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Remote Desktop: /span across multiple monitors

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I spent some time searching the web about Remote Desktop, fullscreen and multiple monitors, so I decided to write down my findings to avoid having to search for them again.

/span for multiple monitors

If you pass /span to mstsc.exe, the target session’s desktop will become a huge rectangle that equals to the summary area of your physical monitors. This way the remote desktop window will fill all of your screens. The downside of this approach is that both screens are part of one desktop on the remote machine, so if you maximize a window there, it will span all of your monitors. Also, a dialog that is centered, will show up right on the border between your monitors. There is software on the web to workaround that but I’m fine with keeping my windows restored and sizing them myself. Also Tile Vertically works just fine in this case.

Saving the /span option in the .rdp file

There is a hidden option that isn’t mentioned in the description of the .rdp format:

span monitors:i:1

Just add it at the bottom of the file.

Saving the /f (fullscreen) option in the .rdp file

screen mode id:i:2

(By default it’s screen mode id:i:1, which is windowed).

Sources

Comments

  • Anonymous
    April 11, 2009
    Using SplitView in this case is highly recommended. http://www.splitview.com/ When remote desktop with span, Windows think you have one large desktop, makes maximizing windows a real pain.

  • Anonymous
    April 17, 2009
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  • Anonymous
    May 08, 2009
    Does not work for me.  I have XP prof ver 2002 SP3 and MSTSC.exe version 6.0.6001.18000.  I am connecting to my PC at work that has two monitors.  I have not seen a way to scroll or switch between monitors.

  • Anonymous
    July 07, 2009
    Hi Kirill, Thanks for posting span monitors:i:1. I was trying to use span:i:1 and getting a bit frustrated. You saved the day!

  • Anonymous
    November 10, 2010
    A year and a half later and your post is still saving the day... or at the very least making it more bearable.  Thanks

  • Anonymous
    March 02, 2011
    If you connnect to a Windows 7 machine you get real multi-monitor support

  • Anonymous
    September 08, 2011
    @Alex - that is not entirely true.  multi-monitor support is really only for Ultimate (or Enterprise or 2008-server).  Check the microsoft FAQ on the topic: (you have to expand the section "Which editions of Windows 7 include multiple-monitor support for Remote Desktop Connection?") windows.microsoft.com/.../Remote-Desktop-Connection-frequently-asked-questions I am VERY disappointed by this!

  • Anonymous
    February 16, 2012
    The only thing you haven't mentioned is how to add these setting to the file.

  • Anonymous
    February 17, 2012
    Chris - open the file in notepad and edit manually.

  • Anonymous
    December 12, 2012
    3,5 years after posting... still saved the day. Thanks!

  • Anonymous
    February 11, 2013
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    April 17, 2013
    dont see this mentioned anywhere here, so I'll add that /span only works if both your target monitors are exactly the same geometry as each other

  • Anonymous
    June 28, 2013
    The /span option only works with XP and Server 2003. With Server 2008 / vista and later, RDP uses multimon, which is in the Display options of the RD Connection. In order for multiple monitors to work with XP, Server 2003, you must have RDP 6.0 or above and Server 2003 has a Windows Hotfix and/or a registry key to add. www.splitview.com/.../64

  • Anonymous
    September 18, 2013
    not true. works just fine on win7 and multimon does nothing.

  • Anonymous
    September 30, 2013
    This needs to be updated as "/multimon" is much better and depreciated SplitView. mstsc /multimon allows multiple monitors with no windows re sizing issues. Monitors and windows are laid out just like they are in a mutliple monitor desktop using remote desktop.

  • Anonymous
    December 17, 2013
    Note that the multimon switch and “use all my monitors on the remote session” option ONLY work when the remote computer is running Windows 7 ultimate or enterprise edition, or Windows server 2008 R2. Use Span option when the remote is running on the windows not listed.

  • Anonymous
    February 17, 2014
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    February 24, 2014
    /multimon does not work for me. XP SP3 MSTC - 6.0.6001

  • Anonymous
    February 28, 2014
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    March 07, 2014
    Five years later, and you are STILL saving the day at work. Thanks!

  • Anonymous
    June 19, 2014
    Thanks for this man!...5 years later and you still got the S on the chest.

  • Anonymous
    December 03, 2014
    Oddly, /multimon works when I connect to a Windows 2008 server, but not when I connect to a Windows 7 Ping ro VM... Is there something that needs to be configured on the Windows 7 machine? /span works fine, but it's a hassle...

  • Anonymous
    December 03, 2014
    Nevermind, just discovered it doesn't work on Pro...

  • Anonymous
    January 31, 2015
    The Max Resolution for 2 monitors up and 2 down is 4080 x 2040 Although if you have 8 Screens as I do (using 6 HP USB To DVI Graphics MultiView Adapters NL571AA You can position the screens on top of each other but the max across is 4080 x2040 not 8160 as you would think. if you go past those numbers it will not work. Tony screen mode id:i:1 use multimon:i:0 desktopwidth:i:4080 desktopheight:i:920 session bpp:i:32 winposstr:s:0,1,0,0,1110,600 compression:i:1 keyboardhook:i:2 audiocapturemode:i:0 videoplaybackmode:i:1 connection type:i:2 displayconnectionbar:i:1 disable wallpaper:i:1 allow font smoothing:i:0 allow desktop composition:i:1 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:mrsmith-pc audiomode:i:1 redirectprinters:i:1 redirectcomports:i:0 redirectsmartcards:i:1 redirectclipboard:i:1 redirectposdevices:i:0 redirectdirectx:i:1 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:1 use redirection server name:i:0

    • Anonymous
      February 14, 2018
      Thank you so much!!!! This is what I needed to be able to drag my apps to my second monitormultimon:i:0