Solved How to handle two screens with Remote Desktop


Baeolophus

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I frequently use Remote Desktop to maintain Windows hosts I manage. Many of them have to monitors attached as screens. My Remote Desktop client will only show one screen. Can I make the client software toggle between both screens?
 
Windows Build/Version
26200.8457

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macOS SequoiaM1 Max Apple Silicon32 GB
OS
macOS Sequoia
Computer type
Laptop
Manufacturer/Model
Apple
CPU
M1 Max Apple Silicon
Memory
32 GB
After you open RDP, on the Display tab check the box for 'Use all my monitors for remote session'.

To preserve this between sessions you will want to save the .rdp file and then use that going forward
 

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Linux Mint
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Linux Mint
Computer type
Laptop
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System76 Lemur Pro
I will have to check that out. Is there no way to simply toggle between the screens?
 

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At a glance

macOS SequoiaM1 Max Apple Silicon32 GB
OS
macOS Sequoia
Computer type
Laptop
Manufacturer/Model
Apple
CPU
M1 Max Apple Silicon
Memory
32 GB
I will have to check that out. Is there no way to simply toggle between the screens?
I use a KVM to toggle between my primary and backup computers. Both screens are switched as are the mouse and keyboard. I also use RDP if I want to just use the backup while I'm using my primary machine.
 

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    Win 11 Pro 25H2, Build 26200.9278Intel Core i5 14500, 14th Generation64GB DDR4GeForce RTX 4060
    OS
    Win 11 Pro 25H2, Build 26200.9278
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Home Brew
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 14500, 14th Generation
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte B760M G P WIFI
    Memory
    64GB DDR4
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce RTX 4060
    Sound Card
    Chipset Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG 45" Ultragear & Acer 24" 1080p
    Screen Resolution
    5120x1440 & 1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Crucial P310 2TB 2280 PCIe Gen4 3D NAND NVMe M.2 SSD (O/S)
    Silicon Power 2TB US75 NVMe PCIe Gen4 M.2 2280 SSD (backup)
    Crucial BX500 2TB 3D NAND (2nd backup)
    Seagate 4TB Ironwolf, rotating HDD secondary backup
    External off-line backup Drives: 2 NVMe 4TB drives in external enclosures
    PSU
    Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 750W
    Case
    LIAN LI LANCOOL 216 E-ATX PC Case
    Cooling
    Lots of fans!
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000
    Mouse
    Logitech G305
    Internet Speed
    Verizon FiOS 1GB
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Malware Bytes & Windows Defender Security
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    Win 11 Pro 25H2, Build 26200.9168Intel Core i5 1440032GB DDR5Intel 700 Embedded GPU
    Operating System
    Win 11 Pro 25H2, Build 26200.9168
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Home Brew
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 14400
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte B760M DS3H AX
    Memory
    32GB DDR5
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel 700 Embedded GPU
    Sound Card
    Realtek Embedded
    Monitor(s) Displays
    27" HP 1080p
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Crucial P310 2TB NVMe Gen4 SSD
    Samsung EVO 990 2TB NVMe Gen4 SSD
    Samsung 2TB SATA SSD
    Seagate 4TB Ironwolf, rotating HDD secondary backup
    PSU
    Thermaltake Smart BM3 650W
    Case
    Okinos Micro ATX Case
    Cooling
    Fans
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000
    Mouse
    Logitech G305
    Internet Speed
    Verizon FiOS 1GB
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Malware Bytes & Windows Defender Security
  • Nimo N171 17" Laptop, (Intel i3-1215U, 16GB RAM, 2TB NVMe, Win11 Pro)
    Acemagic Vista Mini PC V1 (Intel N150, 16GB RAM, 1TB NVMe, Win11 Pro)
    HP ENVY h8-1540t, (24GB RAM, 2TB SSD, 2TB HDD, Win11 Pro)
Is there no way to simply toggle between the screens?
No. Remote Desktop does not provide a simple “toggle monitor” feature.
  • The supported method is to either:

    Use all monitors in the remote session, or
    Use only one monitor, but not switch between them dynamically.
 

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    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 26200.9445i9-10900 10 core 20 threads32 gbnone-Intel UHD Graphics 630
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 26200.9445
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 7080
    CPU
    i9-10900 10 core 20 threads
    Motherboard
    DELL 0J37VM
    Memory
    32 gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    none-Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Integrated Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    2x1tb Solidigm m.2 nvme /External drives 512gb Samsung m.2 sata+2tb Kingston m2.nvme
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell Premium
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    so slow I'm too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    #1 Edge #2 Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
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    Windows 11 Pro 24H2 26200.9445AMD Ryzen 7 6800U32 gbintegrated
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2 26200.9445
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Beelink Mini PC SER5
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 6800U
    Memory
    32 gb
    Graphics card(s)
    integrated
    Sound Card
    integrated
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Crucial nvme
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    still too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender
  • System 3 is non compliant Dell 9020 i7-4770/24gb ram Win11 PRO 26200.9445
I do it by using the "Desktops" feature. I know it isn't the same as two monitors, but it's easier for me.
 

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    Win 11 Pro 25H2Intel i7 13700KF32 GB Team Group DDR5 - 6000 CL 30ASUS TUF GAMING RTX 3070 Ti
    OS
    Win 11 Pro 25H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Self build
    CPU
    Intel i7 13700KF
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Z790 UD AC
    Memory
    32 GB Team Group DDR5 - 6000 CL 30
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS TUF GAMING RTX 3070 Ti
    Sound Card
    On board Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ACER 34 inch
    Screen Resolution
    Not 4K like I thought. 35" wide though.
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Samsung 980 Pro Nvme, 1 TB Samsung 970 EVO Nvme, 2 x Samsung 970 2TB SSD SATA
    PSU
    EVGA 1000Q
    Case
    Rosewill something or other
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D15. A whole schwak of Noctua case fans. $$$
    Keyboard
    Logitech G815
    Mouse
    Logitech G502 Hero
    Internet Speed
    700 up, 600 down
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    MalwareBytes
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    Widows 11 ProRyzen 2700X32 GB DDR4XFX Radeon R9 280
    Operating System
    Widows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Self build
    CPU
    Ryzen 2700X
    Motherboard
    MSI X470 Gaming Plus Max
    Memory
    32 GB DDR4
    Graphics card(s)
    XFX Radeon R9 280
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Two 27 inch Acer monitors
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    One 1 TB NVME (Samsung)
    PSU
    Corsair 750 Watt
    Case
    HAF 912
    Cooling
    Wraith cooler and case fans
    Keyboard
    Logitech G710+
    Mouse
    Generic
    Internet Speed
    700 down, 650 up
    Browser
    Firefox, Chrome
    Antivirus
    Malware bytes
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