Show Remote Desktop connection bar

• Article
• 09/10/2021
• 2 minutes to read

The following is a list of the Remote Desktop Services shortcut keys.

A note regarding missing keys: Many compact keyboards do not contain some keys. For example, many laptops do not have a dedicated BREAK key. However, they usually have keyboard shortcuts that replace dedicated keys. These key replacements are specified by the manufacturer of the keyboard, so you may need to look up key replacements in the documentation provided by your keyboard or laptop manufacturer.

There are two different sets of shortcut key combinations you can use on a remote desktop connection: the default Windows shortcut keys, or the shortcut keys originally designed for the remote desktop. You can set which shortcut keys you use on the local and remote machine through the Remote Desktop Connection client [ie, the dialog that appears when you click on the Remote Desktop Connection icon]. From there, click Show Options [if you cannot see the options], and then click the Local Resources tab. In the Apply Windows key combinations drop-down, you have three options:

Option Description

On this computer	The default key combinations will work on your local machine only. You must use the alternate combinations on the remote desktop.
On the remote computer	The default key combinations will work only on the remote desktop. You must use the alternate combinations on the local machine. Note that once you close down the Remote Desktop Connection, your local machine will once again use the default windows shortcuts.
Only when using the full screen	The default key combinations will work on whichever machine has the full desktop; functionally, this means that the default key combinations work for the local machine, unless you have the Remote Desktop Connection window in full-screen mode.

For more user information about Remote Desktop connection, See How to use Remote Desktop.

Shortcut key Description

CTRL+ALT+HOME	Activates the connection bar.
CTRL+ALT+BREAK or one of these shortcuts: CTRL+ALT+PAUSE CTRL+ALT+PRTSCN CTRL+ALT+FN+SCRLK	Switches the client between full-screen mode and window mode. If these shortcuts don't work, or the keys aren't available, you can try the following alternative: Press CTRL+ALT+HOME, TAB, TAB, TAB, TAB, TAB, ENTER. This activates the connection bar, and then presses the Restore down button.
CTRL+ALT+END	Brings up the Windows Security dialog box for the Remote Desktop Session Host [RD Session Host] [provides the same functionality as pressing CTRL+ALT+DEL on the local computer].

The following table describes the standard Windows shortcut keys and their equivalent Remote Desktop shortcuts that are different. [For example, Ctrl+Z is generally the 'Undo' shortcut on both standard Windows and Remote Desktop.]

Windows shortcut Remote Desktop shortcut Description

ALT+TAB	ALT+PAGE UP	Switches between programs from left to right.
ALT+SHIFT+TAB	ALT+PAGE DOWN	Switches between programs from right to left.
	ALT+INSERT	Cycles through the programs in the order they were started.
Windows key or CTRL+ESC	ALT+HOME	Displays the Start menu.
ALT+SPACE BAR	ALT+DELETE	Displays the system menu.
ALT+PRINT SCREEN	CTRL+ALT+MINUS SIGN [-]	Places a snapshot of the active window, within the client, on the clipboard.
PRINT SCREEN	CTRL+ALT+PLUS SIGN [+]	Places a snapshot of the entire client windows area on the clipboard .

Remote Desktop Services

Hi and thanks for reaching out! I'm an Independent Advisor and a Microsoft user like you. Please allow me to assist with your issue. The connection bar cannot be customized until the remote connection has started. It does not remember the location customized as well. The only setting that you can choose is to hide or unhide the connection bar. Please check this post for the option's location.

//answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/for...

Please let me know if I can help you further!

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How to hide or show the remote desktop connection bar in full screen mode.

Today we will learn how to enable or disable auto hide option in Remote Desktop Connection . There are few simple steps through that we can enable or disable same.

• First open Remote Desktop Connection . For Remote Desktop , Go to RUN & type "mstsc" & press enter or ok button.
• Click on Show Options. [Below on Remote Desktop Connection]
• Select Display Menu & Check ✅ on "Display the connection bar when I use the full screen."