How do I show MSFS 2020 instruments on a second screen?

In Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, set Windows to Extend these displays, load the aircraft, then hold Right Alt and left-click a supported cockpit display such as the PFD, MFD or FMS. MSFS opens it in a separate window; drag that window to the second screen, then resize or maximise it.

How do I move MSFS 2020 instruments to another monitor?

1. Extend the Windows desktop. Press Win + P and choose Extend, or open Windows Display settings and select Extend these displays. Arrange the monitor icons so their positions match the physical screens. Do not use Duplicate mode. Our Windows and MSFS dual-monitor configuration guide covers the broader display setup.
2. Load the aircraft and power its avionics. Enter the cockpit and wait until the display has finished initialising. This makes the clickable screen area easier to identify.
3. Detach the instrument. Hold the right-hand Alt key and left-click inside the rendered display, not its bezel, buttons or knobs. The left Alt key does not trigger the native pop-out command.
4. Move the new window. Drag its title bar onto the second monitor and resize or maximise it. If the window opens behind MSFS, select it with Alt + Tab. The shortcut Win + Shift + Left/Right Arrow can also move the active window between monitors.
5. Repeat for other displays. Pop out each compatible PFD, MFD, navigation display or FMS screen you need. Leave the main simulator on the primary monitor.

The popped-out window normally contains the display image rather than its physical bezel. Mouse interaction remains available, but a touchscreen may require correct Windows touch calibration and can behave differently with individual aircraft gauges.

Which MSFS 2020 instruments can use a second screen?

MSFS 2020 can detach compatible digital displays, but it cannot natively extract every cockpit instrument.

• Usually supported: glass-cockpit PFDs and MFDs, GPS displays, navigation displays and some FMS or touchscreen controllers.
• Usually not supported: individual analogue gauges, switches, bezels and decorative panel elements.
• Aircraft-dependent: custom add-on avionics only work when their gauge implementation supports MSFS pop-outs.

If one screen detaches correctly but another does nothing, the second display is probably not implemented as a pop-out target. Creating another complete 3D cockpit view is a different multi-monitor technique and consumes substantially more graphics performance.

Why will an instrument not pop out?

Most failures come from using the wrong key, clicking outside the active display area or trying to detach an unsupported gauge.

• Nothing happens: use the physical right-hand Alt key and click the LCD image itself. Close keyboard utilities or overlays that may capture that key.
• The display is dark: switch on the aircraft battery, avionics and relevant display controls, then let the avionics initialise before trying again.
• The window appears to be missing: check the taskbar or Alt + Tab, then use Win + Shift + Left/Right Arrow to recover it. This commonly happens after disconnecting or rearranging monitors.
• Only one aircraft is affected: test a default aircraft with a familiar glass cockpit. If that works, the original aircraft or gauge does not fully support native detachment.
• The size or position is strange: confirm the monitors are arranged correctly in Windows. Different display-scaling percentages can also produce awkward window sizes and coordinates.

Can MSFS remember the instrument positions?

Native pop-outs are adequate for occasional use, but they should not be relied upon to restore a complete aircraft-specific layout after every flight or monitor change.

For a fixed home-cockpit arrangement with several displays, saving and automatically restoring panels with MSFS Pop Out Panel Manager is more practical. Use the native method when you only need one or two temporary windows; use a panel manager when repeatable PFD, MFD and FMS placement matters.

Why do popped-out instruments reduce FPS?

Each detached instrument remains a live rendered display, so multiple large pop-outs can reduce frame rate or create uneven frame pacing.

Keep the windows no larger than necessary, detach only the displays you use, and reduce Glass Cockpit Refresh Rate in MSFS 2020's graphics options if the avionics do not need maximum update frequency. If performance drops sharply after adding the second display, follow our diagnosis and fixes for two-monitor FPS loss.