Multiscreen Blank is a free multi-monitor tool that places an overlay to blank, dim or mirror the screen

Ashwin
Apr 24, 2021
Updated • May 13, 2021
Windows software
|
6

Multiple monitor setups are great for working, gaming, and of course multitasking. When I have to focus on one screen, I switch to the single display mode (disable the other one), and re-enable it later.

Multiscreen Blank is a free multi-monitor tool that places an overlay to blank, dim or mirror the screen

Multiscreen Blank is a freeware tool that lets you do this quickly, without having to jump through Windows' multiple display settings menu.

The application ships in a portable archive, and the folder is just under 300KB in size. If there's one thing I don't like about using extended display mode, it's the system tray, which is only accessible on the primary screen. So, if you have to manage a program from the tray, you'll have to fumble a bit. This isn't an issue with Multiscreen Blank, because it has a tray icon and a floating window, both of which let you to manage your monitors with ease.

Multiscreen Blank tray menu

Let's look at the window, it displays a box representing your monitor, if you have two displays, you'll see 2 boxes on the interface. Click on a box to select the corresponding monitor, double-clicking on it will blank the monitor. To restore the screen, double-click inside the blanked-out monitor, or right-click on it and select reveal this screen from the menu. You may group displays together, and manage them in one go.

Note: The application does not turn off the display, it just blanks it with a black overlay.

Multiscreen Blank - blanked screen

Right-click on a monitor to rename it. Multiscreen Blank's context menu has more useful items, like the screen dimming option, which again uses an overlay, i.e. it does not turn down the display's brightness. To revert the settings to normal, hit the reveal screen option.

Multiscreen Blank interface

Blank screens have their own context menu, which lets you blank all screens, reveal the current display and blank the rest,  If you don't like the black overlay, you may want to check invert colors option, which turns the screen white.

Multiscreen Blank - blanked screen menu

Multiscreen Blank supports a variety of command-line options, which are listed at the official help page. There are a few special features in the program, Virtual Screens, Scraps and Mirrors. Virtual Screens requires a special hardware screen splitter to work.

Multiscreen Blank - scraps

Scraps are essentially their own windows, you can use to blank specific areas of the screen, and even change the color of the overlay. But Scraps can be used for other things, such as to view images (BMP, JPG. JPEG, PNG and GIF). Want to take a screenshot of the content behind the scrap, you can do that too. The windows can be resized manually, or set to fill the screen's width or height.

The Mirroring feature displays the content of the current screen in a window that opens on the other monitor. To use it select a monitor on the main page of the program, right-click on it, and pick the Mirror this screen option. Though it starts in a mini-window, you can resize and move it as required.

Multiscreen Blank - screen mirroring

Multiscreen Blank has an INI file in its folder, but does not save its configuration in the directory. Instead the tool saves the settings in your AppData folder, which means is it is not truly portable by default. In order to fix this, all you have to do is delete the "Paths" line from the INI file, and it will make the program portable. Or, you can just delete the INI file, and the application will create a configuration file in the same directory.

If you find it difficult to use the mouse while a screen is blanked (the overlay hides the pointer), toggle the option that displays the cursor, from the Blanking tab in the program's settings.

Multiscreen Blank  keeps its core features simple to use, though the lack of hotkeys is a bit disappointing.

Summary
software image
Author Rating
1star1star1stargraygray
2.5 based on 3 votes
Software Name
Multiscreen Blank
Operating System
Windows
Software Category
Productivity
Price
Free
Landing Page
Advertisement

Tutorials & Tips


Previous Post: «
Next Post: «

Comments

  1. Ed said on November 17, 2021 at 11:20 pm
    Reply

    Works great thank you for the detailed review , the only thiing I cannot seems to figure , is that when I go to a virtual desktop , it deselect the already blank monitor and I cant blank it again, I’m only able to blank the main screen…

  2. Q said on April 25, 2021 at 12:19 am
    Reply

    Unfortunately, after testing, the software did not work. I received a not a valid Win32 error for the current version of the software. When trying an older version, the software failed to run and an error relating to .NET framework was provided.

    I tested on Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 3.

    The software does not appear to be truly portable.

    1. Pootch said on April 25, 2021 at 7:52 am
      Reply

      Windows XP, really?

  3. WorknMan said on April 24, 2021 at 3:43 pm
    Reply

    Protip: As far as blanking out individual monitors, you don’t have to go into settings to do that – just press Winkey+P.

  4. Paul(us) said on April 24, 2021 at 11:55 am
    Reply

    I can’t find a link to the website from the program in the article Ashwin, do you mean Multiscreen blank version 2.40 from the firm https://dl.nookkin.com/ with the direct link being http://multiscreenblank.nookkin.com/ ?

    1. Martin Brinkmann said on April 24, 2021 at 12:30 pm
      Reply

      That is the right one, I have added the link. Sorry for that!

Leave a Reply

Check the box to consent to your data being stored in line with the guidelines set out in our privacy policy

We love comments and welcome thoughtful and civilized discussion. Rudeness and personal attacks will not be tolerated. Please stay on-topic.
Please note that your comment may not appear immediately after you post it.