How do I get VLC to play on the second monitor on windows?

"It has the option, it's just kind of tucked away a bit. Under Tools -> Preferences go to the Video section and choose your display device in the DirectX settings:

You can use \\DISPLAY2 in a multi-monitor configuration. Ensure you are using DirectX instead of Default as the output (in the Display section above)."

"I've found a semi-satisfactory way to do it. Make sure you set up the second monitor on the right hand side, then:

Open the preferences dialog (Tools --> Preferences)
In the interface tab, choose Native, and un-tick ""Embed video in interface"" (this enables the controls to be separated from the video)
Choose ""All"" in the ""Show settings"" box at the bottom left of the preferences window
Choose the video options from the left
Tick Fullscreen video output
Scroll down and set an X and Y position that are on the second monitor - so set an X position larger then the width of the first screen. The value of the Y coordinate doesn't matter much, but mustn't be negative otherwise both values will be ignored.
Save the settings

Now, when you start a video, it will run full screen on the second monitor.
The disadvantages of the above compared to the Mac OS ""Fullscreen Video device"" menu are:

Sometimes you will see the video window for a moment before it goes full screen.
It's a pain in the neck to set up, and kind of needs to be set permanently
You can't have the non-fullscreen video on the first screen to preview/cue it up before you start & if you exit full screen mode you get a video window on the second monitor, which isn't what you want in a presentation type situation.
It only works with the second output on the right. With it on the left, VLC seems to treat a negative window position as ""use defaults"". I haven't tried putting the second monitor above or below - presumably only one of those will work."

Screen select doesn't work as it should on Windows VLC. As a workaround I'd suggest using it normally and download Dual Monitor tool. Set hotkeys for moving window to other screen (will work with full screen as well. I can rotate windows with fx. ctrl+shift numpad +/- (You can set up most key combos here). Started with ctrl +/- but gave some trouble enlarging text in firefox was bound to same key and needed that on my small screen on laptop. I bound rotate screen (same program) to alt+ctrl numpad +/- which is rarely needed, but nice when it is. I seen other players that handle it correctly. I like VLC because it is multi-platform and open source as well as ad free, but these issues seem to plaguing it in even recent versions on Windows.
Screen select doesn't work as it should on Windows VLC. As a workaround I'd suggest using it normally and download Dual Monitor tool. Set hotkeys for moving window to other screen (will work with full screen as well. I can rotate windows with fx. ctrl+shift numpad +/- (You can set up most key combos here). Started with ctrl +/- but gave some trouble enlarging text in firefox was bound to same key and needed that on my small screen on laptop. I bound rotate screen (same program) to alt+ctrl numpad +/- which is rarely needed, but nice when it is. I seen other players that handle it correctly. I like VLC because it is multi-platform and open source as well as ad free, but these issues seem to plaguing it in even recent versions on Windows.