How to Get Rid of the Extra Display on Your Windows 10 Computer

Having multiple monitors can significantly boost productivity. However, sometimes, Windows 10 thinks you have an extra display connected when you don’t. This phantom display can cause various issues, such as applications opening on a screen you can’t see, mouse cursor disappearing, or simply a cluttered display settings menu. Don’t worry; this is a common problem, and there are several ways to troubleshoot and eliminate that unwanted virtual monitor.

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Understanding the Problem: Why Does Windows 10 Think There’s an Extra Display?

Before diving into solutions, it’s helpful to understand why this issue occurs in the first place. Several factors can contribute to Windows 10 detecting a non-existent display:

Driver Issues: Outdated, corrupted, or incompatible graphics card drivers are a primary suspect. These drivers are responsible for communicating with your display hardware, and if they’re malfunctioning, they can misreport display configurations.
Ghost Monitors: Sometimes, when you physically disconnect a monitor, Windows doesn’t fully remove it from the display settings. This can leave behind a “ghost monitor” that continues to be recognized by the system.
Virtual Machines and Remote Access Software: Software like VMware, VirtualBox, or remote desktop applications can create virtual displays for their operations. Even after closing these programs, the virtual displays might linger.
Faulty Cables and Connections: Though it sounds counterintuitive, a loose or damaged display cable, even if not actively connected to a monitor, can sometimes cause Windows to detect a phantom display. Interference and residual signals could be the culprit.
Display Adapters and Splitters: Using display adapters, splitters, or docking stations can occasionally lead to confusion, especially if the devices are not fully compatible with Windows 10 or have outdated firmware.
Windows Update Issues: Occasionally, a Windows update can introduce bugs or compatibility issues that affect display settings.

Troubleshooting Steps to Remove the Extra Display

Now that we understand the potential causes, let’s explore the solutions to get rid of that pesky extra display. Start with the simplest steps and move to more advanced troubleshooting if necessary.

Checking Display Settings

The first and most straightforward approach is to check your display settings directly. This will often reveal the phantom display, allowing you to disconnect or disable it.

Right-click on your desktop and select “Display settings.”
In the Display settings window, you should see a representation of your connected displays. If you see an extra display that isn’t physically connected, select it.
Scroll down to the “Multiple displays” section.
From the dropdown menu, choose “Disconnect this display.” If that option isn’t available, try “Extend these displays” first, apply the setting, and then try “Disconnect this display.”
Click “Apply” to save the changes.

If the “Disconnect this display” option is greyed out, try identifying the monitor by clicking “Identify.” This might help Windows properly recognize the existing displays, allowing you to then disconnect the phantom one.

Updating or Reinstalling Graphics Card Drivers

As mentioned earlier, outdated or corrupted graphics card drivers are a common cause of display issues. Updating or reinstalling your drivers can often resolve the problem.

Press the Windows key + X and select “Device Manager.”
Expand the “Display adapters” section.
Right-click on your graphics card and select “Update driver.”
Choose “Search automatically for drivers.” Windows will attempt to find and install the latest driver.
If Windows can’t find a driver, or if you want to ensure you have the latest version, visit the website of your graphics card manufacturer (Nvidia, AMD, or Intel) and download the latest driver manually.
During the installation process, select the “Clean Install” option (if available). This will remove any previous driver files and ensure a fresh installation.
If updating the driver doesn’t work, try uninstalling the driver completely and then restarting your computer. Windows will automatically reinstall a basic driver, which might resolve the issue. You can then update to the latest driver from the manufacturer’s website. To uninstall, right-click on your graphics card in Device Manager and select “Uninstall device.” Be sure to check the box that says “Delete the driver software for this device.”

Using the Device Manager to Remove Phantom Devices

Sometimes, the extra display might be listed as a generic “Generic PnP Monitor” in the Device Manager, even if it’s not physically connected. You can try removing this device.

Open Device Manager (Windows key + X, then select “Device Manager”).
Expand the “Monitors” section.
Look for any “Generic PnP Monitor” entries that you know are not currently connected.
Right-click on the phantom monitor and select “Uninstall device.”
Restart your computer. Windows will re-detect the connected monitors.
If the phantom monitor reappears after restarting, try disabling it instead of uninstalling it. Right-click and select “Disable device.”

