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Multi-Monitor Aware

Works with complex multi-monitor setups on both server and client

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Configure which monitor edge the client attaches to. Works with complex multi-monitor setups on both sides.

Modern workstations often have two, three, or more monitors attached. A KVM solution that only works with single-monitor setups is a non-starter for power users. HelloControlDesk is designed with multi-monitor awareness built in: both the server and client can have multiple monitors, and the software correctly handles the extended desktop on each side.

On the server side, you can choose which specific monitor's edge triggers the switch to the client machine. This is configured in Settings under the Display section. For example, if you have two monitors side by side on your server machine and the client screen is to the right, you can pin the trigger to the right edge of your rightmost monitor — preventing accidental switches when moving the cursor between your own server monitors.

On the client side, HelloControlDesk correctly maps the full extent of the client's display configuration. Whether the client has a single monitor or a wide multi-monitor array, mouse movement is faithfully replicated across the entire remote desktop. This makes HelloControlDesk suitable for professional workstations with demanding display setups.

How it works

  1. 1

    Attach your monitors as usual on each machine; the operating system manages the extended desktop on each side.

  2. 2

    On the server, choose which monitor edge leads to each client machine, so the switch happens where the client screen actually sits.

  3. 3

    Move the cursor past that edge: control passes to the client, and moves across all of the client's monitors as on a single desktop.

  4. 4

    Crossing between your own monitors on the server does not trigger a switch; only the chosen edge does.

When it is useful

Two monitors on the main machine, a laptop on the side

The laptop sits to the right of your second monitor. The switch edge is the right edge of that monitor, so moving between your two monitors never leaves the main machine.

A test machine that itself has two screens

The client has an extended desktop. Once the cursor has crossed over, it moves across both client screens as it would on a single machine.

Mac with one display next to a PC with two

Mixed set-ups are supported on both sides and in both directions; each machine keeps its own monitor arrangement.

Limits and requirements

  • Multi-monitor support covers the server and the client, on macOS and Windows.
  • Each client is still placed on one of the four sides of the main machine (left, right, top or bottom).
  • All machines must be on the same local network, over Wi-Fi or Ethernet.
  • Screens are not mirrored between machines: each monitor stays attached to its own computer; only keyboard, mouse and clipboard move.

Frequently asked questions

Can the server have several monitors?

Yes. Multi-monitor configurations are supported on the server side: you choose which monitor edge triggers the switch to a client machine.

Can the client have several monitors too?

Yes. Multi-monitor setups are supported on both sides, and the cursor moves across the client's extended desktop as if it were a single machine.

How many machines can I combine?

Up to 5 machines with one licence, each placed on one of the four sides of your main machine, all on the same local network.

Will the cursor jump when I move between my own monitors?

No. Only the monitor edge you choose triggers the switch to a client. Moving the cursor between the server's own monitors stays on the server.

Is multi-monitor support a paid option?

No. It is included in both the monthly and the annual plan, like the other capabilities.

See also

This page describes one capability of HelloControlDesk, a software KVM for Mac and Windows. Two related capabilities:

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