Using a computer while hooked to numerous displays is a relatively frequent activity these days. Creating remote connections to such devices might be more difficult than expected. We have written 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 just well for three, four, or even sixteen displays simultaneously. Connections are available not only between physical computers but also between virtual ones.
You can also control your computer in the office while at home by using dual monitors and the Remote Desktop function. Here is a step-by-step guide. Aye…Let’s go!
‘Use Dual Monitors Remote Desktop’ Benefits
MSPs and IT experts would then be face-to-face with customers and clients without remote access software to debug, diagnose faults, or make changes to desktops and computers.
Should work need to be done remotely, they would have had to walk consumers through the process and assume they were computer smart enough to grasp the job.
Worse, there would be little insight into whether the issues had been rectified. Thank God for remote access technology.
How To Use Dual Monitors remote Desktop Simultaneously During an Rdp Setup
Before we begin, please remember that the regular Windows Remote Desktop software does not allow you to alter your connection parameters 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 multi-monitor capability for the Windows Remote Desktop program on your RDC server:
- Viewing Dual Monitors Through Remote Desktop
- Run Remote Desktop for several displays Through Windows Run
- Changing the RDP file manually
1. Viewing Dual Monitors Through Remote Desktop
- Press Win and then open the app by typing ‘remote connection’ into the system search box.
- Enter your login information, then select the Show Options button in the bottom-right corner.
- Now, go to the Display tab and check the ‘Use all my displays for the remote session’ checkbox.
Note: DO NOT press the connect button yet; we have some more options to experiment with.
Return to the General page and click the Save as… option to avoid having to repeat all of these procedures each time you need to access this computer from a distant 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. Run Remote Desktop for several displays Through Windows Run
- A command can also be used to monitor several displays.
- The Run window will display if you press the Windows button + R on your keyboard.
- Enter the command line.”
mstsc.exe/multimon” and input your credentials.
The box that indicates that all your displays are accessible for the RDP session will be immediately toggled on, but remember that this is just for a single session.
Since the connection parameters are not automatically kept on the system, nor are your credentials for logging in, this is a preferable alternative for a one-time connection request.
3. Changing the RDP file manually
Open your RDP file (by default, it’s under system32) in Notepad or drag and drop it into the browser window, and add the following line to it:
Use Multimon:i:1
You may 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 primary monitor.
Disadvantages While You use Dual Monitors Remote Desktop
It’s nice that Windows RDP is a free remote access tool, but like with any free product, it has certain limits.
One disadvantage of utilizing Windows RDP for remote access is that you cannot modify connection settings while the remote server session is open. This implies that for any changes to take effect, you must end all sessions and connections.
It can also be more difficult to connect computers with various operating systems or use different types of systems or machinery. For example, multi-monitor mode in Windows 7 is only accessible on Enterprise or Ultimate releases. Thus Windows 8 workstations will also require this build.
Windows RDP can have significant latency for some MSPs and IT professionals, which can get worse when trying to see numerous displays.
Freezing displays or a significant delay might not be worth the free price tag because time is money and customer happiness is essential. If so, remote access software offers many more powerful and feature-rich alternatives for remote access to many monitors.
Here’s what you can do to attempt to solve 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 must construct a DWORD named fClientDisableUDP and provide a value of 1.
3. Next, go to the Remote Desktop settings and turn off the smart card passthrough.
Some so-called experts suggest deactivating your VPNs, but we highly advise against it.
If these two methods do not work for you, simply abandon conventional programs and invest in a real software package to fully utilize RDP technology.
Known connectivity problems
As previously stated, you will have no trouble accessing non-Windows multi-monitor desktops. However, connecting PCs with various Windows versions is more difficult, especially when connecting to older systems from the newer ones.
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 a Professional or Enterprise edition.
In terms of Windows Server builds, both Standard and Datacenter editions of Windows 2008, 2012, and 2016 may be linked to other Windows versions in multi-monitor mode.
Features of the Span mode
A PC with numerous displays may 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-monitor mode, this feature was never very well-liked. Our best guess is that its limitations are why no one loved it. However, it merits a mention in this context.
Simply told, this mode tries to cram all of the remote monitors into one window rather than showing you each one separately. And nine times out of ten, they fail horribly because not all monitor configurations fit inside a rectangle.
As you can see, this mode is useless unless all of your displays have the same vertical resolution. But if that’s the case, here’s what you need to do to get it started:
Open the Run command box by pressing Win+R on your keyboard and type mstsc/span
Alternatives services for Remote Desktop
As previously said, if Remote Desktop does not meet your needs, there are third-party software solutions that can quickly and simply enable you to profit from remote access with multiple displays. Atera connects with AnyDesk and Splashtop, so here’s how it works with both.
AnyDesk
The toolbar on AnyDesk will show you each remote monitor, each numbered with its rectangle. You will be sent to the appropriate display on the device to which you are connected by clicking on the suitable rectangle.
You may even show many monitors at once by launching a parallel session with the same device from various windows. You can find the monitor you’re looking for by switching between the windows.
Splashtop
Multiple monitors may be seen simultaneously with Splashtop, and countless customization possibilities exist!
Choose between the multi-to-multi monitor view, which lets you view multiple screens from your workstation, the all-monitor view, which lets you view as many screens as you need from a single screen, and the single monitor view which lets you switch between the screens you need for greater visibility.
Conclusion
And that’s all for today’s digest on dual monitors on a remote desktop. Remote work is no longer a niche use case in today’s corporate environment; it is the norm. Remote access is a potent weapon in your technological toolbelt for supporting customers that telecommute, hybrid workspaces, multi-site clientele, and even users on business travels.