Setting up Multiple Display Monitors and Settings in Linux Mint and Ubuntu

This post is about setting up multiple display monitors on your Linux Mint or Ubuntu Operating system. In a previous post, I show how to hook up an external monitor. In this post, we will discuss the settings and how to arrange your display monitors. For the record, we refer to monitors as screens and displays as well.

Access Display Settings

To access your display settings, navigate to the start button on the lower left-hand side of your screen. Click on it then type “Display”. You will see the display icon appear, click on it.

Access Display Settings in Linux Mint

This will bring up your display settings pop-up. From here you can change your settings and arrange your displays on Linux Mint & Ubuntu. If you cannot see all your settings and buttons, click on the maximize button in the top right of the window. Note: I circled it in red to highlight it.

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Display Monitor pop-up box

Selecting Displays

To work with a display, you must first select it. See below, I have 2 monitors, I can click the one that I want to work with, then I can adjust the settings. In the above photo, I selected the other monitor in order to adjust settings. One is green, the other is pink, it also labeled in order to tell the difference between the two.

Selecting displaysDisplay Location

To see which display is which, click on “Detect Displays” and the system will label each display on the top left-hand side of the screen.

Display LocationDiplay Select

Screen Resolutions

Each screen has its own resolution and ratio. I covered ratios in more detail on a image sizing post. However, with resolutions, you can experiment to see which is the right setting for your displays. Make sure that you have the correct one selected in order to optimize your display. In the resolution drop menu, you can select another setting and try it out. Usually the recommended one is the best, but see what the other ones look like. Do not be afraid to try them out because you can always “revert” back to your current settings when trying other ones out.

resolution for displays

Refresh Rate

When considering your refresh rate, remember there are a lot of different types of monitors. They made some of them for gamers who require fast responses and their refresh rate has to be a lot higher. However, when you’re coding or watching videos on Rumble or other platforms, you do not have to have that high of a refresh rate. The higher the refresh rate the more CPU it consumes as well. For more information on this see What Is Refresh Rate and Why Is It Important? – Intel

refresh rate

Rotation

Unless you have a screen that rotates, do not even worry about this option. Some people have monitors in portrait so that is why this setting is there.

Fractional Scaling

Fractional scaling is still in the experimental development. However, I use it on my displays and it works well. I like things a little larger on my screen so I have it zoomed in at 200% to see the monitor better.

User Interface Scale

The user interface scale is another way to make your display bigger or smaller. Experiment around and see what is good for you.

Mirror Displays

If you turn on “Mirror Displays” then what you see on one monitor is what you will see on the other monitor. When you turn this off, then your monitors will be like one long wide monitor. You can move your mouse from one monitor to the other. I like this setting because I can be more efficient while working.

Arrange Monitor Displays

If you need to move one monitor to the left or right of the other monitor, it is easy to do. Just click and drag the monitors to the left or to the right of the other monitor. See the video for details on how this is done.

See video on the next page.

Setting up Multiple Display Monitors and Settings in Linux Mint and Ubuntu was last modified: July 13th, 2023 by Maximus Mccullough
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Setting up Multiple Display Monitors and Settings in Linux Mint and Ubuntu
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Setting up Multiple Display Monitors and Settings in Linux Mint and Ubuntu
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This post is about setting up multiple display monitors on your Linux Mint or Ubuntu Operating system. In a previous post, I show how to hook up an external monitor. In this post, we will discuss the settings and how to arrange your display monitors. For the record, we refer to monitors as screens and displays as well.
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Setting UP Multiple Display Monitors and Settings in Linux Mint and Ubuntu

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4 Comments

  • John says:

    Hey there, what version Linux Kernel are you using? Apparently certain versions seem to have issues with multiple monitors. Also are you connected to an HDMI port from your laptop or are you using an adapter/dock like usb c to hdmi? Thanks

  • willim says:

    Linux Mint 20.3 Cinnamon 64 bit

    Display

    DisplayPort-1 27″ 3840*2160 Acer Technologies Monitor (scaled resolution 1920*1080)
    DVI-D-0 43″ 3840*2160 Toshiba TV – Vestel Elektronik Sanayi ve Ticaret A. S.

    43″ TV Off
    = = = =
    When using 27″ monitor only 43″ TV switched off there is not an option to “Set as Primary” as “greyed out”
    Active is “dimmed green”
    Every few hours the 27″ monitor blanks twice then the windows are resized.

    As soon as I click on the 43″ TV even though switched off there is an option to “Set as Primary”

    “Display” always puts 27″ monitor to the left of and tops level with 43″ TV even though off

    43″ TV On
    = = = =
    There is an option to “Set as Primary” and active is “normal green”
    No changes on 27″ Monitor Options.

    I move 27″ monitor to the right of and centre vertically of the 43″ TV every time.

    # # #
    Within “Display” there seems to be the assumption that only the larger screen can be “Set as Primary.”

    How do I set 27″ Monitor as primary screen? I presume that this would stop the annoying blanking and resizing of the windows every few hours. It may also save the need to move the 27″ monitor to right every time the 43″ TV is switched on.
    Thank you
    # # #

    • Make sure of course your cords are good and plugged in. That blinking reminds me of a new cord that I bought that was junk. Frustrated me for days because I believed it was good. The other thing to check is your graphics card on your computer. Older ones have a harder time displaying properly. As far as setting the primary monitor. Open Settings->Display. Select the monitor you want to keep the panel. Press “Set as Primary” button, then “Apply” button. I hope this helps. Thanks!

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