked?

Stu

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#1913675 6-Dec-2017 07:52

If you're not actually using the Surface display while docked, just set the external monitor as the only monitor. When you're docked everything will appear on the external monitor, and when you un-dock everything will display on the Surface.

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timmmay

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#1913681 6-Dec-2017 08:05

Nice tip, thanks @Stu.

I tried that out. When I plugged my surface back into the dock it moved all the apps to my secondary vertical monitor, instead of my primary horizontal monitor. Why would it decide to put them over there!

Damn Windows. Surfaces suck with external monitors. Windows is fairly poor at managing the Windows when things dock and undock.

cisconz

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#1913682 6-Dec-2017 08:15

Once you have everything where you want it, right click on the desktop and select refresh.

This places the icon locations into the registry for the current screen configuration.

Hmmmm

Stu

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#1913683 6-Dec-2017 08:17

Not sure what's going on there. Pretty sure I always had monitors reconnect correctly when docking. Using the Surface Dock at the moment, but have also used a Kensington unit. Currently only running with one monitor connected. The only issue I continue to have is that if I undock or redock, nothing resizes properly, and everything looks ugly.

I try to shut down before docking/undocking to limit issues, but even that's no guarantee.

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timmmay

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#1913688 6-Dec-2017 08:32

@cisconz icons aren't a problem. I don't care where they go.

I also have a Toshiba Dynadock as well. The Surface 3 Dock only seems to have one DisplayPort port so I need it to connect to two monitors. I don't want to have another plug into the side of the surface to disconnect every time I move it.

MikeAqua

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#1913693 6-Dec-2017 08:51

You can choose (in the display settings) when the surface is docked, which monitor is the main monitor.

I have two external monitors and I also use the surfaces integral monitor when it is in the dock.

I designate one of the eternals as the main monitor (with main task bar) and as result all the apps open in that monitor by default.

I haven't tried hot docking with apps open so I can't comment whether it would move apps to the external main monitor.

Mike

timmmay

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#1913699 6-Dec-2017 09:01

Yeah I have one monitor marked as my main monitor. Disabling the surface display when docked has helped a bit, and moving windows from a second monitor is easier that from the surface.

littlehead

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#1913717 6-Dec-2017 09:26

I haven't used it in a number of years, as I no longer run multiple monitors, but Ultramon was something I used to help manage multiple monitors and application position defaults. No idea if it will handle the situation of docking and undocking with the surface and maintaining application positions etc, but might be worth a try. It does add a number of quick ways to move and position windows at the least.

timmmay

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#1913840 6-Dec-2017 13:35

I'll have a shot with the Surface screen disabled for a few days. If it doesn't work I'll give Ultramon a try, thanks @littlehead.

ANglEAUT

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#1914165 6-Dec-2017 22:42

timmmay: ... Disabling the surface display when docked has helped a bit, and moving windows from a second monitor is easier that from the surface.

For others who try this trick at home, remember to first set your power options to no go to sleep when closing the lid while plugged in to power.

Stu: Not sure what's going on there. Pretty sure I always had monitors reconnect correctly when docking. ... Currently only running with one monitor connected. The only issue I continue to have is that if I undock or redock, nothing resizes properly, and everything looks ugly.

I try to shut down before docking/undocking to limit issues, but even that's no guarantee.

I've seen all of these issues in the last six months working with Surface tablets. I've even had it happen that Windows detects the correct number of monitors, but if you try to identify them with the big white 1,2 and 3, it differs from the display under the monitor settings, yet the layout itself is actually correct. As always, make sure the latest firmware is also applied.

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timmmay

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#1914257 7-Dec-2017 07:30

This table's a surface 3 pro. I had a surface 4 pro at my last job and it was worse, with a fully updated firmware and dock firmware.