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Dual monitors and fullscreen fiasco, is there a work around?

If you have a dual monitor set-up and Lion and you have tried the fullscreen setting, then you know what is wrong.


Might as well not even have the second monitor...Lion completely takes over both monitors and only allows you to have one app up. Pointless, and no way to stop it. (A preference setting in System Preferences under Displays would have been the right thing to do).


I know I don't have to use fullscreen, but it was nice to be able to view a Quicktime movie fullscreen on one monitor while continuing to work on the other. Lion makes that impossible.


Anyone know of a work-around or fix for the fullscreen/dual monitor fiasco?


Thanks for all help.

Posted on Jul 21, 2011 2:07 PM

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816 replies

Aug 26, 2017 11:41 AM in response to donebylee

This thread has 55 pages now, with the result that the question has branched. Nevertheless, for this original question, I found the answer I needed here: Can I have 2nd monitor apps keep windows there? (see contribution by Barney-15E, first page currently).


Briefly: the answer is in the correct use of spaces via Mission Control. Be sure and select "Displays have separate Space" (OS 10.12.6 and probably much earlier).

After logging out and logging in, when you select an application icon in the dock and right-mouse click, you get to choose which Desktop (1, 2, etc.).

It required some guesswork and a second log-out and log-in, but now I open Chrome on my built-in MacBook Pro monitor (Desktop 2) and my other applications on Desktop 1. I can run YouTube tutorials full screen on my built-in monitor, and do the rest of my work on on the external monitor.

Jul 21, 2011 5:23 PM in response to donebylee

So frustrating. Apple have clearly decided that laptops and tablets are where it's at now, hence all the new features which are aimed at small screen computing.


Have they forgotten their desktop users? I'm running a Mac Pro with three monitors and yet now I can't even full screen a quicktime movie on one of my additional displays while I'm working on the main monitor without it trying to take over my whole system.. Just what the heck do they think they're playing at?

Jul 24, 2011 2:44 AM in response to donebylee

Dual-monitor control is one area where Lion is less functional than Snow Leopard. Full-screen defaulting to a single monitor isn't just a problem with videos, as other people have said, but it destroys the usefulness of the feature for programs like Mail or Preview as well. It's fairly common (at least, I do it) to have a technical document or emails open full-screen on a second monitor, and the new full-screen behaviour makes that impossible.


A solution would be for apps/windows to go full-screen on the monitor on which they were displayed. Full-screen apps could still be switched between using Mission Control - they would just move from one screen to the other before disappearing into virtual-desktop land.

Jul 24, 2011 2:51 AM in response to mjt1

I think you are right on how it should work, at a minimun, look how chrome did it. It works somewhat rationally there. Put chrome on the external, it goes fs, and leaves the primary monitor open to use, like I am doing right now. very nice!


So I wonder this: does each app developer write the fullscreen code for themselves, and insert into their app using some fullscreen api from apple? If so, thumbs up for the folks at google!!!


Oh, and by the way, I'd like to rename this thread "Dual Monitors and the fullscreen festival" if I may.

Jul 24, 2011 11:04 AM in response to donebylee

I just tried it for the first time with the corner button on Safari: 4 monitors, 3 become blank "canvas". lol. My kids were not happy as they were watching VLC on the LCD that we use for video output. There needs to be more configuration for fullscreen mode. VLC has an option to black out or leave the other displays alone, and you can choose a default fullscreen monitor.

Jul 25, 2011 2:40 AM in response to tyronecapetown

tyronecapetown wrote:


Yeah just tried now watching a movie on our external hdmi setup office TV, and used to be able to output fullscreen to it, now cant. Wow, cant believe this is happening, any ideas?


Yes, don't just post here, report it to Apple. Can't stress that enough. These are user forums, and whilst Apple may moderate them at times the only way to be sure you're being heard by the right people is to use the official feedback form.

Dual monitors and fullscreen fiasco, is there a work around?

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