How to Open PowerPoint Hyperlinks on a Secondary Monitor
Question details
The user needs hyperlinks clicked during a presentation to open automatically on a secondary monitor instead of the primary display.
- Product
- PowerPoint
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Presenting a slideshow on a secondary monitor using Presenter View and clicking external links to websites or other files.
- Observed behavior
- Linked files and web browsers open on the primary display because the target application remembers its last closed position.
Ensure your secondary monitor is securely connected, recognized in your Windows display settings, and set to 'Extend these displays' before configuring the target applications.
Reset Target Application's Default Display Position
Since Windows applications remember the monitor where they were last closed, you must manually train your browser or linked app to open on the secondary screen.
PowerPoint relies entirely on your operating system's window management. By default, Windows opens a program in the exact position and on the specific monitor where it was last closed. You can fix the hyperlink behavior by adjusting the target application beforehand.
Open the application that your PowerPoint hyperlink points to. For most web links, this will be your default web browser (such as Chrome, Edge, or Firefox).
Click and drag the title bar of the application window over to the secondary monitor where your PowerPoint slideshow will be presented.
Maximize the window on your secondary monitor. Once maximized, click the 'X' in the top right corner to close the application directly from that monitor.
Open your PowerPoint presentation, start the slideshow using Presenter View, and click the hyperlink. The browser or linked file will now launch on the secondary monitor.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my PowerPoint links open on the wrong screen?
PowerPoint does not control where linked applications open. Windows manages this by opening applications on the monitor where they were last closed. If you previously closed your browser on your primary screen, the presentation link will open there as well.
Does Presenter View change how hyperlinks behave?
No. While Presenter View neatly splits your speaker notes onto the primary monitor and the slideshow onto the secondary monitor, it does not override the Windows default window positioning for external links.
Can I permanently force all links to open on a secondary monitor?
There is no built-in PowerPoint setting to permanently force links to a specific monitor. You must consistently close your default browser on the secondary monitor before your presentation, or use third-party window management software to lock application positions.
