How to tab out of Skyrim: alt-tab fix without black screens

To tab out of Skyrim cleanly, tick Windowed Mode and Borderless in the launcher's Options, then add bAlwaysActive=1 to Skyrim.ini so it keeps running. That fixes the black screen and the pause, but Skyrim still has no reliable monitor setting, and in borderless the mouse can slip onto your other screen mid-fight. Second Screen Gaming puts Skyrim on the screen you choose at every launch and keeps the cursor there while you play.

Put Skyrim on its own screen, every launch

With Windowed Mode ticked, turn on Second Screen Gaming's Run borderless on a chosen screen and pick the monitor: Skyrim lands there and fills it at every launch, and waits if that screen is unplugged. Keep the mouse on this screen holds the cursor on Skyrim's monitor while you play and frees it the moment you alt-tab. Nothing is loaded into the game for either, and your INI edits stay yours.

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Why alt-tabbing out of Skyrim goes wrong

Skyrim pauses when it loses focus, and in fullscreen, alt-tabbing out can leave you with a black screen when you come back. Skyrim also reads the mouse in a way that can keep it captured after you alt-tab. Two changes fix most of it: borderless windowed, and one line in Skyrim.ini.

Play Skyrim borderless

Open the Skyrim launcher and click Options.
Tick Windowed Mode and Borderless, and set the resolution to your monitor's.

The same settings live in SkyrimPrefs.ini under [Display], as bFull Screen=0 and bBorderless=1. In borderless, alt-tab is instant and there is no black screen on the way back.

Stop Skyrim pausing when you alt-tab

Open Documents\My Games\Skyrim Special Edition\ and edit Skyrim.ini.
Under [General], add:
```
bAlwaysActive=1
```

The game now keeps running when you click your other monitor. If you use Mod Organizer, it keeps its own copy of the INI files for each profile, so make the change in Mod Organizer's INI editor instead, or the line has no effect.

Keep the mouse out of your other monitor

In borderless, the cursor can slip onto your other screen during play. If scrolling in Skyrim also scrolls a browser on your other monitor, turn off Scroll inactive windows when I hover over them in Windows' mouse settings. That stops the scrolling, not the cursor leaving the game; Keep the mouse on this screen above does that.

Common questions

Why can't I tab out of Skyrim?

Skyrim takes exclusive hold of the keyboard while it is in front, and the first alt-tab press can be swallowed, so you have to press it twice. Borderless windowed makes switching much more dependable.

Does bAlwaysActive keep Skyrim's sound playing?

It keeps the game running. Players report mixed results for sound, so if it goes quiet when you click away, see how to keep game sound on when tabbed out.

Is fullscreen faster than borderless in Skyrim?

Skyrim modding guides note fullscreen can perform a little better without mods. On most modern PCs the difference is small next to being able to use your second monitor. See borderless windowed vs fullscreen.