How to use remote desktop with multiple monitors

Before the widespread use of remote access software, MSPs and IT departments or professionals would need to be on-site with each of their clients to troubleshoot, diagnose issues, or make changes to a workstation or machine.

The only possibility they would have to get the work done from a distance was to talk the customer through the task and hope that they were tech-savvy enough to understand the job at hand. Worse yet, there would be almost zero visibility into whether the problems had been resolved. Thank goodness we have remote access technology, eh?

But during the times of audibly walking your client through what needs to happen being the only form of remote support, the last worry on peoples’ minds was “but how can I form a remote desktop connection with multiple monitors?”But today that’s changed, there will be times you’ll need to remotely access more than one screen, viewing multiple monitors at the same time? If you’re on Windows 7 or newer, you can use Remote Desktop to view multiple monitors in a few different ways. Here’s what you need to know.

Using remote desktop to view multiple monitors on Windows

Now , let’s get right into it! Here’s how to extend Remote Desktop to two monitors, or more. 

If you don’t have physical access to the computer you’re looking to connect to, you’ll need to first get in touch with someone that does. Next, you’ll need to ask them to go to their search bar, and type in “remote desktop”, where they should be able to click on the application Remote Desktop Connection. 

Now they’ll need to enter the relevant authentication credentials, which will give them full access to the app.

So far, these have been the same steps you would take to initiate a normal remote desktop session. But now under the Display tab, you should see a box that says “Use all my monitors for the remote session,” and if you want to perform a remote desktop connection to a dual monitor computer, this box must be checked.

For MSPs that frequently need to remotely connect to multiple monitor computers, it can be a good idea to head back to the General tab, and click the “Save as” option. That way, you’ll be saving these RDP settings as a template. This means that when you want to access the machine from remote PCs you won’t need to keep entering all the credentials and toggling on this button.

Running remote desktop for multiple monitors as a command

If you’re having trouble accessing the Remote Desktop Connection app via the Search bar, or are having troubles finding the box to use all of the monitors, there’s a better way. You can use a command to both open the RDC app, as well as toggle the “use all monitors” to on.First, press the Windows button + R on your keyboard. You should now see the Run window. Next, you’ll need to type in “mstsc.exe /multimon”, which will also pull up the Remote Desktop Connection app.

If you want, you can double-check that the checkbox that shows that all of your monitors are available for the remote session is automatically toggled on. However, this will only apply for one session. The connection rules are not saved automatically on the machine, and neither are your credentials for signing in, so this is a better option for a one-off connection request.

Manually changing the RDP file

There’s a third option that we’ll go over, but it’s a bit more technical in nature. So if you’re not working in an IT department, or are not very technically inclined, we recommend sticking with using the remote desktop connection app. 

First, you’ll want to find your RDP file on your computer, by searching in your files for “default.rdp”. Now, by opening this file in Notepad, and manually adding the line “Use Multimon:i:1”, you’ll be overwriting your settings to allow for multiple monitor connections via remote desktop.

You can also add some extra security here by hiding specific monitors so that they are unable to be viewed over TCP from a remote machine. To do so, add the string “selectedmonitors:s:x1,x2,x16” to your RDP file, and replace our example numbers with the numbers that you want to be viewed. The first number will be the primary monitor.

Are there any downsides of using remote desktop?

While Windows RDP is a free tool for remote access, as with any free tool – it’s comes with a few limitations.

One of the downfalls of using Windows RDP for remote access is that you can’t make changes to connection properties while you have an open session. That means that you’ll need to close all sessions and connections for any changes to take effect.

For example, if you initiate a connection to a computer with more than one monitor without specifying access to all monitors, you’ll need to end your session and start a new one if you want to access the other monitors

It can also be more complicated to link computers that have different OS versions or when you’re using different kinds of systems or machines. For example, on Windows 7, multi-monitor mode is only available on Enterprise or Ultimate builds, and so the other Windows machine will need to be on Enterprise or Ultimate build, in order to support a multiple monitor connection.

For some MSPs and IT professionals, using Windows RDP can be very slow and delayed, which can be worse when connecting to a workstation with multiple monitors. Since time = money, and customer satisfaction is everything, freezing screens or large amounts of latency might not be worth the free price tag. If that’s the case, there are many more robust and feature-rich options for remote access of multiple monitors in the form of remote access software.

Alternatives to using remote desktop

As we said, if using Remote Desktop Connection isn’t checking all the boxes for you, there are third-party software solutions that can quickly and easily allow you to gain remote access, even if the source computer has multiple monitors. Atera integrates with both AnyDesk and Splashtop, so here’s how it works for both of these choices.

If you work in an IT department or run an MSP, you may be in charge of a bunch of networks, where manually performing remote connections can quickly become complicated and time-consuming. And that’s where we come in, using Atera and our remote desktop integrations, you can remotely monitor and manage each of the devices inside of your managed networks, and even connect to them, whether the end-user is at the computer or not.

AnyDesk

On AnyDesk, the toolbar will show you each remote display numbered with its own rectangle. By clicking on the relevant rectangle, you will be switched to the respective monitor on the device with which you’re making a connection. You can even show more than one monitor at the same time by establishing a concurrent session with the same device from different windows. By toggling between the windows, you’ll be able to see the monitor you’re looking for.

Splashtop

Splashtop is another industry-leading remote connection software that offers seamless integration within our RMM (remote monitoring and management) software. And similar to AnyDesk, Splashtop allows users to connect to devices with multiple monitors. To learn more about how you can use Splashtop combined with our industry-leading IT software, check out our Splashtop integration page.

Transform the way you remote access with Atera

With remote work becoming more and more commonplace in an office environment – remote access is more important than ever. To support employees and clients who work remotely, hybrid work environments, multi-site clients, and even users on business trips, remote access is a truly powerful item in your technology toolbelt.So if you’d like to use remote access like you never have before, along with world-class RMM features like network discovery, automated patch management, and a host of other features, sign up for our 30-day free trial to take our software for a spin.