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Configuring How You View the Remote Desktop

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NoMachine displays the remote desktop according to the preferences you have enabled with 'Enable viewport mode', 'Scale to window' or 'Resize remote display' options, which are always accessible via the icons from within the session menu. Sometimes, however, the user might prefer to explicitly resize the remote desktop so that it better uses the available space to their specific needs on the client screen. This can be done via the 'Resolution' slider (Ctrl-Alt-0 > Display > Display settings).

Go to 'Display settings' inside the NoMachine session

  • Connect to the remote computer.
  • Open the NoMachine session menu (Ctrl-Alt-0 or page-peel).
  • The 'Scale to window' and 'Resize remote display' options are clearly visible. 'Scale to window' displays session content at the same size as the remote display. 'Resize remote display' changes the dimension of the session window to resize the desktop to always fit the dimension of the NoMachine window.
  • Click on 'Display', and then 'Change settings'.
  • NoMachine indicates the standard resolution options found on the server-side list of supported dimensions. Move the slider according to your preference (Fig. 2).
Click on 'Change settings' to access the display resolution settings

Fig. 1 – Click on 'Change settings' to access the display resolution settings

Supported resolution dimensions are indicated on the slider

Fig. 2 – Supported resolution dimensions are indicated on the slider

Set a custom resolution

  • If any of the resolution options indicated don't fit your needs, you can specify a custom width and height, and NoMachine will resize the remote desktop to the given resolution or to the nearest one (Fig. 3).
  • Additionally, in remote desktop sessions to multi-monitor set-ups, you can even set a custom resolution ad hoc per display. If multiple monitors are detected, small monitor icons show up on the right. Select the monitor to set its resolution.
Insert the custom width and height. In the image HD dimensions have been inserted

Fig. 3 – Insert the custom width and height.

More useful tips

  • A further option 'Ask the desktop resolution upon connecting' asks if and how you prefer to resize the desktop every time you connect.
  • If you have 'Scale-to-window' enabled, you can automatically scale the contents to fit the window and preserve the aspect ratio of the remote display simply by holding the 'Control' key and dragging the corner of the window.
  • For further tips about resize and scaling options for NoMachine remote desktop software, check out the article here.
NoMachine welcome panel with Display settings instructions

Fig. 4 – Choose how to resize the desktop for that connection

NoMachine Is for Everybody

Free for personal use

NoMachine is freely available for everyone to download and install for personal use on any computer you need to remotely access. No strings attached. Use it to access all your files, display all your videos, play all your audio, edit your documents, as well as remotely assist and collaborate with friends or family.