[DOCS] Computer use docs missing multi-monitor display-switching guidance
Documentation Type
Missing documentation (feature not documented)
Documentation Location
https://code.claude.com/docs/en/desktop
Section/Topic
Let Claude use your computer, especially the overview/setup guidance for users working on multi-monitor desktops
Current Documentation
The docs currently say:
Computer use lets Claude open your apps, control your screen, and work directly on your machine the way you would. Ask Claude to test a native app in the iOS simulator, interact with a desktop tool that has no CLI, or automate something that only works through a GUI.
Computer use is off by default. [Enable it in Settings](#enable-computer-use) and grant the required macOS permissions before Claude can control your screen.
And the computer-use tool reference currently says:
The computer use tool supports these actions: - screenshot - Capture the current display - left_click - Click at coordinates[x, y]- type - Type text string - key - Press key or key combination (for example, "ctrl+s") - mouse_move - Move cursor to coordinates - scroll - Scroll in any direction with amount control - left_click_drag - Click and drag between coordinates - right_click, middle_click - Additional mouse buttons - double_click, triple_click - Multiple clicks - left_mouse_down, left_mouse_up - Fine-grained click control - hold_key - Hold down a key for a specified duration (in seconds) - wait - Pause between actions - zoom - View a specific region of the screen at full resolution. Requiresenable_zoom: truein tool definition. Takes aregionparameter with coordinates[x1, y1, x2, y2]defining top-left and bottom-right corners of the area to inspect.
| display_number | No | Display number for X11 environments |
What's Wrong or Missing?
Changelog v2.1.85 says:
Fixed switch_display in the computer-use tool returning "not available in this session" on multi-monitor setups
The current docs do not explain multi-monitor behavior for Claude Code computer use.
That leaves three user-visible gaps:
A. Multi-monitor support is not described at all
The desktop page describes Claude controlling "your screen" in the singular, but does not tell users whether computer use can work across more than one display.
B. Display switching during a session is undocumented
The changelog confirms there is display-switching behavior in computer use, but neither the desktop page nor the computer-use tool reference explains how Claude moves between displays, when that is supported, or what users should expect on multi-monitor setups.
C. The relationship between display_number and display switching is unclear
The platform reference exposes display_number for X11 environments, but it does not explain whether that is the only multi-display mechanism or how it relates to the switch_display behavior fixed in v2.1.85.
Suggested Improvement
Add a short multi-monitor subsection to https://code.claude.com/docs/en/desktop under computer use that explains:
- whether Claude Code computer use supports multiple displays,
- whether Claude can switch to another monitor during a session,
- any setup limitations or expectations for multi-monitor desktops.
Also update the computer-use tool reference to clarify the developer-facing behavior. If switch_display is a public action, document it alongside the other available actions. If it is an internal implementation detail, the reference should still explain how multi-display selection works in practice and how it relates to display_number.
Impact
Medium - Makes feature difficult to understand
Additional Context
Affected Pages:
| Page | Context |
|------|---------|
| https://code.claude.com/docs/en/desktop | Primary Claude Code computer-use page; currently explains enabling screen control but not multi-monitor support or display switching |
| https://platform.claude.com/docs/en/agents-and-tools/tool-use/computer-use-tool | Cross-reference for the computer-use tool; lists actions and display_number, but does not document switch_display or other multi-monitor session behavior |
Total scope: 2 pages affected
Source: Changelog v2.1.85
Exact changelog entry:
Fixed switch_display in the computer-use tool returning "not available in this session" on multi-monitor setupsThis issue has 5 comments on GitHub. Read the full discussion on GitHub ↗