Windows 10 Projector Mode
Vinnie Breidenthal
Modern laptop computers have more than a few ways to toggle the projection setting to display image on projectors or LCD monitors. Most models can automatically detect external monitor connections and start sending signal to it. However it is also important to know how to adjust the settings to have more control over what content is shown to presentation attendees.
These scenarios do not impact the guidance for 150% and 200% devices, but for users with 125% display devices who also use a desktop docking station or secondary monitor, we recommend the Windows 8 compatibility mode that is described in Fixing blurry text in Windows 8.1 for IT Professionals. Additional guidance about compatible devices and projectors is provided in this topic.
Windows 8.1 has optimized support for projection experiences. In previous versions of Windows, the user of a high DPI device might see content that was too big on the low DPI projector, making it difficult to get all the appropriate content on screen for presentation purposes. There are two projection modes: Duplicate and Extend. This section describes how Windows supports each of these modes.
The default projection mode is called Duplicate mode. (Type Win+P at the keyboard to see a list of the four multi-monitor display modes: PC screen only, Duplicate, Extend, and Second screen only.) In Duplicate mode, the same content is presented on the laptop display as on the projector. This makes it easiest for the presenter to interact directly with the content being display on the screen, particularly with laptop or tablet that supports touch. In this mode, Windows will look at both displays, try to find the best common resolution, and then put both displays into that resolution. In Windows 8.1, if this resolution change has an impact on the display scale factor, Windows will then rescale based on the new scale factor, thereby ensuring the best projection experience.
In the Extend mode, the projector is treated as a separate display from the primary display. This mode is typical for users using a multi-monitor setup or docking scenario. The user can drag or move content to the separate display by using the mouse or touchpad. This is not the default option but some users prefer this setting (to give just one example, because it allows the user to separate note taking from their presentation). In this mode, Windows 8.1 associates an appropriate scale factor for each display, and when the user moves content to the projector, Windows will rescale it appropriately, again ensuring the best projection experience.
Important Projectors work best in duplicate mode if they support resolutions and video modes that are similar to the device that is projecting. For example, if the dominant portable devices in the enterprise have 1366x768 and 1920x1080 displays, the projectors that are used should support the same resolutions for the best duplicate mode experiences.
When connected to an external display, Mac and Windows computers have two different display modes: Mirror and Extend. In Mirror Mode the computer monitor duplicates the monitor on the external display so that you see the same picture on both the desktop and projector. In Extend Mode the external display is treated as a separate screen so that you can have a different windows open on the projector and desktop. It is easy to switch between the two settings.
I am trying to change the Active Signal Mode on a Dell Windows11 laptop. I have attached a screenshot to show where in the settings I am trying to change this. Despite changing the mode in the Display adapter properties, the Active Signal Mode does not change (only the Desktop mode changes). I need to do this to test the behaviour of a Projector screen which seems to flicker at higher Signal modes.
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Response: The projector is connected to the laptop via HDMI ports/cables. The projector is used in a Church, and in order to avoid tripping & unsightly cables running around (distance between the laptop operator & projector is around 60feet/20meters), we have two metal casing HDMI ports into which HDMI cables are plugged in). Basically, a 7feet cable connects the projector to a HDMI port located on a pillar, then a 20feet cable connects that HDMI port to another HDMI port in one of the pews/benches, and a 7 feet cable connects this HDMI port to the laptop.
Having said that, Please note, when I connect the Windows11 laptop directly to the projector, i.e. use one HDMI cable connecting the laptop directly to the projector, there is no flickering. Only when the above said multiple connecting points are used, the projector image flickers when using a Windows11 laptop. Obviously there is an interference while using multiple connecting points and lengthy cables. I have tried changing to the 16 different display resolutions available on the Windows11 laptops, with no effect. Hence my request to change the Active Signal mode in the Windows11 laptop to a lower active signal mode, either 1536x1024 6Hz or 1368x768 Hz to test if I get a stable projection image.
As you mentioned there is no flickering when you connect the Windows 11 laptop directly to the projector, we can confirm that the graphics card and drivers are working fine. Maybe there is an issue with one of the other HDMI cables or HDMI splitters you use. It is important to mention that Intel does not recommend using any kind of adapters and can not guarantee 3rd party products/adapters will work as expected. We always recommend using straight connections with no video adapters/dongles in between. If the issue persists, it is possible that the adapter is not supported by the controller. In that case, you'll need to contact the adapter manufacturer for possible workarounds. Maybe there could be video signal degradation in the setup you use, causing the flickering issue.
For testing, you can also use one of those "working" laptops, connect to the projector, set an extended screen, and set some FHD resolution with 60Hz refresh - if possible. Then, check how this whole setup behaves. if possible use one long cable, the same or similar length as the whole path, and test using two laptops. Also, check cables and ports: plug in/out, dust/pins.
Tested all you have suggested. Windows11 laptops still end up flickering on the projector screen whilst Windows 10 don't. The difference I can see between the laptops is that the Active signal mode is lower in the Windows10 laptops.
At the moment, we use three cables. One from the projector to a fixed hdmi port (on a pillar) and then another cable connecting this port to another fixed hdmi port (under a pew), and then another cable to connect to the laptop. This setup works perfectly on Windows10, but causes signal degradation when using a Windows11 laptop. Having said that, we used a single 30 feet cable to connect the Windows11 laptop directly to the projector, there was no flickering. So I guess the multiple ports & cables causes a signal degradation on a Windows11 laptop.
We could make changes to the setup to use only one cable. However, since the laptop operator is sat almost 30feet away from the projector (Its a 900 year old huge Church building), we will need to apply & secure building planning permissions to alter some of the fixed HDMI ports and run a single cable beneath the floors. It will cost us as well.
In order to avoid this, is there a way I could test by changing the active signal mode on a few Windows11 laptops and see if it works whilst using the current setup? Please let me know if there is a risk in changing the active signal mode?
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When in Extended mode the projector will act as a secondary screen. This option is useful for
giving presentations where presenter notes are used in either Power Point or Keynote. The projector will only show the background image of the laptop until content is placed there or a presentation is started.
Windows should treat this as a "profile" which means that when you unplug your external monitor your icons and taskbar should stay on the correct screen, and when you plug it back in, it should go to the defined settings, but I'm not sure about this.
A solution I am using involves Steam. Install Steam and start it up in Big Picture mode, under display settings, select the monitor you want to play the game on. By doing this steam changes the windows primary display temporarily until you leave big picture mode. You can add non steam games to your steam library as shortcuts so you can launch any game(or any other program) via Big Picture which launches on the display you chosen.
One option is to switching your machine to "projector only" mode. Hit "windows key" + P and select projector only mode. This will treat your machine as having only one monitor (in this case, the secondary monitor).
Fullscreen games tend to be limited to the primary monitor (primary output). You can move windowed games to another monitors at some performance cost though. If you set the window to borderless, it will look just fine.
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