Unable to Duplicate Multiple Displays in Windows 10

Understanding and Resolving Multi-Display Configuration Issues in Windows 10

Introduction

Many users rely on multiple display setups to enhance productivity and gaming experiences. However, encountering issues with display configurations—such as the inability to duplicate screens—can be both frustrating and confusing. This article aims to guide users through common causes and solutions for issues where Windows 10 unexpectedly defaults to extending displays, preventing the duplication of multiple monitors, especially after gaming or recent software changes.

Scenario Overview

Imagine a setup with a standard monitor and a Wacom drawing tablet used as a secondary display. Typically, the user prefers to duplicate their primary screen onto the drawing tablet for convenience. Recently, after launching fullscreen games like Overwatch 2 or Fortnite, the display settings unexpectedly switch from ‘Duplicate’ to ‘Extend’. Even after closing the game, the duplicate option remains inaccessible, and the system persistently reverts to extended mode.

This situation can be compounded by recent software installations, driver updates, or configuration changes—making troubleshooting essential.

Common Causes

1. Software Interference Post-Game Launch
   Fullscreen games often alter display settings to optimize performance, sometimes overriding previous configurations. Certain games or overlay software like OBS can also modify display modes.

2. Recent Software Installations or Changes
   Installing or updating applications like OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) may trigger unexpected display behaviors, especially if screen capture or multiview features are involved.

3. Graphics Driver and Windows Update Dynamics
   While updates can resolve known issues, recent driver installations or Windows updates sometimes lead to conflicts, affecting display configuration persistence.

4. Display Cache and Registry Issues
   Corrupted display settings cache or registry entries can cause Windows to revert to default behaviors, preventing manual changes from taking effect.

Troubleshooting Steps

If you’re experiencing similar issues, consider the following steps:

1. Restart your system
   Perform multiple restarts, with or without your secondary device (e.g., drawing tablet) connected, to see if the problem resolves temporarily.

2. Reinstall or Update Graphics Drivers
   Uninstall your current GPU drivers via Device Manager or Display Driver Uninstaller, then reinstall the latest drivers from the manufacturer’s website (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel). Keep your graphics drivers up-to-date to avoid compatibility issues.

3. Reset Display Settings Cache
   Use Windows tools or registry edits to reset display configurations:

4. Open ‘Run’ (Win + R), type regedit, and navigate to `