Multiple Monitors and Virtual Displays

This article will go over the Add Screens, Virtual Displays and Fallback To Virtual Displays features.

Keep in mind that normally you need to join the computer using the same Parsec account as the host for these features to function. The exception is that this isn't necessary for Team customers using Team Computers.

Multiple Monitors (Add Screens)

"Add Screens" is a feature available for Teams and Warp customers, which lets you open up additional windows to view up to 3 displays from the same host computer at once.

You can change the bandwidth, resolution, chroma settings, and frame rates per screen at any time by using the Parsec overlay in that display. That makes it easy to have one screen set up perfectly for your IDE while another is set up for gameplay.

How to use

To add a display to your Parsec session:

• Click the Parsec icon in your session window
• Highlight 'Add Screens'
• Select a screen you want to add

You can also use the Add Screens hotkey (Ctrl+Shift+S by default) while connected to the stream.

Your host computer needs at least two displays connected, with the screens set to the "Extend" mode in the OS settings, for the option to show up. You will not see the option if the host screens are set to "Mirrored" or "Duplicate" mode.

Virtual displays

"Virtual Displays" is a feature available for Teams and Warp customers, which lets you add up to 3 additional virtual displays to the host while connecting to a machine you own through Parsec. The virtual displays show up along with your current physical displays.

If the host system has no physical displays attached, Parsec's virtual displays will allow you to connect to the host without requiring an HDMI or Displayport dongle. If your host is running Windows, you'll need to install the Virtual Display Driver to enable virtual displays. Teams customers can enforce virtual display settings from the Teams admin portal, globally, or by group.

Requirements

How to configure

• If your host is on Windows, install the Virtual Display Driver on it. This is not necessary on macOS
• On the host, open your Parsec settings and click the Host tab
• Find the Virtual Displays setting and choose the number of virtual displays you want

Fallback To Virtual Display

"Fallback To Virtual Display" is a setting available for all Parsec users, which adds a single virtual display on Windows hosts if no other displays are present. This will allow you to connect to the host without requiring a physical display attached, or an HDMI or Displayport dongle.

You'll need to install the Virtual Display Driver to enable this setting.

Requirements

How to configure

• Install the Virtual Display Driver on the host computer
• On the host, open your Parsec settings and click the Host tab
• Find the Fallback To Virtual Display setting and enable it