RDP and multiple screens?

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MurrayM

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#268395 17-Mar-2020 12:54

So we're gearing up at work to allow staff to work from home and remote into their work desktop PCs. One obstacle I've thought of is what happens when the work PC has two screens and the home PC has only one screen? For example, I have my work PC set up to open Outlook on my primary screen and our company database on my secondary screen. What will happen when I try to remote into my work PC from my home PC which has only one screen? Will I still be able to access our company database that is being shown on my secondary screen?

I've tried Googling this but all the search results were to do with people using multiple screens locally and connecting to a remote PC with just one screen. I want to do the opposite.

Dynamic

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#2439943 17-Mar-2020 12:58

Windows basically moves everything from the second screen to the first screen when you RDP in with one screen. You should have no issues.

Some VERY dated programs are exceptions, but if they are closed before you RDP in, they should open on the single screen just fine.

Just be sure to have MFA / 2FA on the remote access. Seriously. With lots of people hastily adding remote access, hackers are going to have a field day.

Source: I do this for a living. Not hacking. 😅

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nztim

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TEAMnetwork

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#2439944 17-Mar-2020 12:58

RDP6 supports two screens its under settings of remote desktop connection, obviously the other end needs to be on rdp6 as well Windows 8 and later 2012 R2 and later for RDP6 support

Any views expressed on these forums are my own and don't necessarily reflect those of my employer.

Oblivian

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#2439945 17-Mar-2020 12:59

RDP uses a virtual video adaptor. From that, I *think* it will realise and shift all to your local - when I use a phone for instance it resizes all the windows

Best bet may be to log out, and use RDP as a new session rather than resume an exisiting dual screen login

wratterus

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#2439953 17-Mar-2020 13:21

It 'just works' you don't need to worry about it. Edit - as long as you are Win8 or newer.

If the person has two screens at home, RDP can also work with this. It works great.

modcar

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#2439955 17-Mar-2020 13:24

If the pc is Win7+ it will move everything to one screen - when you first take your session over, it will flash and flicker heaps as it moves all the windows.

Some applications seem to stay on the second screen - in my experience, these are more of the 'home-built' apps. Simply right-click the taskbar icon, select move then move the mouse till you see the window appear should be enough (left click to release window)

MurrayM

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#2439969 17-Mar-2020 13:53

Thanks guys!

We're having a work-from-home-test-day on Friday to iron out problems like this, but it seems that multiple screens shouldn't be a problem.

hio77

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Lizard Networks

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#2439973 17-Mar-2020 14:00

works if you drag the screen to the middle of two monitors too.

I sometimes use it when i work from home, Dispite having the work laptop there, sometimes you just want your 3 screens.... so i VPN in and RDP into laptop.

or just use the VDI's...

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gzt

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#2440479 18-Mar-2020 07:52

Oblivian: Best bet may be to log out, and use RDP as a new session rather than resume an exisiting dual screen login

^Also this. If not, one possible outcome is horizontal scroll required in an rdp window to see the contents of both monitors. Btw, practice login, logout, restart.

ech3lon

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#2440539 18-Mar-2020 09:48

Dynamic:

Windows basically moves everything from the second screen to the first screen when you RDP in with one screen. You should have no issues.

Small tip..

Sometimes when you tilt your head the wrong way, Windows for some unknown reason fail to move one of the window so now it's completely off-screen.
When that happens, select the app on the taskbar, press Alt-Spacebar, select Move, use the arrow keys on the keybord to move the window.

This only works in full-screen RDP however.

TwoSeven

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#2440612 18-Mar-2020 12:26

RDP (latest version will move everything from the multiple screens to one if you just have one monitor. Not sure about desktops, I think you can still switch desktops as normal.

If one has multiple monitors connected, I think there is an option in the connection settings to ‘use all displays’. Not sure if it is restricted to 2 or not.

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