Using multiple monitors when working remotely can greatly improve productivity by allowing you to view more applications and documents at once. While the default Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection only displays one monitor, there are several methods to activate a split screen view between multiple remote desktop monitors.
Enable Multiple Monitors in Remote Desktop Connection
The easiest way to use multiple monitors in a Remote Desktop session is to enable the “Use all my monitors for the remote session” option:
- Open Remote Desktop Connection and click Show Options
- Go to the Display tab
- Check the box for Use all my monitors for the remote session
- Connect to the remote computer as usual
Once connected, the remote desktop will span across all of your local monitors. You can resize and arrange the windows however you like.
Use Multiple Remote Desktop Windows
If you want more control over the view, you can open separate Remote Desktop windows for each monitor:
- Launch the first Remote Desktop window and connect to the remote PC
- Launch a second Remote Desktop window and connect to the same PC
- Arrange the windows on your local monitors as desired
This allows you to independently control what displays on each monitor. You can also use keyboard shortcuts to send windows between monitors.
Use Third-Party Tools
There are also several third-party tools that can enable multi-monitor remote desktops:
- AnyViewer – Free remote desktop software that supports spanning across multiple monitors
- DisplayFusion – Paid software with advanced multi-monitor management features
- MeshCentral – Open-source self-hosted remote desktop that can mirror dual monitors
These tools give you additional flexibility for customizing multi-monitor remote sessions.
Optimize Display Settings
To get the best performance from a multi-monitor remote desktop:
- Use monitors with similar or identical resolutions
- Reduce unnecessary visual effects in the remote OS
- Lower the color depth if needed (16-bit is often sufficient)
- Use a wired network connection rather than WiFi
These tweaks can help minimize lag and improve the user experience when spanning across multiple monitors remotely.
Tips for Using a Split Remote Desktop
Here are some tips for working productively with a spanned remote desktop session:
- Task-based layout – Have different applications open on each monitor based on tasks
- Extend taskbars – Display taskbars on both monitors for easy access
- Multi-desktops – Use virtual desktops on the remote OS to group apps
- Window snapping – Snap windows to monitor edges for efficient tiling
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions about using multiple monitors with Remote Desktop:
How many monitors can I use?
There is no set limit. You can span the remote desktop onto as many monitors as you have connected locally. Just be aware that performance may degrade with more than 2 or 3 monitors.
Does the remote PC need multiple monitors?
No, you just need multiple monitors on your local PC. The remote desktop will span onto your local monitors regardless of how many are connected to the remote PC.
What OS versions support multi-monitor Remote Desktop?
All client and server versions of Windows from Windows 7 onwards support spanning Remote Desktop across multiple monitors.
What happens if the monitors have different resolutions?
The remote desktop will attempt to match the lowest common resolution. So if you have 1080p and 4K monitors, it will default to 1080p. You can enable DPI scaling for improved readability.
Conclusion
Using a split screen remote desktop across multiple monitors can greatly improve efficiency by allowing you to view more applications at once.
There are a few straightforward ways to enable this:
- Check the multi-monitor box in Remote Desktop Connection
- Open multiple Remote Desktop windows
- Use third-party software like AnyViewer or DisplayFusion
With some display optimizations and window management tips, a multi-monitor remote desktop can become an indispensable part of your workflow.
