How-To

How to Duplicate Desktop Icons on Dual Monitor Setup

By Brian Burgess

Published May 11, 2023

You might want to duplicate desktop icons on a dual monitor setup if you have dual or multiple monitors. So here’s how to do it.

Are you running Windows 10 or 11 on two or more displays? You might want to duplicate desktop icons on a dual monitor setup. Unfortunately, Windows doesn’t mirror your desktop icons across displays.

The benefit of a dual monitor setup is more screen real estate for improved productivity, multitasking, or improved gaming. For example, you can open a browser on one display and a word processing app on the other.

It allows easy viewing and seamless navigation between apps. Whether to get things done or have a better gaming experience, here’s how to duplicate desktop icons on two displays.

Duplicate Desktop Icons on a Dual Monitor Setup

When you create a dual monitor setup, Windows doesn’t automatically display the desktop icons on each monitor. Instead, it will put them on your primary display. But duplicating them is possible using display settings with copy and paste.

Note: These screenshots are from Windows 11, but the steps will also work on your Windows 10 PC.

To duplicate desktop icons on dual monitors:

1. Ensure the monitors are correctly connected to your PC.
2. Extend the displays by opening Settings > System > Display and selecting Extend the displays from the dropdown menu.
3. Identify the primary monitor with the desktop icons by clicking the Identify button.
   Note: You can click and drag the displays to rearrange their order.
4. Expand the Multiple displays option from the menu and select the Make this my main display setting.
5. Press Ctrl + A to select all icons on the primary desktop. Alternatively, you can only highlight the icons you want to duplicate if you don’t want them all. Hold the Ctrl button and highlight the ones you want to copy.
6. Right-click your highlighted icons and select Copy from the context menu.
7. Once the icons are copied to the Clipboard, right-click the desktop and select Paste from the menu.
8. Copies of your desktop icons will display on your primary monitor.
9. Select them all and drag them to your second monitor to duplicate.

If you have more than two monitors, repeat the process for each monitor where you want the desktop icons to appear. It’s also worth mentioning that this works with any files or file shortcuts you have on the desktop.

You might want to rename the icons to remove “Copy” from the name when finished. When you launch an app from the second monitor, it will display on the primary monitor first. However, you can move the app to the second monitor, and Windows will remember its placement the next time it’s launched.

If you change your mind and want the icons removed from the other displays, the changes can be undone by deleting the icons.

Using Multiple Monitors on Windows

Duplicating desktop icons on both monitors is straightforward but a bit tedious. But once you get it done, you will have quick access to your apps, files, and folders from both screens.

Currently, multiple monitor setups are more common, and Windows has more to help you get the most from them. So, for example, you can set different wallpapers for dual monitor configuration or learn about using three monitors with your PC.

Regardless of the number of monitors, getting the best view is essential. So, check out how to adjust display scale settings on Windows 11, or if you’re a coder or gamer, learn about rotating your screen on Windows. In addition, you might need to enable the dynamic refresh rate feature if you have a high-end gaming rig.

It’s also important to know how to change the refresh rate on Windows 11. Not on Windows 11 yet? No worries; you can also adjust the refresh rate on Windows 10.