How to disable 2nd screen without unplugging it every time?

Question

Hi everyone,

I recently set up a dual monitor configuration on my Windows 11 PC. I have my main monitor that I use most of the time, and a secondary monitor that I only need occasionally for certain tasks or when I want more screen real estate.

The problem is, when I'm not using the 2nd monitor, I find it distracting to have it on, especially if I'm trying to focus on a single task on my main screen. However, unplugging the 2nd monitor every time I want to disable it is a hassle. I'm worried that constantly plugging and unplugging the monitor cable could damage the ports over time.

So my question is - is there an easy way to disable the 2nd monitor when I'm not using it without having to physically unplug it every time? I'd love to be able to quickly enable/disable the 2nd display with a few clicks or a keyboard shortcut when I need it.

I did some searching and found a couple potential solutions:

Using Windows key + P to switch between display modes like PC screen only, Duplicate, Extend, and 2nd screen only. But this still leaves the 2nd monitor powered on.
Changing the multiple displays setting in Display Settings to "Show desktop only on 1". But this is several clicks every time.
Using a 3rd party utility to manage the displays and bind a hotkey. But I'd prefer a native Windows solution if possible.

What's the easiest, most convenient way to disable the 2nd monitor without wear and tear from unplugging it constantly? Any suggestions or utilities to make this quicker?

Thanks in advance for any advice! Let me know if you need any other details about my setup.

Ashley Nicole Thomas · Accepted Answer

Here's a little AutoHotkey script I use to toggle my secondary monitor on and off:

^!d::
Run, C:Windowssystem32displayswitch.exe /internal
return

^!e::
Run, C:Windowssystem32displayswitch.exe /extend
return

This binds Ctrl+Alt+D to switch to the main display only, and Ctrl+Alt+E to extend to the 2nd monitor. You'll need to install AutoHotkey and save this as a .ahk file, then run it. Nice and simple!

Future_Forge · Answer

I faced the same issue and found DisplayFusion to be a great utility for managing multiple displays. It lets you fully disable unused displays with a keyboard shortcut or single click. You can create custom display profiles and hotkeys for quick switching.

It also has tons of other multi-monitor features. I prefer it over fiddling with Windows settings since everything is streamlined in one place. They offer a free trial if you want to test it out. Just make sure your 2nd display is set as "Disconnected" in the DF monitor profiles when disabled.