BrowserDeskHelp › In the session › E25
Give a computer without a screen a virtual monitor
If a computer without an attached monitor delivers no picture or only a small one, you switch on a virtual monitor in the session. You see and use it like a real one; at the end of the session it goes away again.
Preview this guide has not yet been clicked through on a real device. Button names and steps come from the program but may differ in details.
- For
- Technician
- Applies to
- Free · Cloud · Own relay
- Controlled device
- Windows · Linux
- Control from
- Program (Windows, macOS, Linux) · Browser
- from version
- 20261010.36
What it is for
A mini PC in a cupboard, a computer without a monitor or a closed laptop: depending on the graphics driver it then delivers no picture at all, a black picture or only 1024×768. In the session you switch on a virtual monitor. BrowserDesk switches to it, and you work as on a real screen. At the end of the session it goes away by itself.
What you need
- Windows device: 64-bit Windows (x64, not Windows Server) with the BrowserDesk service installed (C4). The first time, BrowserDesk installs the open-source driver "Virtual Display Driver" for this.
- Linux device: a Wayland session (GNOME, KDE) whose screen sharing knows virtual monitors. The first time, someone at the device has to confirm the screen-sharing request.
- On your side: the BrowserDesk program on a computer or web access (D4).
- Rights: you control the device. It does not work from a control-room tile.
- In all models.
How to do it
- In the session choose AnsichtVirtueller Monitor … (View > Virtual monitor …).
- The window Virtueller Monitor (Virtual monitor) shows "Status: aus" (off). Click Einschalten (Switch on).
- A bar shows that work is going on. The first time on Windows the driver is installed; this takes a moment.
- BrowserDesk switches the picture to the new monitor. Schließen (Close).
- To switch off: again AnsichtVirtueller Monitor … → Ausschalten (Switch off) — or simply end the session.
In the browser: menu Ansicht (View) → Virtuellen Monitor einschalten (Switch on virtual monitor) or Virtuellen Monitor ausschalten (Switch off virtual monitor).
How you know it worked
- The window shows "Status: an" (on).
- The picture shows a desktop at a normal resolution instead of black or 1024×768. You can adjust the resolution afterwards (E2).
What the other side sees
Nothing on a real screen — the virtual monitor is invisible. On Linux the system's screen-sharing question appears the first time.
Good to know
- Only for the session: when the last viewer leaves, BrowserDesk switches the monitor off. If something crashes, BrowserDesk cleans up on the next start.
- The driver stays installed on Windows but switched off; switching on again is faster. To remove it completely: Treiber vom Gerät entfernen (Remove driver from the device) in the window (only while the monitor is off).
- Trust: during installation Windows trusts the driver's publisher only for that one step. BrowserDesk checks the package first; it does not install a modified package.
- Other drivers: if another "Virtual Display Driver" is already set up, BrowserDesk does not switch it. Other virtual monitors (Parsec, RustDesk, Amyuni) do not always get along.
- Windows Server, ARM devices, Linux with X11: an HDMI or DisplayPort dummy plug (EDID emulator) helps here — the system then sees a real monitor.
- macOS cannot switch on a virtual monitor.
If it does not work
| You see | Meaning and fix |
|---|---|
| "Windows Server: Der mitgelieferte Treiber ist nicht von Microsoft zertifiziert und lädt dort nicht. …" (driver not certified for Windows Server) | Plug a dummy plug into the Windows Server. |
| "Nur mit installiertem BrowserDesk-Dienst (der Treiber braucht Administratorrechte)." (only with the service installed) | Set up the service at the device (C4). |
| "Der mitgelieferte Treiber gibt es nur für x64-Prozessoren (dieses Gerät: ARM64). …" (driver only for x64) | ARM device — use a dummy plug. |
| "Nur in einer Wayland-Sitzung (GNOME, KDE). Unter X11: Dummy-Stecker oder xserver-xorg-video-dummy (siehe Hilfe)." (only in a Wayland session) | The Linux device runs X11. |
| "Das Portal hat keinen virtuellen Monitor geliefert. Beim ersten Mal muss jemand am Gerät die Bildschirmfreigabe bestätigen; …" (the portal delivered no virtual monitor) | Have someone at the device confirm the question and switch on again. |
| "Windows hat die Signatur des Treibers nicht anerkannt (Code 52) …" (Windows did not accept the driver's signature) | A policy at the device does not allow the driver. Use a dummy plug. |
| "Der Treiber ließ sich nicht starten (Code 10). Läuft schon ein anderer virtueller Monitor (Parsec, RustDesk, Amyuni)? …" (driver did not start) | Switch off the other virtual monitor at the device or use a dummy plug. |
| "Auf diesem Gerät ist bereits ein fremder „Virtual Display Driver“ eingerichtet — BrowserDesk schaltet ihn nicht um." (another driver is already set up) | BrowserDesk leaves the other driver untouched. |
| "Die Signatur des Treiberpakets stimmt nicht — BrowserDesk installiert es so nicht." (package signature wrong) | The driver package at the device has been modified. BrowserDesk does not install it then. |
| Menu item missing | The device is a Mac or has an older BrowserDesk version, or you are not in control. |