Getting started

What you need

• Windows 10 or 11
• Two or more monitors (it works with one, but there's little point)
• Monitors with DDC/CI turned on get a real sleep. Monitors without it still work — see Monitors that can't sleep directly.

Set it up in two minutes

1. Run BranchOut Display. The settings window opens and a monitor icon appears in the system tray (bottom right, possibly under the ^ arrow).
2. Find your monitors. The map at the top matches Windows' display settings. Click Identify to show each monitor's number on its screen.
3. Mark the screen that must stay on. Click its tile on the map and tick Always on (e.g. security cameras). The tile turns orange.
4. Try it. Click Sleep Now. Every other monitor goes dark. Move the mouse and they come back.
5. Make it automatic. Tick Night mode — the other monitors sleep whenever you've been away for the time you choose. See Night mode.
6. Tick Start with Windows so it's running after every restart.

It lives in the tray

Closing or minimizing the window keeps BranchOut Display running in the tray — it has to be running to sleep and wake your monitors. Click the tray icon to open it again; right-click it for quick actions and Exit.

To keep the icon visible instead of under the ^ arrow: Settings → Personalization → Taskbar → Other system tray icons → turn on BranchOut Display.

Related

• Always on
• Night mode
• FAQ