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User profile for user: wh0y00
wh0y00 Author
User level: Level 1
18 points

Using dual monitor set up with one program

I don't think this is possible on the iMac but is there a way to extend one application window across both monitors? I have an external monitor connected to my iMac and arranged in the display settings so it's not set to mirror. I can use both monitors independently but I can't seem to extend one window across both monitors. You can do this on PCs so if you have a large spreadsheet, for instance, it goes across all the monitors. Is this possible? I spoke to apple support and they said no but trying to see if there is a solution. Is this an macOS issue or video card? This is for a brand new iMac 27" if that makes any difference.

Posted on Jul 14, 2020 11:37 AM

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User profile for user: den.thed
den.thed
User level: Level 10
83,272 points

Posted on Jul 14, 2020 1:49 PM

Basically it is the default Spaces settings in Mission Control that is messing with you. Personally I never care much for Spaces, but I guess it kind of makes sense for folks using a single display.


To fix it, go to Apple > System Preferences > Mission Control and un-checking all of the boxes on the Mission Control preference panel, then you should be able to correctly Span a window across both displays.


That is, if both displays are the same size and resolution. Sadly if that are not, then you will most likely have a size and alignment problem.

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User profile for user: den.thed
den.thed
User level: Level 10
83,272 points

Jul 14, 2020 1:49 PM in response to wh0y00

Basically it is the default Spaces settings in Mission Control that is messing with you. Personally I never care much for Spaces, but I guess it kind of makes sense for folks using a single display.


To fix it, go to Apple > System Preferences > Mission Control and un-checking all of the boxes on the Mission Control preference panel, then you should be able to correctly Span a window across both displays.


That is, if both displays are the same size and resolution. Sadly if that are not, then you will most likely have a size and alignment problem.

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User profile for user: wh0y00
wh0y00 Author
User level: Level 1
18 points

Jul 14, 2020 4:26 PM in response to den.thed

Thank you @den.thed! Your fix worked. While my screen is same size, the resolution is different (4k vs 5k iMac) so the alignment isn't perfect but I can work with that. It's really for a virtual desktop so don't necessarily need to span one window across both screens for reading. I just need the screen real estate for multiple applications on the virtual desktop. The only other thing I needed to do was log off and log back on.


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Using dual monitor set up with one program

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