Remote-access Guide

how to get remote access on two monitors

by Adolf Aufderhar Jr. Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Using Remote Desktop with Dual Monitors

  • Step 1. Check the basics Make sure both your monitors are using the same resolution and are oriented horizontally. Right...
  • Step 2. Get the right version of Remote Desktop client Check if you have the right version of Remote Desktop Connection...
  • Step 3. Connect to remote computer in 'span mode'

How do I use dual monitors with remote desktop?
  1. Go to the Windows Search Bar.
  2. Type Remote Desktop Connection, then open it.
  3. Expand Show options.
  4. Go to Display and check Use all my monitors for the remote session.
  5. Click Connect and proceed to connect to the server like you usually do.
Apr 15, 2021

Full Answer

How do I enable multiple monitors for Remote Desktop?

The primary method to enable multiple monitors is to click the "Use all monitors for the remote session" box in the Remote Desktop Connection (mstsc.exe) window. Further information can be obtained at the following Microsoft blog site. Using Multiple Monitors in Remote Desktop Session

How do I share my screen on a remote desktop?

When you first connect to a remote desktop, you will see the primary monitor in the Screen Sharing tab. If additional monitors are configured, a Display icon will appear active in the Screen Sharing toolbar, and a Displays tab will appear in the bottom right corner of the console.

What is the “monitor mode” in remote desktop?

With this feature, the user can fully utilize all the monitors connected to the client computer for the Remote Desktop connection thereby providing extra desktop space and an almost seamless experience with the client desktop that is much improved over “Span mode”.

How to launch a spanned remote desktop session covering multiple monitors?

Creating an RDP file to launch a spanned remote desktop session covering multiple monitors Create the RDP file Open Start Menu, click Run. Then type in mstsc /span and hit Enter or Click OK

How many monitors can you use on a remote desktop?

How to enable multimon?

What is span mode in remote desktop?

What is remote desktop support?

What is true multimon support?

What is the maximum resolution of a remote monitor?

Can you use multiple monitors on remote desktop?

See 4 more

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Dual Monitors During Remote Desktop Session using Windows 10

I was having the same trouble too I wanted to utilize both my screens too my IT guy at work stated I wouldn't be able to because the resolutions were different but once I change both screens to the same resolution it works and it stays the same it will not jump or move at least mine hasn't yet...

Unable to use multiple monitors for RDP Session Windows 10

Greetings, Lenovo Windows 10 Enterprise Laptop that is on a Laptop Dock with 2 connected monitors. We are trying to get the RDP session to use the 2 monitors however it will only display on 1. We are connecting to a Windows Server 2008 R2 machine. I have verified that "use multimon:i:1" and or ... · Hi Magoo, Your current method is correct ...

Setting up two screens on Remote Desktop - Beaming

In this simple guide, we will describe how to get your two monitors set up to work within a remote desktop connection. Steps to follow. 1. Close the remote desktop services session you have open.

How many monitors can you use on a remote desktop?

By default, RDP protocol supports a maximum of 16 monitors. This number can be restricted to any value between 1 and 16 using one of the following three approaches:

How to enable multimon?

Enable Multimon using one of the three methods described below: a. Click “Use all monitors for the remote session” in the client (mstsc.exe) window. b. Use the “/multimon” switch on the mstsc.exe command line. c. Add “Use Multimon:i:1” to the RDP file.

What is span mode in remote desktop?

Span mode, introduced in Vista, allows the remote desktop to span across all monitors on the client as long as the monitors are arranged to form a rectangle. The remote session created when using span mode is still a single-monitor session. With multimon support, each monitor on the client machine is viewed as a distinct monitor in the remote session. Due to this fundamental difference, span mode has some restrictions that true multimon does not: 1. The primary monitor must be leftmost. 2. The set of monitors must form a rectangle (i.e. identical vertical resolution, and lined up in exact straight line). 3. The total of the resolutions must be below 4096x2048 (ex. 1600x1200+1600x1200 = 3200x1200). For these reasons, all monitor configurations shown below are valid for Remote Desktop multimon, whereas most of them are not valid for span mode: With true multimon support, the client-side monitors can be arranged in any order and can be of any resolution. Since a span mode remote session is essentially a single-monitor session, if a window in the remote desktop is maximized, it spans across all the monitors. With true multimon support, a window will only maximize to the extent of the containing monitor. If an application queries for the number of monitors inside a span-mode session, it will find only one monitor, whereas it will find as many monitors as are actually present on the client system when using true multimon RDP. This difference can change the behavior of applications such as PowerPoint.

What is remote desktop support?

