RDP Session randomly switches displys after being minimized

Question

I RDP from a Windows 10 Dell Laptop to my machine in my workplace. I have a second display (same resolution, 1920x1080) hooked up. This is my secondary display. It is a regular occurrence that when I minimize the RDP session then click on it in the task bar that it will jump back from the secondary display (where it should be) to the primary display (the laptop's native monitor).

I am RDP'ing to a single display host in my workplace. I have been doing this for years, and have never had this problem before with other hardware, it seems to be new to either this laptop or to a Window's update. Dell says it's a Windows problem, and it seems that others have had similar issues. However, I can't find an official Microsoft response or solution to this particular manifestation of this issue.

I have tried minimizing, maximizing, resizing, and all sorts of permutations. I have ensured that I've dragged all the connection windows to the second monitor before clicking the various "continue" and "connect" buttons. I've done everything except modify the registry, as I'm hoping that hard coding the location of the run is not necessary.

Note also that this only happens with RDP. Office apps, spotify, browsers, task manager, you name it, it doesn't forget which display it's supposed to be on. Only RDP.

Thanks much in advance!

Answer 1

A workaround is to install some automatic tools like displayfusion.

The parameters I tested are...

Trigger when: restore window
Process: mstcs.exe
Action: move to specific monitor

Answer 2

I have the problem, but it's not random.

I'm using screen 1,2

First min+max does on monitor 0

Second min+max does to the right position monitor 1 and 2

Answer 3

Same issue here - workaround at the end

Microsoft Windows 10 Enterprise [Version 10.0.19045.5011]

it in my case RDP does not randomly maximize on different displays but alternates:

1. Startup - correct position 0,0,1919,1079 (display 1+2) - as per rdp file (attached below)
2. Minimize, maximize #1 - local rdp window now maximized at -1920,0,-1,1079 (display 0+1)
3. Minimize again, maximize #2 - back to correct position 0,0,1919,1079 (display 1+2)
4. Minimize again, maximize #3 - local rdp window now maximized at -1920,0,-1,1079 (display 0+1)
5. and so on ...

mstsc.exe /console /f "somehost.rdp"

Output of mstsc.exe /l:

Main display in my setup is display 1 (not 0)!

rdp file

screen mode id:i:2
use multimon:i:1
desktopwidth:i:1920
desktopheight:i:1080
session bpp:i:32
winposstr:s:0,1,0,0,1919,1079
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
full address:s:somehost
audiomode:i:0
redirectprinters:i:0
redirectcomports:i:0
redirectsmartcards:i:1
redirectwebauthn:i:1
redirectclipboard:i:1
redirectposdevices:i:0
drivestoredirect:s:
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:
enablerdsaadauth:i:0
selectedmonitors:s:1,2

Workaround: Min / Max works fine (stays in position), when main display is set from display 1 to display 0 and winposstr:s:0,1,0,0,1919,1079 -> winposstr:s:0,1,1920,0,5759,1079