Best Ultrawide Monitor Setup for Premiere Pro Editing

Most editors who move to an ultrawide pair it with one normal monitor. The ultrawide holds Premiere Pro with a long timeline, and the second screen holds your bins, File Explorer, your browser and scopes.

These steps are for Premiere Pro on Windows. Dragging files between screens works the same as on a single monitor, because Windows treats both screens as one desktop.

How to set up an ultrawide with a second monitor

1. Put a normal monitor next to the ultrawide. Place a standard monitor on whichever side you reach for files with, and connect both screens to your computer.
2. Match the layout in Windows. Go to Settings > System > Display. Drag the two screen boxes so they sit in the same order as on your desk, then click Apply. Your mouse now moves straight from one screen to the other.
3. Open Premiere Pro on the ultrawide. Drag the Premiere window onto the ultrawide and maximize it. Give the timeline the whole bottom half so you see more of your edit without zooming out.
4. Move your bins and scopes to the second screen. Click the menu icon (three lines) next to the Project panel's name and choose Undock Panel. Drag the panel onto the second monitor. Do the same with Lumetri Scopes or any other panel you want off the main screen.
5. Put File Explorer and your browser on the second screen. Open File Explorer and your browser on the second monitor, next to your bins.
6. Drag files into Premiere. Drag clips from File Explorer across to the Project panel, or drop them straight onto the timeline on the ultrawide.
7. Save the workspace. Go to Window > Workspaces > Save as New Workspace and name it. Premiere keeps the layout, and you can bring it back from the same menu if a panel gets moved.

If you only have the ultrawide: snap windows side by side

You don't need a second monitor to get File Explorer next to Premiere. Windows can dock two windows side by side on one screen.

1. Click Premiere Pro and press Windows key + Left arrow to snap it to the left side.
2. Windows shows your other open windows on the right side. Click File Explorer.
3. Drag the line between the two windows to give Premiere more room.

You can also hover over the maximize button of any window to pick a snap layout. When you're done bringing files in, maximize Premiere again to get the full timeline back.

For more control, install Microsoft PowerToys (it's free) and turn on FancyZones. It lets you draw your own zones on the ultrawide, for example a big zone for Premiere and a narrow strip for File Explorer, and snap windows into them by holding Shift while you drag.

Pick a flat ultrawide, not a curved one

If you haven't bought the monitor yet, get a flat one. A curved screen can shift colors toward its outer edges, which throws off your color work. A flat panel shows colors evenly from edge to edge.

FAQ

Can I still drag files from File Explorer into Premiere with an ultrawide? Yes. Windows treats every monitor as one big desktop, so you drag a file from File Explorer on one screen into Premiere on another the same way you would on a single screen.

Is an ultrawide better than three monitors for editing? Three monitors work fine, but the bezels break up the timeline when you stretch it across screens. An ultrawide gives you one long timeline with no gaps, and a second monitor covers everything else.

Should I buy a curved or flat ultrawide for editing? Flat. A curved screen can shift colors toward its outer edges, and a flat one shows colors evenly across the whole panel.