Multiple monitor support for Remote Desktop Services allows users to open a Remote Desktop connection expanded across all the monitors on the client computer regardless of the client monitor configuration. With this feature, the user can fully utilize all the monitors connected to the client computer for the Remote Desktop connection thereby providing extra desktop space and an almost seamless experience with the client desktop that is much improved over “Span mode”. This feature will be part of Windows 7/Windows Server 2008 R2 release and works for connections to another client machine (physical or VM), or a Remote Desktop Session Host.

What is true multimon support?

With true multimon support, a window will only maximize to the extent of the containing monitor. If an application queries for the number of monitors inside a span-mode session, it will find only one monitor, whereas it will find as many monitors as are actually present on the client system when using true multimon RDP.

What is the maximum resolution of a remote monitor?

Restricting the maximum resolution of each monitor : By default, RDP restricts the maximum resolution to 4096 X 2048 per monitor . Additionally with multimon, the width and height of each remote monitor can also be restricted in one of two ways:

Can you use multiple monitors on remote desktop?

Currently this feature displays the remote desktop on all the monitors available on the client computer. It can handle any client monitor configuration supported by Windows. The following images show the Remote Desktop Multimon feature in various configurations: Display Settings UI inside a Remote Desktop session showing multiple monitors Remote Desktop Multimon Session with 5 monitors PowerPoint inside Remote Desktop session showing multiple monitors

How to use both monitors in Remote Desktop?

To have the Remote Desktop connection client use both your monitors, you need to start it in “span” mode. This is done by giving the following command in the Run dialog: mstsc /span. Open Start Menu, click Run. Then type in mstsc /span and hit Enter or Click OK.

How to make sure both monitors are oriented horizontally?

Make sure both your monitors are using the same resolution and are oriented horizontally. Right click on the desktop. Click Properties. In the Display Properties tab, make sure the monitors have the same resolution and are oriented horizontally.

Where is the About menu on my monitor?

Click the monitor icon in the top-left corner of this dialog, and choose the "About" menu:

Can you connect to a remote computer with two monitors?

From now on, you can connect to the remote computer using both monitors (in span mode) by just double-clicking this file.

Do multi monitors work?

This is not the way you expect multi-monitors to work. Instead of increasing efficiency, such a multi-monitor experience will be very inefficient (not to say irritating) to work with, especially when you have to keep moving windows so they do not get chopped off in between the two monitors.

Does SplitView work on both monitors?

The Remote session should open up and cover both your monitors. If you do not have SplitView installed on the remote computer, you will run into a few problems with the span mode: The Windows taskbar will cover both monitors. Applications will maximize across both monitors.

How to open RDP in Notepad?

Right-click on the RDP icon > Open With, and choose Notepad from the list. That’s right. We are opening it in the text editor to make some changes.

Can you use monitors side by side?

Pay attention to the coordinates inside the brackets. You can only use the monitors that are side-by-side listed.

How to get my monitor to recognize my new monitor?

As soon as you connect a new monitor via HDMI, VGA, or DVI, Windows will automatically detect it. To start customizing the view, right click anywhere on the desktop and go to Display Settings.

How to make my main monitor my main monitor?

You can choose any monitor connected to the workstation to be the “main” one. In order to do that, click on the monitor of choice and mark the box Make this my main display located below the Multiple Displays menu.

How to make monitors match?

Drag and drop the monitors to make them match their physical location, or take advantage of the Identify feature if you’re not completely sure how to virtually arrange them.

Can you adjust monitor size remotely?

You have probably noticed that these monitors have different size and resolution, but this doesn’t affect the performance at all . In fact, if you’re providing remote support, and there are any kinds of changes on the client side, like screen settings, number of monitors, or their position, all these changes will be immediately reflected by the Expert application. Besides that, you can even adjust the monitor settings remotely, as well as take advantage of all Remote Desktop Control tools that are available during a regular session.

Article Content

This article contains information about the use of multiple displays in a Remote Desktop Session.

Multiple Displays in a Remote Desktop Session

Can you use multiple displays in a Remote Desktop Session? Yes, you are able use multiple displays with Windows 7 or newer.

Required: Remote Desktop Client 7.0 or Newer

You can start a Remote Desktop Session by Clicking on the Windows button . In the search box, you can enter mstsc.exe and hit enter to open the Remote Desktop Connection Window.

How to see all the monitors on a remote desktop?

Select the Display icon to see all the displays attached to the remote computer. In this view, the remote monitors are represented by rectangles rather than thumbnail images. The position of each rectangle corresponds to the position configured for each monitor on the remote desktop.

What happens if you have no monitors on a remote computer?

If the remote computer has no additional monitors attached, the Display icon will be inactive.

What does the rectangle represent in a remote desktop?

The position of each rectangle corresponds to the position configured for each monitor on the remote desktop.

How to change view on remote computer?

To change your view, click on the rectangle that represents the monitor you wish to see. You can also select View All to show all the displays attached to the remote computer in the Screen Sharing window. If the remote computer has no additional monitors attached, the Display icon will be inactive.