Checking for Virtual Display Drivers

If you’ve used virtual machine software or remote access tools, they might have installed virtual display drivers that are causing the issue.

Open Device Manager.
Look for any drivers related to virtual displays, such as those from VMware or VirtualBox, under “Display adapters” or “Monitors”.
Uninstall these drivers.
Restart your computer.

Also, check the startup programs for any virtual machine or remote access software that might be running in the background and creating the virtual display. Disable any unnecessary startup programs through Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) under the “Startup” tab.

Examining and Resetting Display Cables and Connections

While seemingly simple, checking your display cables and connections can sometimes resolve unexpected display issues.

Ensure that all display cables (HDMI, DisplayPort, VGA, DVI) are securely connected to both your computer and your monitor(s).
Try using different cables to rule out any faulty cables.
If you are using a display adapter, splitter, or docking station, try connecting your monitor directly to your computer to see if the issue persists. This will help determine if the adapter or splitter is causing the problem.
Unplug your monitors from the power outlet and wait for a few minutes before plugging them back in. This can sometimes reset the display settings.

Editing the Registry (Advanced Users Only)

Caution: Editing the Windows Registry can be risky if not done correctly. Incorrect modifications can cause serious system instability. Back up your registry before proceeding.

This method involves removing entries related to the phantom display from the Windows Registry.

Press Windows key + R, type “regedit,” and press Enter.
Navigate to the following key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Hardware Profiles\0001\System\CurrentControlSet\Enum\DISPLAY
Under the “DISPLAY” key, you will see several subkeys representing your connected displays. Identify the subkey that corresponds to the phantom display. This can be tricky, as the names might not be immediately obvious. Look for clues like the monitor model name or resolution.
Once you’ve identified the correct subkey, right-click on it and select “Delete.”
Restart your computer.

If you are unsure which subkey to delete, it’s best to avoid this method or seek assistance from a computer professional. Incorrectly deleting registry entries can lead to system errors.

Performing a Clean Boot

A clean boot starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs. This can help identify if a third-party application or service is causing the display issue.

Press Windows key + R, type “msconfig,” and press Enter.
In the System Configuration window, go to the “Services” tab.
Check the box that says “Hide all Microsoft services.”
Click “Disable all.”
Go to the “Startup” tab and click “Open Task Manager.”
In Task Manager, disable all startup items.
Close Task Manager and click “Apply” and “OK” in the System Configuration window.
Restart your computer.

If the phantom display disappears after performing a clean boot, it means that one of the disabled services or startup programs was causing the issue. You can then re-enable them one by one to identify the culprit.

System Restore

If you recently made changes to your system, such as installing new drivers or software, you can try using System Restore to revert to a previous state when the display was working correctly.

Search for “Create a restore point” in the Windows search bar and open it.
Click “System Restore.”
Choose a restore point that was created before the issue started.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the System Restore process.

System Restore will revert your system files, drivers, and registry settings to the selected restore point. Your personal files will not be affected.

Resetting Your PC

As a last resort, you can try resetting your PC. This will reinstall Windows and remove all your personal files, apps, and settings. Make sure to back up your important data before proceeding.

Open the Settings app (Windows key + I).
Go to “Update & Security” > “Recovery.”
Under “Reset this PC,” click “Get started.”
Choose whether you want to keep your personal files or remove everything.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the reset process.

There are two options for resetting your PC: “Keep my files” and “Remove everything.” The “Keep my files” option will reinstall Windows but keep your personal files intact. The “Remove everything” option will wipe your hard drive and reinstall Windows, effectively restoring your PC to its factory settings.

Preventative Measures

Once you’ve successfully removed the extra display, consider taking these preventative measures to avoid the issue in the future:

Keep Your Graphics Drivers Updated: Regularly check for and install the latest graphics drivers from your manufacturer’s website.
Properly Disconnect Monitors: When disconnecting a monitor, ensure that Windows has fully registered the disconnection before physically unplugging the cable.
Uninstall Unnecessary Software: Remove any virtual machine software or remote access tools that you no longer use.
Use Compatible Hardware: Ensure that any display adapters, splitters, or docking stations you use are compatible with your version of Windows and your graphics card. Check for firmware updates for these devices as well.
Regular System Maintenance: Perform regular system maintenance, such as running disk cleanup and defragmentation, to keep your system running smoothly.

