Candidate Window on the Wrong Monitor or Off-Screen With Multiple Displays

1 Invisible candidates may be a display issue

With multiple monitors or mixed scaling, Translation Input Method candidates may be generated but shown in the wrong place.

This often happens with a laptop screen plus external monitor, projector mode, mixed DPI, or a recently changed primary display. Cursor-following candidate windows depend on focus and system coordinates.

This page covers candidate window placement only. If candidates never appear in a simple single-display text field, use the candidate display guide instead.

2 Use display settings as a comparison test

Multi-monitor issues need controlled comparisons. Do not reinstall immediately, and do not change many display options at once. Change one condition, type a short phrase, and record the result.

If you are presenting, screen sharing, or using a projector, save your work before changing display settings.

Check the primary display

Open system display settings and confirm which monitor is primary. Move the input window to that screen and test candidate placement.

Temporarily unify scaling

Mixed DPI or scaling can shift candidate coordinates. Try unified scaling or a single display as a comparison.

Move the target window

Place the text field near the center of one screen, away from edges, taskbars, and cross-monitor boundaries.

Reload the display session

After changing primary display or scaling, sign out and back in before retesting. That is often cleaner than reinstalling.

3 Separate display placement from input generation

If candidates return in a single-display setup, focus on display configuration. If they still fail, check input state, language settings, and installation source.

If this happens only inside remote desktop or a VM, use the remote/VM guide because host and guest sessions may handle candidate windows separately.

Editor note

This page does not promise a specific version always follows the cursor, and it does not provide registry or script fixes. Observable display comparisons are safer.

FAQ

Why does the candidate window appear on another monitor?

Primary display, scaling, window position, and system coordinate handling can all affect candidate placement. Start with a single-display or unified-scaling comparison.

Does an invisible candidate window mean candidates are not generated?

Not necessarily. Candidates may exist while the window appears off-screen, behind another surface, or on another display.

Should I edit registry settings or run a repair script?

No. Check primary display, scaling, window position, and session reload first. Avoid scripts unless current product notes explicitly document them.