How to change the view of a monitor?

The primary monitor appears in the Screen Sharing window by default. To change your view, click on the thumbnail of the monitor you wish to see . You can also select View All to show all the displays attached to the remote computer in the Screen Sharing window.

Where is the display icon on remote desktop?

If additional monitors are configured, a Display icon will appear active in the Screen Sharing toolbar, and a Displays tab will appear in the bottom right corner of the console.

What happens when you use full screen view?

If you are using full screen view while using this feature, the remote system is displayed across all of your monitors.

How many monitors can you use on a remote desktop?

By default, RDP protocol supports a maximum of 16 monitors. This number can be restricted to any value between 1 and 16 using one of the following three approaches:

How to enable multimon?

Enable Multimon using one of the three methods described below: a. Click “Use all monitors for the remote session” in the client (mstsc.exe) window. b. Use the “/multimon” switch on the mstsc.exe command line. c. Add “Use Multimon:i:1” to the RDP file.

What is span mode in remote desktop?

Span mode, introduced in Vista, allows the remote desktop to span across all monitors on the client as long as the monitors are arranged to form a rectangle. The remote session created when using span mode is still a single-monitor session. With multimon support, each monitor on the client machine is viewed as a distinct monitor in the remote session. Due to this fundamental difference, span mode has some restrictions that true multimon does not: 1. The primary monitor must be leftmost. 2. The set of monitors must form a rectangle (i.e. identical vertical resolution, and lined up in exact straight line). 3. The total of the resolutions must be below 4096x2048 (ex. 1600x1200+1600x1200 = 3200x1200). For these reasons, all monitor configurations shown below are valid for Remote Desktop multimon, whereas most of them are not valid for span mode: With true multimon support, the client-side monitors can be arranged in any order and can be of any resolution. Since a span mode remote session is essentially a single-monitor session, if a window in the remote desktop is maximized, it spans across all the monitors. With true multimon support, a window will only maximize to the extent of the containing monitor. If an application queries for the number of monitors inside a span-mode session, it will find only one monitor, whereas it will find as many monitors as are actually present on the client system when using true multimon RDP. This difference can change the behavior of applications such as PowerPoint.

What is remote desktop support?

Multiple monitor support for Remote Desktop Services allows users to open a Remote Desktop connection expanded across all the monitors on the client computer regardless of the client monitor configuration. With this feature, the user can fully utilize all the monitors connected to the client computer for the Remote Desktop connection thereby providing extra desktop space and an almost seamless experience with the client desktop that is much improved over “Span mode”. This feature will be part of Windows 7/Windows Server 2008 R2 release and works for connections to another client machine (physical or VM), or a Remote Desktop Session Host.

What is true multimon support?

With true multimon support, a window will only maximize to the extent of the containing monitor. If an application queries for the number of monitors inside a span-mode session, it will find only one monitor, whereas it will find as many monitors as are actually present on the client system when using true multimon RDP.

What is the maximum resolution of a remote monitor?

Restricting the maximum resolution of each monitor : By default, RDP restricts the maximum resolution to 4096 X 2048 per monitor . Additionally with multimon, the width and height of each remote monitor can also be restricted in one of two ways:

Can you use multiple monitors on remote desktop?

Currently this feature displays the remote desktop on all the monitors available on the client computer. It can handle any client monitor configuration supported by Windows. The following images show the Remote Desktop Multimon feature in various configurations: Display Settings UI inside a Remote Desktop session showing multiple monitors Remote Desktop Multimon Session with 5 monitors PowerPoint inside Remote Desktop session showing multiple monitors

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Step 1. Check The Basics

Image
Make sure both your monitors are using the same resolution and are oriented horizontally. Right click on the desktop. Click Properties. In the Display Properties tab, make sure the monitors have the same resolution and are oriented horizontally. If not, adjust your monitor resolution and position so they are. If you are using une…
See more on splitview.com

Step 2. Get The Right Version of Remote Desktop Client

  • Check if you have the right version of Remote Desktop Connection client. You need at least version 6.0 In the Start Menu > Run… dialog, type “mstsc” and hit enter. The acronym “mstsc” stands for “Microsoft Terminal Services Client” – another name for Remote Desktop Connection client. You can also start it from Start Menu > All Programs > Accessories > Remote Desktop Co…
See more on splitview.com

Step 3. Connect to Remote Computer in 'Span Mode'

  • To have the Remote Desktop connection client use both your monitors, you need to start it in “span” mode. This is done by giving the following command in the Run dialog: mstsc /span Open Start Menu, click Run. Then type in mstsc /span and hit Enter or Click OK When the Remote Desktop client opens up, enter the remote computer name to which you are ...
See more on splitview.com

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