Why does my Windows 10 computer think there’s an extra display when there isn’t one physically connected?

It’s common for Windows 10 to detect a phantom display, even when no additional monitor is plugged in. This can happen due to several reasons. A previous monitor connection might not have been completely removed from the system’s configuration, a virtual display driver installed by remote access software might be active, or the graphics card driver itself might be malfunctioning and falsely reporting a connected display.

This false detection can lead to issues like applications opening on the nonexistent screen, making them inaccessible, or the mouse cursor disappearing when moved to the edge of the “phantom” display. Resolving this involves forcing Windows to redetect connected displays or removing the problematic driver causing the false detection.

How do I disconnect or disable a display that I used to have connected but don’t anymore?

To disconnect a former display, right-click on your desktop and select “Display settings.” Scroll down to the “Multiple displays” section. If the ghost display is detected, it will likely show up as a numbered display (e.g., Display 2). Click on the problematic display.

In the settings for that specific display, find the “Multiple displays” dropdown menu. Change the option from “Extend these displays” or “Duplicate these displays” to “Show only on [Your Primary Display].” Click “Apply” to save the changes. This should effectively disable the unused display and prevent Windows from treating it as active.

What if the display is still showing up even after selecting “Show only on [Primary Display]”?

If simply selecting “Show only on [Primary Display]” doesn’t work, you might need to physically disconnect any cables connected to the other video outputs on your computer, even if nothing is attached on the other end. Sometimes the system continues to detect a signal based on the connection itself. After disconnecting cables, repeat the “Display settings” steps.

If the problem persists, the issue could be related to your graphics card driver. Consider updating to the latest driver version from the manufacturer’s website (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel) or completely uninstalling the current driver and reinstalling it. A clean driver installation often resolves phantom display issues.

Could remote desktop software be causing this phantom display issue?

Yes, remote desktop software can often create virtual displays, even when you’re not actively using it for remote access. This is done to allow remote sessions to have a dedicated display space, even if the host computer only has one physical monitor. Programs like TeamViewer, AnyDesk, and Windows Remote Desktop can cause this.

To disable this, check the settings within your remote desktop software. Look for options related to virtual displays or secondary monitors and disable them. If you’re not actively using the remote desktop software, consider uninstalling it entirely to eliminate the potential for a phantom display issue.

How do I update or reinstall my graphics card drivers to fix this problem?

To update your graphics card drivers, you can either use Windows Update or download the latest drivers directly from the manufacturer’s website. For NVIDIA cards, go to NVIDIA.com; for AMD, go to AMD.com; and for Intel integrated graphics, go to Intel.com. Download the appropriate driver for your graphics card model and operating system.

To reinstall, first, uninstall the current driver through the Device Manager. Expand “Display adapters,” right-click your graphics card, and select “Uninstall device.” Ensure you check the box that says “Delete the driver software for this device” if it’s present. Then, restart your computer and install the driver you downloaded. A clean install often resolves driver-related display problems.

How can I identify which display is the phantom display in Windows 10 Display Settings?

In Display Settings (accessed by right-clicking the desktop and selecting “Display settings”), Windows assigns numbers to each detected display. Click the “Identify” button. This will briefly display a large number (1, 2, 3, etc.) on each screen corresponding to the display number in the settings.

The “phantom” display is the one showing a number on a screen that doesn’t exist or isn’t currently connected. Once identified, you can select that specific display in the Display settings and adjust its configuration, such as disabling it or changing the resolution.

What are the potential risks of incorrectly disabling or uninstalling display drivers?

Incorrectly disabling or uninstalling display drivers can result in a temporary loss of display or reduced screen resolution. While this typically isn’t a permanent issue, it can be inconvenient and require troubleshooting to restore proper functionality. The screen might revert to a very low resolution or become completely black.

Before making significant changes to display drivers, it’s always recommended to create a system restore point. This allows you to revert your computer to a previous state if something goes wrong during the driver modification process. Also, have the correct driver readily available for reinstallation in case the uninstallation process renders the display unusable.