Remote-access Guide

how to use dual monitors with remote access

by Prof. Earnestine Koch Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Using Remote Desktop with Dual Monitors

  1. Check the basics Make sure both your monitors are using the same resolution and are oriented horizontally. Right click on the desktop. ...
  2. Get the right version of Remote Desktop client Check if you have the right version of Remote Desktop Connection client. ...
  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

Can I use multiple monitors with remote desktop?

You should not, and this quick guide will show exactly how you can use Remote Desktop with multiple monitors in three easy steps. Microsoft’s Remote Desktop client (version 6.0) supports spanning across multiple monitors. Only some configurations are supported by Remote Desktop client in span mode. This is explained in a little more detail at:

How do you connect two monitors?

Setting up two monitors can be done in these 3 ways:

  • Connect using cables
  • Use a docking station
  • Using a casting device

How to set up dual monitors on Windows 10?

Step-By-Step Guide on How to Connect Multiple Displays to a PC

  • Connect the two monitors to your Windows 10 PC using appropriate cables. ...
  • Connect the power cords of the PC and the monitors to a power supply source and turn them on.
  • Switch on both the Windows 10 computer and the two monitors.
  • The PC should display the connected monitors effortlessly.
  • Your computer should recognize the new monitor right away. ...

More items...

How do I set up dual monitors in Windows 10?

Way 1: Change Display Settings

  • Right click on any blank area on your desktop.
  • Select Display settings from the pop-up menu. ...
  • Scroll down and make a decision on which monitor to choose.
  • Specify monitor 1 & monitor 2 and check Make this my main display.
  • Click on the Apply button and then the selected monitor will become your primary monitor.

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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.

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Step 1. Check The Basics

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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…
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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…
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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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