Use multiple monitors on a dev box

In this article, you configure a remote desktop client to use dual or more monitors when you connect to your dev box. Using multiple monitors gives you more screen real estate to work with. You can spread your work across multiple screens, or use one screen for your development environment and another for documentation, email, or messaging.

When you connect to your cloud-hosted developer machine in Microsoft Dev Box by using a remote desktop client, you can take advantage of a multi-monitor setup. The following table lists remote desktop clients that support multiple monitors and provides links to the instructions for configuring multiple monitors in each client.

Client	Multiple monitor support	Configure multiple monitors
Windows App (recommended)		Configure display settings in Windows App
Microsoft Remote Desktop client		Microsoft Remote Desktop client
Microsoft Store Remote Desktop client		Does not support multiple monitors
Remote Desktop Connection (MSTSC)		Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection
Microsoft Remote Desktop for macOS		Microsoft Remote Desktop for macOS

Note

The new Windows App remote desktop client is the recommended client for Microsoft Dev Box; it provides an enhanced user experience, including support for multiple monitors. It is also available on multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, iOS/iPadOS, Android/Chrome OS (preview), and web browsers. For more information, see Get started with Windows App.

Prerequisites

To complete the steps in this article, you must install the appropriate Remote Desktop client on your local machine.

Configure Remote Desktop to use multiple monitors

Use the following steps to configure Remote Desktop to use multiple monitors.

Microsoft Remote Desktop client

1. Open the Remote Desktop client.

   

2. Right-click the dev box you want to configure, and then select Settings.

3. On the settings pane, turn off Use default settings.

   

4. In Display Settings, in the Display configuration list, select the displays to use and configure the options:

   Value	Description	Options
   All displays	Remote desktop uses all available displays.	- Use only a single display when in windowed mode. - Fit the remote session to the window.
   Single display	Remote desktop uses a single display.	- Start the session in full screen mode. - Fit the remote session to the window. - Update the resolution on when a window is resized.
   Select displays	Remote Desktop uses only the monitors you select.	- Maximize the session to the current displays. - Use only a single display when in windowed mode. - Fit the remote connection session to the window.

   

5. Close the settings pane, and then select your dev box to begin the Remote Desktop session.

Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection

1. Open a Remote Desktop Connection.

   

2. In Computer, enter the name of your dev box, then select Show Options.

   

3. On the Display tab, select Use all my monitors for the remote session.

   

4. Select Connect to start the Remote Desktop session.

Microsoft Remote Desktop for macOS

1. Open Remote Desktop.

2. Select PCs.

3. On the Connections menu, select Edit PC.

4. Select Display.

5. On the Display tab, select Use all monitors, and then select Save.

   

6. Select your dev box to begin the Remote Desktop session.

Tip

For more information about the Microsoft remote desktop clients currently available, see:

• Remote Desktop clients for Azure Virtual Desktop
• Connect to Azure Virtual Desktop with the Remote Desktop client for Windows

Related content

• Manage a dev box by using the developer portal
• Learn how to connect to a dev box through the browser