Complete Guide: Dual Monitor RDP Setup in Remmina

To set up a dual monitor RDP session properly in Remmina, you need to address several configuration aspects including version compatibility, display mode settings, and proper monitor mapping. Based on user experiences and official documentation, here’s a comprehensive guide to resolve your dual monitor issues.

Contents

• Common Issues with Remmina Dual Monitor Setup
• Version Compatibility Requirements
• Step-by-Step Configuration Guide
• Alternative Solutions
• Troubleshooting Common Problems
• Advanced Configuration Options

Common Issues with Remmina Dual Monitor Setup

Remmina’s dual monitor functionality has several known limitations that cause the exact problems you’re experiencing:

• Single local monitor display: When both remote monitors appear on one local screen
• Fullscreen mode limitations: Fullscreen behavior that doesn’t span across local monitors
• Resolution mapping issues: Incorrect scaling and distorted displays
• Configuration awareness: The application doesn’t automatically detect monitor configuration changes

According to Remmina’s official documentation, while basic multi-monitor support exists, it “doesn’t support the configuration change awareness.”

Many users report that dual monitor support works only in Fullscreen and dynamic resolution mode, as mentioned in Reddit discussions.

Version Compatibility Requirements

Before configuring Remmina for dual monitor support, ensure you have compatible versions:

• FreeRDP version: Must include multimon support. The default xfreerdp in Ubuntu 14.04 (Trusty) version 1.0.1 lacks this support
• Remmina version: You need at least Remmina 1.4.12 for proper dual monitor functionality
• Desktop environment: Wayland has known issues with multi-monitor RDP. Switch to X11 if possible, as noted in multiple user reports

The FreeRDP project added multimon support “recently,” but this needs to be properly integrated with Remmina.

Step-by-Step Configuration Guide

Method 1: Using Remmina’s Built-in Configuration

1. Create a new RDP connection in Remmina
2. Go to the “General” tab and enable “Multi monitor” option
3. Set display mode to “Fullscreen” and enable “Dynamic resolution”
4. Connect and check if both monitors are properly mapped

Important: Multi-monitor works only in Fullscreen and dynamic resolution mode according to user experiences.

Method 2: Manual .rdp File Configuration

1. Create a .rdp file on a Windows system with the following settings:
   screen mode id:i:2
   use multimon:i:1
   

2. Copy the .rdp file to your Linux system
3. Open it with Remmina in windowed mode (not fullscreen) and connect

As suggested in Ask Ubuntu, this approach often works better than using Remmina’s built-in options.

Method 3: Direct Connection File Editing

Edit the Remmina connection file (typically located at ~/.remmina/*.remmina) and add these settings:

multimonitor=1
dynamic_resolution_height=1
dynamic_resolution_width=1

This method was confirmed to work by users on the Remmina mailing list.

Alternative Solutions

Using xfreerdp Directly

Since you’ve already confirmed that xfreerdp works correctly, you can:

1. Create a desktop shortcut or script with your working command:
   bash

   xfreerdp /v:domain /u:username /multimon /cert:ignore /f
   

2. Use the /monitors parameter for more control:
   bash

   xfreerdp /v:domain /u:username /multimon /monitors:0,2 /cert:ignore /f
   

This approach gives you full control but lacks Remmina’s convenience features.

Window Management Tricks

For a better user experience while using xfreerdp:

1. Use windowed mode instead of fullscreen for easier management
2. Configure special window rules in KDE as mentioned in Super User
3. Use window snapping or tiling window managers to organize the RDP windows

Troubleshooting Common Problems

Single Monitor Display Issue

Problem: Both remote monitors appear on one local screen

Solutions:

• Ensure you’re using Remmina 1.4.12 or later
• Try windowed mode instead of fullscreen
• Check if your FreeRDP version supports multimon
• Switch to X11 if you’re using Wayland

Wayland Compatibility Issues

Problem: Dual monitor doesn’t work under Wayland

Solution: Switch to X11 session at login, as confirmed in Reddit discussions.

Windows Server Compatibility

Problem: Windows 7 Professional doesn’t support multimon RDP

Solution: Upgrade to a Windows version that supports multi-monitor RDP, or use the workaround with manual .rdp file creation.

Advanced Configuration Options

Monitor Selection

For precise control over which local monitors are used:

xfreerdp /v:domain /u:username /multimon /monitors:0,2 /cert:ignore /f

This configures monitors 0 and 2 (skipping monitor 1).

Performance Optimization

Add these parameters for better performance:

/network:lan /sound:sys:alsa /microphone:sys:alsa /drive:/home/user/Documents/RdpStorage

Custom Resolution Handling

If you have different resolution monitors, use the dynamic resolution settings in the .remmina file:

dynamic_resolution_height=1
dynamic_resolution_width=1

Sources

1. How do I use dual monitors with Remmina Remote Desktop Client? - Ask Ubuntu
2. Remmina multi-monitor support documentation
3. How to convince Remmina to use two displays in a three-monitor setup - Super User
4. RDP: Multi monitor support - GitLab Issues
5. Remmina multi monitor support for RDP - Reddit
6. Ubuntu - rdp dual monitor - Reddit
7. RDP multi-monitor feature does not work under Wayland - GitLab Issues

Conclusion

Setting up dual monitor RDP in Remmina requires attention to several key factors:

1. Version compatibility is crucial - Ensure you have Remmina 1.4.12+ and FreeRDP with multimon support
2. Display mode matters - Use fullscreen with dynamic resolution for the best results
3. Wayland causes issues - Switch to X11 if dual monitor support doesn’t work
4. Manual configuration often works better - Create .rdp files or edit connection files directly
5. xfreerdp is a reliable alternative - Use the command line version when Remmina fails

For your specific situation, I recommend trying the manual .rdp file method first, as it has proven most reliable for users experiencing the exact same issue you described. If that doesn’t work, consider using xfreerdp directly with a desktop shortcut for convenient access while Remmina continues to develop its multi-monitor capabilities.