The process is deceptively simple you’d never guess that the white bar is an interactive control but once you do, it. Once you release the white bar, the primary display will be reset to the one you selected. To reassign the primary display, simply click on that white strip and drag it onto the other display. To change the primary display, click and drag this white bar and drop it on to the display that you want to set as the primary display. You should see a white bar at the top of the display that is currently designated as your primary display.Click on Displays then the Arrangement tab.

Click the Apple icon in the top left of the screen, and choose System Preferences.How to make a monitor the primary display on a Mac It will switch back to your external screen when you next plug that in. If you’re only running the one screen, that becomes the primary screen by default. There are certain, stubborn applications and games – such as Civilization VI – that point-blank refuse to run on anything but the primary display.Īnd in case you’re worried that your Dock or applications will disappear when you’re using the MacBook alone, don’t be. The primary display is where most applications and the Dock will open by default. Why should you make your monitor the primary display?Įxternal monitors are normally larger than the screen on your MacBook, which means it makes sense to have them designated as the primary display. If, like me, you use a MacBook with an external monitor at your desk, you might be wondering how you make that second screen your primary display.

Mac dual monitors change primary