donebylee

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

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  • by ancientscream,

    ancientscream ancientscream Feb 28, 2014 6:21 AM in response to NiqueXyZ
    Level 1 (20 points)
    Feb 28, 2014 6:21 AM in response to NiqueXyZ

    Indeed … there are problems I've had with OS X since 10.0, which I foolishly thought would always get fixed in the next version … etc, they don't seem to ever fix long term bugs, they're too busy wasting money on other stuff like a new donut shaped saucer style headquarters, share price based monetary obsession, sapphire glass and patent trolling, to be able to concentrate on making a great productive refined operating system or indeed most importantly listening to their users. I think the problem with apple seeming incapable of fixing they're own bugs must be related to the way they organize coding on their software and operating systems, perhaps they're heavily dependant on individuals whose code is no doubt unintelligible to others on the team, as such if that person leaves apple, the code becomes legacy and cannot be operated on. Many pieces of software I have purchased have died a death this way, with an increasingly untouchable code base. I even had one developer for a different company openly admit as such to me about they're own code base. The Hash they've made of the operating system, successive itunes revamps and the incredible final cut pro debacle, Its mind blowing to me they could damage they're own products and not have the intelligence necessary to realise it, or do do something about it, they're too big ultimately this will lead them to get worse and worse at what they do, they are now the big brother in they're 1984 advert, vainly spouting propaganda and ideology about themselves at others and their staff without listening to anyone, stuck on they're agenda which has little to do with increasing the productivity of computer users, there OS's now mainly revolve around entertainment and are tailored to sell more media from apples own online stores, further locking you further through media and app investment into they're walled garden and share price increase. Sadly theyre is little alternative as most tech giants are at the same torrid game.

  • by ikillbill,

    ikillbill ikillbill Mar 14, 2014 11:45 PM in response to donebylee
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 14, 2014 11:45 PM in response to donebylee

    Not sure if anyone has posted this before.

     

    1. Get VLC player and Install

     

    2. Open. VLC--> Preferences --> "Video" Tab

     

    3. Uncheck box "Fullscreen"

     

    4. Uncheck box "Black screens in Fullscreen mode"

     

    5. In "Fullscreen Video Device" field, select "Screen 1" or "Screen 2" whichever monitor you prefer to watch video on fullscreen.

     

    Hope that helps.

  • by MillionsKnives,

    MillionsKnives MillionsKnives May 4, 2014 2:37 PM in response to donebylee
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 4, 2014 2:37 PM in response to donebylee

    The above doesn't work for me, the fullscreen and monitor options seem to have no effect at all - the fullscreen option still makes my other monitor useless.

     

    This is such a glaring issue I can't belive Apple haven't fixed it. Oh wait... yes, I can...

  • by Soulglow,

    Soulglow Soulglow May 6, 2014 9:26 AM in response to donebylee
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 6, 2014 9:26 AM in response to donebylee

    So... there's no workaround for this? I finally got Mavericks.

  • by Joe Kinlaw,

    Joe Kinlaw Joe Kinlaw May 6, 2014 10:04 AM in response to Soulglow
    Level 1 (10 points)
    May 6, 2014 10:04 AM in response to Soulglow

    It works as it should in Mavericks. Making an app full screen on one monitor does not black out your second monitor. I don't know why this thread is still active. Apple fixed the problem. (That's not to say everyone loves it, but it works for most people).

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 May 6, 2014 10:15 AM in response to MillionsKnives
    Level 9 (50,861 points)
    Desktops
    May 6, 2014 10:15 AM in response to MillionsKnives

    MillionsKnives wrote:

     

    The above doesn't work for me, the fullscreen and monitor options seem to have no effect at all - the fullscreen option still makes my other monitor useless.

     

    This is such a glaring issue I can't belive Apple haven't fixed it. Oh wait... yes, I can...

    Which version of OS X?

