How to use multiple monitors with Microsoft Remote Desktop

Question

I am using the Microsoft Remote Desktop client app. I have dual monitors on my remote workstation and dual monitors on my local workstation. How to I set up the client so I can view both monitors of remote workstation on both of my local monitors?

Answer 1

It seems that the Microsoft Remote Desktop app does not support Multiple screens

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-desktop/compare-remote-desktop-clients

Answer 2

There are two versions of microsoft remote desktop app

• windows store app version
  https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9WZDNCRFJ3PS?SilentAuth=1&wa=wsignin1.0&activetab=pivot%3Aoverviewtab&hl=en-us&gl=US
• windows desktop app version
  https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2139369

The windows desktop app version supports selecting individual monitors for dual monitor setup

• right click on remote desktop PC shown in the list of PCs on desktop app
• click on settings and uncheck "Use default settings"
• in Display configuration drop down choose "Select displays"
• hit "Detect" & "Identify" if in case you don't see your monitors
• and then just select which all monitors you want to use for remote desktop
  

Answer 3

Create a shortcut for RDP using MSTSC, this will be a .RDP file

To list your monitors (I have four)

mstsc /l

Edit the MSTSC shortcut (.RDP) file in NotePad, add the following lines (first line number 0,4 depends on how your monitor are setup, for me 0,4 uses the middle and left monitor).

In my case line span monitor was missing.

selectedmonitors:s:s:0,4
screen mode id:i:2
span monitors:i:1
use multimon:i:1

Save and test.

This is the full MSTC save file saved as .RDP :

First line full address change the IP or use Hostname

full address:s:192.168.1.100
selectedmonitors:s:s:0,4
screen mode id:i:2
span monitors:i:1
use multimon:i:1
desktopwidth:i:1920
desktopheight:i:1080
session bpp:i:32
winposstr:s:0,1,208,19,1712,1155
compression:i:1
keyboardhook:i:2
audiocapturemode:i:0
videoplaybackmode:i:1
connection type:i:7
networkautodetect:i:1
bandwidthautodetect:i:1
displayconnectionbar:i:1
enableworkspacereconnect:i:0
disable wallpaper:i:0
allow font smoothing:i:0
allow desktop composition:i:0
disable full window drag:i:1
disable menu anims:i:1
disable themes:i:0
disable cursor setting:i:0
bitmapcachepersistenable:i:1
audiomode:i:0
redirectprinters:i:0
redirectcomports:i:0
redirectsmartcards:i:1
redirectclipboard:i:1
redirectposdevices:i:0
autoreconnection enabled:i:1
authentication level:i:2
prompt for credentials:i:0
negotiate security layer:i:1
remoteapplicationmode:i:0
alternate shell:s:
shell working directory:s:
gatewayhostname:s:
gatewayusagemethod:i:4
gatewaycredentialssource:i:4
gatewayprofileusagemethod:i:0
promptcredentialonce:i:0
gatewaybrokeringtype:i:0
use redirection server name:i:0
rdgiskdcproxy:i:0
kdcproxyname:s:
drivestoredirect:s: