Working with multiple monitors on a remote device running RealVNC Server
By default, RealVNC Viewer will show all monitors connected to the remote computer. However, with RealVNC Viewer 7.1.0 and later, you can switch between monitors using the monitor icons on the toolbar at the top of the session window.
This feature can only be used on desktops (Windows, Mac and Linux) which are listed as a supported platform. Switching monitors is not currently supported on RealVNC Viewer for Mobile.
Viewing a single monitor
You can choose to either cycle through monitors:
or select a particular monitor to view:
Please note, the selected monitor is not saved between sessions and will need to be selected each time you connect.
Viewing multiple monitors (Multi-Window mode)
New in RealVNC Viewer and RealVNC Server 7.10.0
From RealVNC Viewer and RealVNC Server 7.10.0 onwards you can use RealVNC Viewer in Multi-Window mode. This mode lets you create a separate RealVNC Viewer application for each remote monitor connected to the RealVNC Server device.
This feature can only be used on desktops (Windows, Mac and Linux) which are listed as a supported platform. Multi-Window mode is not currently available for RealVNC Viewer on mobile platforms.
To activate Multi-Window mode, first click the Monitor Select icon:
then click the icon for Multi-Window mode, followed by the monitor(s) you wish to view:
Each window can be independently scaled or placed into Fullscreen mode using the RealVNC Viewer toolbar.
Please note, the selected monitor(s) and window mode are not saved between sessions and will need to be selected each time you connect.
Working with multiple monitors during an On-Demand Assist session
Starting with RealVNC Viewer 7.1.0 and On-Demand Assist 2.1.0, technicians can switch between monitors during an On-Demand Assist session.
When connected to a device with multiple monitors, you can use the monitor icons in the toolbar at the top of the session to select a particular monitor to view:
or cycle through monitors:
Comments
Hi Thomas,
Yes, you can do this by adjusting the applicable VNC Server parameter, shown below:
Windows: DisplayDevice (https://help.realvnc.com/hc/en-us/articles/360002251297#server-displaydevice)
Mac/Linux: Monitor (https://help.realvnc.com/hc/en-us/articles/360002251297#server-monitor)
Hi,
I have a setup with 3 monitors (laptop + external monitors). I want to run the VNC viewer in full screen on 2 of the monitors, not one as in the example above. Is that possible? And if not, is it something that can be implemented?
Hi Christian,
This isn't currently possible but I will add your vote on our feature request system. Have a great day!
What's the shortcut for "Switch to next monitor"?
Hi all,
We've released RealVNC Connect 7.10.0 today which introduces "Multi-Window" mode, which lets you split each monitor from the RealVNC Server into it's own window in RealVNC Viewer! Each window can be scaled/full-screen independently.
Thanks,
Jack N
Nice work. It works good for my windows plattform. Thank you.
Hi... the multi monitor support is great. Any possibility for some hot keys? F-8 8 (up on keypad) , f-8 4 (left on keypad) , f-8 6 (right on keypad), f-8 2 (down on keypad would keep the arrow keys free with "Num Lock" engaged... its time consuming to "f-8" and then drive a menu down w the mouse... Thanks -b
Hi both,
SpeednetUSA - I can see you raised this with our Support team and there was an issue with your team which we have now corrected.
Charles, do you license RealVNC Server online or offline? If online and you don't see the feature, please can you open a ticket? If you license RealVNC Server offline, you will need to apply an updated offline license to enable this feature. See https://help.realvnc.com/hc/en-us/articles/360029797672
I hope this helps!
Kind regards,
Jack
Hi Steve,
Select monitor is still available, but required VNC Server to be licensed with a Professional or Enterprise subscription. If you have a Professional or Enterprise subscription and still cannot see the option, please contact our Support team here: https://help.realvnc.com/hc/en-us/requests/new
Hi Jack,
Thanks for the quick reply, we license RealVNC offline. We are currently on the renewal process so when we will receive the new license the feature should be available.
I will wait for our new license and try it again.
Thanks again!
Hi Jack,
Same behavior than SpeednetUSA for us. We tried on several computers and the multi-window mode is not available.
Hi Jack,
I have upgraded to ver. 7.10 on both server and viewer and I do not see that multi-windows option. Any idea why?
