These days, using a computer connected to multiple displays is a relatively common activity. Creating remote connections to such devices can be more difficult than expected. We wrote this article about accessing two displays using a typical Windows RDC software called “Remote Desktop Connection”.
The solution we are about to show you will work well on three, four or even sixteen displays at the same time. Connections are available not only between physical computers, but also between virtual ones.
You can also manage your office computer from home using dual monitors and the remote desktop feature. Here is a step by step guide. Yes… Let’s go!
Benefits of Using Remote Desktop with Dual Monitors
MSPs and IT will then meet face-to-face with customers and customers without remote access software to debug, troubleshoot, or make changes to desktops and computers.
If work had to be done remotely, they would have to walk consumers through the process and assume they were smart enough to understand the work.
Worse, there will be little information about whether the problems have been fixed. Thank God for remote access technology.
How to use remote desktop with two monitors at the same time during RDP installation
Before we begin, remember that the regular Windows Remote Desktop software does not allow you to change connection settings in the middle of a session. So, for any changes to take effect, you must terminate all active RDP connections.
Without further delay, here are the steps to enable the multi-monitor capability for the Windows Remote Desktop program on your RDC server:
- Viewing two monitors via remote desktop
- Launching Remote Desktop for Multiple Displays Via Windows Run
- Editing the RDP File Manually
1. Viewing two monitors via remote desktop
- Press Win and then open the app by typing “remote connection”in the system search box.
- Enter your login information, then click the “Show Options”button in the lower right corner.
- Now go to the “Display”tab and check “Use all my displays for remote session”.
Note: DO NOT click the connect button just yet; we have a few more options to experiment with.
Return to the “General”page and click “Save As. ..”so you do not have to repeat all these procedures every time you need to access this computer from a remote PC. It’s also a good idea to remember or write down the folder where you save the ROP file in case you need to make changes to it later.
2. Launch Remote Desktop for Multiple Displays via Windows Run
- The command can also be used to monitor multiple displays.
- The Run window will appear if you press the Windows + R button on your keyboard.
- Enter the command line.”
mstsc.exe/multimon” and enter your credentials.
The box indicating that all your displays are available for an RDP session will be enabled immediately, but remember that this is for a single session only.
Since the connection settings are not automatically saved to the system, as well as your login credentials, this is preferable for a one-time connection request.
3. Modify the RDP file manually
Open your RDP file (it’s under system32 by default) in Notepad or drag it into a browser window and add the following line to it:
Use Multimon:i:1
You can also put another line here to mask any or all of your monitors so that they are not accessible via TCP to any remote RDP servers:
selected monitors:s:x1,x2,x16
Adjust x1…16 with the exact numbers of your displays. The first number indicates the main monitor.
Disadvantages when using remote desktop with two monitors
It’s nice that Windows RDP is a free remote access tool, but like any free product, it has certain limitations.
One disadvantage of using Windows RDP for remote access is that you cannot change connection settings while a remote server session is open. This means that you must end all sessions and connections for any changes to take effect.
It can also be more difficult to connect computers with different operating systems or use different types of systems or hardware. For example, multi-monitor mode in Windows 7 is only available in Enterprise or Ultimate editions. So Windows 8 workstations will also need this build.
Windows RDP can have significant latency for some MSPs and IT pros, which can get worse when trying to see multiple displays.
An impression freeze or significant delay may not be worth the free price tag because time is money and customer satisfaction is essential. If so, remote access software offers many more powerful and feature rich alternatives for remote access to many monitors.
Here is what you can do to try and fix the problem:
- The first step is to disable UDP for the client. Launch Regedit and navigate to;
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services\Client
2. Here you should create a DWORD named fClientDisableUDP and set the value to 1.
3. Next, go to Remote Desktop settings and disable smart card passthrough.
Some so-called experts suggest deactivating your VPNs, but we strongly advise against doing so.
If these two methods don’t work for you, just ditch the regular programs and invest in a real software package to take full advantage of RDP technology.
Known connectivity issues
As stated earlier, you will have no problem accessing non-Windows multi-monitor desktops. However, connecting PCs with different versions of Windows is more difficult, especially when connecting to older systems from a newer one.
Multi-monitor mode is only available for Windows 7 Enterprise and Ultimate editions. If you’re connecting to a Windows 8.1 PC, make sure it’s the Professional or Enterprise version.
For Windows Server builds, Windows 2008, 2012, and 2016 Standard and Datacenter editions can be paired with other versions of Windows in multi-monitor mode.
Span Mode Features
PCs with multiple displays can be connected using Remote Desktop, in addition to the features we’ve already covered.
Although it was included in Windows Vista as an alternative to multi-screen, the feature has never been very popular. Our best guess is that no one liked it because of its limitations. However, it deserves to be mentioned in this context.
Simply put, this mode tries to cram all the remote monitors into one window, rather than showing you one by one. And nine times out of ten, they fail horribly because not all monitor configurations fit into the rectangle.
As you can see, this mode is useless unless all your displays have the same vertical resolution. But if so, here’s what you need to do to get started:
Open the Run command window by pressing Win + R on your keyboard and type mstsc/span
Alternative Services for Remote Desktop
As stated earlier, if remote desktop doesn’t suit your needs, there are third-party software solutions that can quickly and easily allow you to benefit from remote access from multiple displays. Atera pairs with AnyDesk and Splashtop, so here’s how it works with both.
AnyDesk
The AnyDesk toolbar will show you each remote monitor, each numbered with its own rectangle. You will be redirected to the appropriate display on the device you are connected to by clicking on the appropriate box.
You can even show multiple monitors at once by starting a parallel session with the same device from different windows. You can find the monitor you want by switching between windows.
mudguard
With Splashtop, you can see multiple monitors at the same time, and there are countless customization options!
Choose between multi-monitor view mode, which lets you view multiple screens from your workstation, all-monitor view mode, which lets you view as many screens as you need from a single screen, and single monitor view mode, which lets you switch between the screens you need for more visibility.
Conclusion
And that’s it for today’s digest on two monitors on a remote desktop. Remote work is no longer a niche use case in today’s corporate environment; this is the norm. Remote access is a powerful weapon in your technology toolbox to support customers who work remotely, have hybrid workspaces, multi-office customer bases, and even business travelers.
FAQ
Can I use 2 monitors with remote desktop?
On Windows 7 or later, you can use multiple monitors.
Can I use multiple monitors with Windows 10 Remote Desktop?
Make sure “Use all my displays for remote session”is checked on the “Display”tab. For MSPs, returning to the General page and choosing Save As will allow you to save these RDP settings as a template.
How to switch between two monitors in a remote session?
During a remote ActiveX Viewer session, follow the instructions below to switch between multiple monitors: 1. Select “Computers”under “Tools”-> “Remote Control”.2. Select the ActiveX Viewer under Viewers.3. Click “Connect”next to the computer you want to connect to in the “Action”column.4. Then select Desktop View.
Why doesn’t RDP extend to the second monitor?
Click the “Options”button in the lower left corner of the Remote Desktop window after it opens. Using all my displays for a remote session is a checkbox that can be checked by clicking on the Display tab. With this selected, click Connect to continue connecting to the server normally.
Can I use two monitors on a remote desktop?
Navigate to the Windows search bar.1. Open it by typing Remote Desktop Connection.2. Click Show and check. Use every display I have for a remote session.3. After clicking Connect, establish a connection to the server.