  • by cloudsrest,

    cloudsrest cloudsrest Jul 3, 2014 3:13 PM in response to Csound1
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 3, 2014 3:13 PM in response to Csound1

    Assuming Mavericks is the OSX version here, go to System Preferences>Mission Control>check the box that says "Displays have separate Spaces"


    Now going fullscreen on one display should not effect the other.

     

    Bonus tip for folks who want to display the iTunes visualizer on one monitor while having their library on another: With Extended Desktop mode enabled, open and drag iTunes onto whichever display you want the visualizer to do it's thing. Start the visualizer (command+T) and place your pointer on iTunes' title bar as if you were about to drag it to a different display (FYI you ARE about to). Then, enter fullscreen mode BY USING THE HOTKEYS (control+command+F) then QUICKLY (before the now fullscreen visualizer takes over) drag your library wherever the heck you want it. Of course, make sure the "Displays have separate Spaces" box mentioned above is checked.


  • by cloudsrest,

    cloudsrest cloudsrest Jul 3, 2014 3:15 PM in response to MillionsKnives
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 3, 2014 3:15 PM in response to MillionsKnives

    Assuming Mavericks is the OSX version here, go to System Preferences>Mission Control>check the box that says "Displays have separate Spaces"


    Now going fullscreen on one display should not effect the other.

     

    Bonus tip for folks who want to display the iTunes visualizer on one monitor while having their library on another: With Extended Desktop mode enabled, open and drag iTunes onto whichever display you want the visualizer to do it's thing. Start the visualizer (command+T) and place your pointer on iTunes' title bar as if you were about to drag it to a different display (FYI you ARE about to). Then, enter fullscreen mode BY USING THE HOTKEYS (control+command+F) then QUICKLY (before the now fullscreen visualizer takes over) drag your library wherever the heck you want it. Of course, make sure the "Displays have separate Spaces" box mentioned above is checked.

  • by hperassi,

    hperassi hperassi Jul 9, 2014 9:24 PM in response to cloudsrest
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 9, 2014 9:24 PM in response to cloudsrest

    EXCELENT!!! It Works. THANKS A LOT

  • by cgharrison,

    cgharrison cgharrison Jul 31, 2014 8:15 AM in response to ikillbill
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 31, 2014 8:15 AM in response to ikillbill

    Thanks for the advice, this was just the problem I was having.

  • by Thezealotbob,

    Thezealotbob Thezealotbob Jul 31, 2014 9:19 AM in response to ikillbill
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 31, 2014 9:19 AM in response to ikillbill

    You, my dear sir are a god.

    Thank you so much =D

  • by zoodie,

    zoodie zoodie Sep 14, 2014 3:15 PM in response to donebylee
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 14, 2014 3:15 PM in response to donebylee

    Think I found a pretty easy work around for the time being..

     

     

    If your trying to play an .mp4 or movie file.. simply open it with you internet browser. Im using chrome and can play full-hd .mp4's full screen on a second monitor while working on my main monitor. No problem.

     

    Watching layer cake while I type this..

  • by fredges,

    fredges fredges Dec 27, 2014 12:50 PM in response to cloudsrest
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Dec 27, 2014 12:50 PM in response to cloudsrest

    Sweet! Just got a second monitor yesterday, and this trick worked! Love this! I could hook up a projector too, if I want. But geez, Apple shoulda made this easier... It took me a few tries to get it right, but once I followed clouds rest's instructions better, it worked great! I wonder if we can make an automator action to duplicate the process? Hmm... Thank you cloudsrest!

  • by Joshayy1994,

    Joshayy1994 Joshayy1994 Sep 15, 2015 12:25 PM in response to donebylee
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 15, 2015 12:25 PM in response to donebylee

    i have found away to fix the problem if you hit (command and enter) this will take it out of fullscreen mode and allow you to use all screens again only down side is no full screen. hope it helps

  • by skeletorsmiles,

    skeletorsmiles skeletorsmiles Jan 3, 2016 1:55 PM in response to Etienne Maheu
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 3, 2016 1:55 PM in response to Etienne Maheu

    Thanks! Finally fixed this

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