Hi All, Is it possible to drag an opened file (doc, excel, pdf, etc.) from one monitor to another monitor while in multi-monitor mode? How, if possible? I can't seem to do it while viewing from a desktop multi-monitor setup or on a single monitor on a laptop. Thanks.
Hi Adam,
Thanks for your message, I will pass your feedback on to our product team.
Kind regards,
Jack
Hi Jack please push to get the mobile OS apps updated as well. They are so far behind the desktop apps they feel like 3rd party products.
Hi Daniel,
For the monitor selection to work, the RealVNC Server must have multiple monitors attached, either actual monitors, or EDID dongles, for example.
RDP creates virtual displays whereas RealVNC Server captures the actual display.
Thanks,
Jack
Hi Adam,
This is for Desktop RealVNC Viewers (Windows and Linux) currently, when connected to RealVNC Server on Windows, macOS and Linux.
Hello, I installed VNC Server 7.10.0 on my WINDOWS-Server (NO monitors are connected to the server) and 7.10.0 VIEWER on my MAC.
But I couldn't see the monitor icon in the tool bar.
Doesn't it work when there are no monitors connected to the server ? Because when I use Microsoft remote Desktop, this doesn't matter. I need further assistance please. Daniel
Fantastic thanks for sharing! Does this work on all the clients including android/ios ?
Is there a way to ONLY set ONE monitor as the viewable monitor, and not be able to select other monitors? Example, if you have 2 monitors, the main monitor and a 2nd monitor. Can you setup the server just for #2 and not allow the viewers to view the #1 main monitor?
Hey
Jack N RealVNC I wanted to second the request above "I have a setup with 3 monitors (laptop + external monitors). I want to run the VNC viewer in full screen on 2 of the monitors, not one as in the example above. Is that possible? And if not, is it something that can be implemented?" as a feature request
Hi Ron,
Thanks for your message. Being able to drag items from one window to another is something we are looking to implement in a future release. Currently you should be able to drag a window to the edge such that it "overlaps" with the additional monitor(s) then resume dragging on the desired monitor.
Note, when connecting to RealVNC Server on macOS server it's not possible to partially drag a window, instead the easiest way is via the Window menu - there’s a “Move to <MONITOR>” entry. The only other option is to switch to “single window all monitors” mode temporarily, drag it, then switch back to multi-window mode.
Thanks,
Jack
Hi Marco,
Thanks for posting. This option is only available when connecting to RealVNC Server. Connecting to VNC Servers developed by other developers will not work with the monitor selection feature in RealVNC Viewer.
Kind regards,
Jack
Hi, I could switch monitors in the server using VNC viewer in my windows computer but I don't have these options using VNC viewer in my mac labtop (os 11.2.2). Is this function available for mac? I installed the latest VNC viewer version (7.5). It doesn't show in the tool bar or with F8.
Hi, I have two monitors in the server, and two monitors in the viewer, I want to view the server monitor using each of monitor in the viewer. Therefore, I duplicate the server, and open the server twice. But both of them can only connect one monitor at the same. Is it possible to connect individual monitor in server?
Hello all,
I am using the latest version of VNC 7.1.0 (r49525) x64, and am having an issue I cannot seem to resolve. Maybe I can get some help here. I am using this version of VNC with Meraki. More times than not I am remoting into a machine with multiple monitors, I want to have it open to one monitor, then be able to switch between monitors. I see in this thread that switching between monitors is an option, however, my VNC does not give that option, the buttons are not present on the tool bar. I have reached out to Meraki for help and they are trying to find a way for this to work, but so far have been unsuccessful. I have some screenshots of my situation. But cannot upload them here. Can you tell me what i need to do to turn this option on please.
Hi Adam,
Monitor selection is currently only available when using VNC Viewer on a desktop platform.
Thanks,
Jack
This doesn't seem to relate to the Android client at all which looks very different in terms of interface and has a much more limited feature set. Am I right? Can you confirm and if so please update it. I don't see how I can switch between monitors on that client.
Hi Tim,
We've just released VNC Viewer 7.1.0 which moves the monitor selection controls to the toolbar. The functionality under the hood is largely the same, but we have further improvements underway in this area! I don't have any timeframes I can share at this time, however.
Thanks,
Jack
Can we simply have a default to display one monitor on initial connection, with an option in the realvnc toolbar to switch between views (eg monitor 1,2,1+2 or a toggle. I really like realvnc, but the default to display all monitors is frustrating and counter-productive. This really needs action. thanks!
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