Dual Monitors System Confusion which is Main Monitor

Since upgrading to El Capitan my dual monitors seem to be confused which is the Primary (main) monitor and which is the secondary. There is no consistency on which is which and I don't know how to fix it.


At start up, the Apple and Start up bar are on the secondary monitor.

---In the past it's ALWAYS been on the Primary monitor

When I open my email application, I always have to move it to the secondary monitor, where it always resides.

---In the past it always opened where I once had it.

---Also, when I made a new email, it would always open on my Primary monitor (easier for typing and linking files).

When I am in a program like Illustrator, and I save a file, the Save window always opens over on my secondary monitor.

---The program is always on my Primary monitor, as is the files I am working on...why would the Save Box ever open on the secondary monitor.


I'd really like to get this figured out. Any help would be appreciated!

Mac Pro, OS X El Capitan (10.11.2)

Posted on Jan 15, 2016 6:13 AM

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2 replies

Jan 15, 2016 7:02 AM in response to EBACMike

Two ideas:


1) In System Preferences->Displays->Arrangement, you can choose which of the displays is your main display: just drag the little representation of the menu bar to the desired display.


2) Since Mavericks, there is an option in OS X that allows you to have the menu bar (and dock, if set to be at the bottom) on BOTH displays. This is now the new "normal", and it is possible that some stuff in El Capitan is not working so well in the old way.

To set your mac to work this way, go to System Preferences->Mission Control, and check the box "Displays have separate Spaces".


(Note: even if you choose to use 2), there are occasions where 1) is still meaningful - some applications, like FCP X, tend to open in the "main" display, and that concept is still present, even if both displays have menu bars on them)

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Dual Monitors System Confusion which is Main Monitor

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