--- title: Multi-Monitor Update and Greeter Prototype description: We first posted a blog back in December about our work on the multi-monitor experience for Ubuntu. Back then we published the first revision of the Multiple Monitors UX Specification, and got some great feedback. We have taken comments, corrections and suggestions on board, and have come up with an updated multi-monitor specification. The […] url: https://canonical.com/blog/multi-monitor-update-and-greeter-prototype --- 1. [Blog](https://canonical.com/blog) 2. Article --- [Canonical](https://canonical.com/blog/author/canonical "More about Canonical") 31 January 2012 # Multi-Monitor Update and Greeter Prototype [Design](https://canonical.com/blog/tag/design) [multi-monitor](https://canonical.com/blog/tag/multi-monitor) [Multi-screen](https://canonical.com/blog/tag/multi-screen) [prototype](https://canonical.com/blog/tag/prototype) [Ubuntu](https://canonical.com/blog/tag/ubuntu) --- Share the article We first posted a blog back in December about our work on the multi-monitor experience for Ubuntu. Back then we published the first revision of the **Multiple Monitors UX Specification**, and got some great feedback. We have taken comments, corrections and suggestions on board, and have come up with an updated multi-monitor specification. The specification can be found here: There are several improvements to the specification (including more elegant discoverability of the Greeter login across displays, improved placement of windows upon removal of a display and a more feasible solution for providing missing resolutions in the Display Preferences panel). The document has also been restructured in places, with new and extended sections, specifying in further detail how elements such as the Guest Session, Launcher, Spread and mouse cursor should work in a multi-monitor setup. We have also created a prototype to explore how the Greeter works across multiple displays. Multi-Monitor Greeter Prototype You can check out the prototype by downloading it from here:  Unzip the package and double-click the executable in the folder. You will need more than one display to check this prototype out. As you move your cursor across displays, the Greeter will follow the cursor, allowing you to easily log in on any display. The Greeter itself is not interactive, we are just exploring how it moves between displays. There are also a few keyboard controls to try out: Press **Escape** to exit the prototype. Press **Space** to check out the prototype against a number of different desktop backgrounds (will cycle through the images in /usr/share/backgrounds) Hold down **Alt** to show numbers on each display. Still holding down **Alt**, you can then tap a number to move the Greeter across to that numbered display, allowing you to change the display you log in with, without using the mouse. In the final implementation, the **Super** key will be used rather than the **Alt** key, but I can’t bind to that keyboard shortcut in my prototype. Please let us know your thoughts on the updated specification and the new Greeter prototype. [Get in touch Interested in running Ubuntu in your organization?](https://ubuntu.com/about/contact-us/form) ## Sign up for our newsletter Get the latest Canonical news and updates in your inbox. Work email: \*I agree to receive information about Canonical's products and services. In submitting this form, I confirm that I have read and agree to [Canonical's Privacy Notice](https://canonical.com/legal/data-privacy/contact) and [Privacy Policy](https://canonical.com/legal/data-privacy). Sign up ## Share on --- ## Related posts [### Canonical announces the alpha release of Charmed OpenShell to help secure autonomous AI agent fleets](https://canonical.com/blog/charmed-openshell-alpha-release) To streamline enterprise deployment and lifecycle management, Canonical is announcing the alpha release of Charmed OpenShell. [Canonical](https://canonical.com/blog/author/canonical) 28 September 2026 [### Ubuntu coming soon to Snapdragon X2 Series platforms, unlocking more Linux PCs for the agentic world](https://canonical.com/blog/ubuntu-coming-soon-to-qualcomm-snapdragon-x2-series-platforms) Canonical and Qualcomm Technologies announce upcoming native Ubuntu support for Qualcomm’s flagship laptop silicon, delivering multi-day battery life, 80 TOPS NPU acceleration,... [Canonical](https://canonical.com/blog/author/canonical) 23 September 2026 [### Arduino® VENTUNO™ Q is available for pre-order with Ubuntu pre-installed](https://canonical.com/blog/arduino-ventuno-q-is-available-for-pre-order-with-ubuntu-pre-installed) London, UK – August 25, 2026 – Following our initial collaboration announcement in March 2026, Canonical and Arduino (a subsidiary of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.) are excited... [Canonical](https://canonical.com/blog/author/canonical) 25 August 2026 [### Canonical becomes Gold Sponsor of Trifecta Tech Foundation](https://canonical.com/blog/canonical-becomes-gold-sponsor-of-trifecta-tech-foundation) Canonical is pleased to announce it is now a Gold Sponsor of the Trifecta Tech Foundation, a non-profit that creates open source building blocks for critical infrastructure... [Canonical](https://canonical.com/blog/author/canonical) 30 June 2026