Multiple Monitors With Linux
The use of two or more monitors driven by a single PC running the Linux Operating System. Also includes dual monitors on Linux. Discussion of the challenges of multiple monitor operation and navigational tips.
Dual Monitors with Cinnamon
If you choose NOT to mirror then you will notice that your second monitor is an empty desktop without icons and without a panel. Cinnamon version 2.6 and later support applets and panels on the second display. You can add a panel to your second monitor by doing the following: Right-click the panel on your primary monitor and select "Modify panel" and "Add panel." The top and bottom edges of all monitors should get highlighted and a new panel will be set up where you click.
The menu and applications will align right on the second panel on the second display. You are supposed to be able to change this by choosing to enable panel edit mode and drag and drop the Window list to the left side of the panel (red colored). However, like many things in Linux this is broken. Maybe it will be fixed on the version of Cinnamon that you are using.
Issues like the annoying application thumbnails and the alignment of the Window List applet can be customized:
Alt+F7
If you can't see it, how do you move it from one monitor to the other?
One of your monitors has went blank or for whatever reason you are unable to see the desktop and applications that would otherwise be visible on that monitor, how do you select and drag the application desired from the blank monitor over to the visible and active monitor? Using Alt+TAB allows you to see and go though all open applications. However, the application from the other monitor is not visible on the tab bar.
- Alt-TAB to the desired application so it is selected
- Press Alt-F7 to "acquire" the application window in the same way that clicking and holding the mouse button would do but is now not necessary.
- drag the application window to the visible active monitor.
