# Secondary monitor and collapsing file lists (or Filter-like behavior)

**URL:** https://community.mp3tag.de/t/secondary-monitor-and-collapsing-file-lists-or-filter-like-behavior/71847
**Category:** Bug Reports
**Created:** [September 16, 2026, 5:10am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/secondary-monitor-and-collapsing-file-lists-or-filter-like-behavior/71847 "2026-09-16T05:10:54Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![MongoMcG](https://community.mp3tag.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@MongoMcG](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/MongoMcG)
#### Post date: [September 16, 2026, 5:10am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/secondary-monitor-and-collapsing-file-lists-or-filter-like-behavior/71847/1 "2026-09-16T05:10:54Z")

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When running mp3tag (ver. 3.36.1) on a secondary monitor there is an issue with the Columns display shortening the file list to only the just-saved files. Here are the steps that cause the issue:

1. Open mp3tag on secondary or tertiary monitor.
2. Auto-Apply Filter is OFF, no filter is active, and filter history is empty. The status bar indicates the number of files in the column display and not a subset such as when a filter is applied.
3. Select one or multiple files in the Column display and change values for fields in the Tag Panel. (Selected files may or may not span several subdirectories.)
4. Apply changes to the selected files by clicking in the Column display and accepting the save changes dialogue.
5. Upon clicking "Yes" to save changes, the Columns display shows only the modified files instead of the entire directory and subdirectories, thus requiring a reload of the directory and subdirectories to regain the full list.

Running mp3tag on the primary monitor, or spanning mp3tag across primary and secondary monitors stops this inefficient behavior.

Note: initiating the save with [ctrl][s] does not cause the issue.

Hardware specifics: RTX4090, driving two 2560 x 1440 monitors (primary and secondary, via individual Display Port cables) scaled to 150%, and one 1920 x 1080 monitor (tertiary, via HDMI cable) scaled to 100%. Changing the scaling makes no difference in behavior.

This topic was covered (but unresolved) in this forum several years ago, here: [When Editing on Secondary Monitor, A Field Update Wipes Out Items in List Window](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/when-editing-on-secondary-monitor-a-field-update-wipes-out-items-in-list-window/45044)