How to Configure Ctrl+Win+Left/Right in Fullscreen RDP

When connecting to a remote desktop in full-screen mode, you can configure the Ctrl+Win+Left/Right combination to work on the local computer by changing RDP connection settings. For this, you need to modify the ‘Apply Windows key combinations’ setting in the connection properties and use special methods to switch between local and remote desktops.

Table of Contents

• Main Problems and Their Causes
• Configuring Keyboard Shortcuts Through RDP Client
• Alternative Methods for Switching Desktops
• Step-by-Step Configuration Guide
• Solving AutoHotkey Problems in Full-Screen Mode
• Conclusion

Main Problems and Their Causes

When you connect to a remote desktop in full-screen mode, Windows by default redirects most keyboard combinations to the remote computer. This includes popular combinations like Ctrl+Win+Left/Right for switching virtual desktops.

The problem arises due to the behavior of the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), which captures keyboard control in full-screen mode. According to research on Microsoft Learn, in full-screen mode, most keyboard combinations are automatically sent to the remote computer.

Interesting fact: Even basic combinations like Alt+Tab stop working locally in RDP full-screen mode, creating additional inconvenience when switching between applications.

Configuring Keyboard Shortcuts Through RDP Client

The main solution to this problem is in the RDP client settings themselves. You can change the behavior of Windows key combinations through the following parameters:

Windows Key Combination Settings Options

Remote Desktop Connection has three main configuration options:

1. “On this computer” - all combinations with the Windows key work only locally
2. “On the remote computer” - all combinations with the Windows key work only remotely
3. “Only in full screen mode” - combinations work remotely only in full-screen mode

To solve your problem with Ctrl+Win+Left/Right, the optimal option would be to select “On this computer”, but this has limitations, as other useful combinations (for example, Win+E for File Explorer) will also work only locally.

Alternative Solution: Partial Configuration

A more flexible approach is to use “Only in full screen mode” followed by manual switching when needed:

1. Set the parameter to “Only in full screen mode”
2. To switch local desktops, use the combination Ctrl+Alt+Home to activate the connection panel
3. Then use Ctrl+Win+Left/Right to switch local desktops

This method is described on SuperUser, where users note its effectiveness in Windows 10.

Alternative Methods for Switching Desktops

If the standard configuration doesn’t solve your problem, there are alternative methods:

Using Alt+PageUp/PageDown

In RDP sessions, alternative combinations are available for switching windows:

• Alt+PageUp - switch between windows on the remote computer
• Alt+PageDown - reverse switching

However, these combinations don’t solve the problem with virtual desktops.

Double Switching Method

According to Stack Overflow, you can use the following sequence:

1. Ctrl+Alt+Home - activate the RDP connection panel
2. Alt+Tab - switch to local applications
3. Ctrl+Win+Left/Right - switch local desktops

This method temporarily shifts focus from the remote computer to the local one.

Step-by-Step Configuration Guide

Method 1: Changing RDP Client Settings

1. Open Remote Desktop Connection (mstsc)
2. Click “Show Options”
3. Go to the “Local Resources” tab
4. In the “Keyboard” section, find the “Apply Windows key combinations” setting
5. Select the option “On this computer”
6. Connect to the remote desktop
7. Test the functionality of Ctrl+Win+Left/Right

Method 2: Configuration Through RDP File

If you use saved RDP files, you can manually change the parameter:

1. Open the RDP file in a text editor
2. Find or add the line: keyboardhook:i:0
3. Save the file and connect

This method is described in detail on Smart Cloud.

Method 3: Using AutoHotkey with Adjustments

As noted in research, standard AutoHotkey scripts may not work in RDP full-screen mode. To solve this problem:

1. Create a script that activates only when the RDP window is inactive
2. Use conditional instructions to capture key combinations
3. Configure the script to work with specific window classes

An example solution can be found on SuperUser.

Solving AutoHotkey Problems in Full-Screen Mode

The problem with AutoHotkey in RDP full-screen mode occurs because RDP captures key processing. Here are several approaches to solve this:

1. Using System Hooks

#IfWinActive ahk_class TscShellContainerClass
^#Left::Send ^#{Left}
^#Right::Send ^#{Right}
#IfWinActive

This script will only work in Remote Desktop Connection windows.

2. Global Hooks

For more reliable operation, you can use system hooks, but this requires more in-depth programming knowledge.

3. Alternative Tools

Instead of AutoHotkey, you can use:

• PowerToys - built-in Windows capabilities
• SharpKeys - a utility for remapping keys
• Microsoft PowerToys Keyboard Manager - a modern solution from Microsoft

Conclusion

Configuring the Ctrl+Win+Left/Right combination to work on the local computer in RDP full-screen mode requires understanding the behavior of the remote desktop protocol and proper configuration of connection parameters.

Main conclusions:

1. The simplest solution is to change the “Apply Windows key combinations” setting to “On this computer” in the RDP client settings
2. To preserve remote combination functionality, you can use the temporary switching method via Ctrl+Alt+Home
3. AutoHotkey scripts require special configuration to work in RDP full-screen mode
4. Alternative methods, such as Alt+PageUp/PageDown, provide basic window switching on the remote computer

For optimal operation, it’s recommended to try different methods and choose the most suitable for your use case. In some cases, you may need to combine several approaches to achieve the desired result.

Sources

1. Microsoft Learn - Terminal Services Shortcut Keys
2. SuperUser - Keyboard Shortcut to Switch from Full-screen Remote Desktop
3. Smart Cloud - Structure of Remote Desktop Connection File
4. Stack Overflow - Keyboard shortcut to move away from fullscreen RDP session
5. SuperUser - Remote Desktop sending Windows key shortcuts