Keyboard shortcuts inside a Remote Desktop session

Some keyboard shortcuts behave differently once you are inside a Remote Desktop session. Your own PC keeps a few combinations, such as Ctrl + Alt + Delete, for itself, so Remote Desktop provides replacements. This guide lists the shortcuts that matter, explains the setting that decides whether keys go to your PC or the server, and covers Mac keyboards. The examples assume a server reached at IP:3389.

Before you start

• A working Remote Desktop connection to your server at 203.0.113.10:3389 (use your own IP from your VPS provider's control panel).
• Remote Desktop Connection (mstsc) on Windows 10 or 11 for the main list. Mac users should read the Mac section too.

Decide where Windows key combinations go

Before learning shortcuts, check this one setting. It controls whether combinations such as Alt + Tab, Win + E and Win + R go to your PC or to the server.

1. Open mstsc and click Show Options.
2. Open the Local Resources tab.
3. Under Keyboard, set Apply Windows key combinations to one of:

• On this computer: your PC keeps every combination. Use the RDP replacements below inside the session.
• On the remote computer: combinations go to the server, even when the session is in a window.
• Only when using the full screen: the default. Combinations go to the server when the session fills the screen, and to your PC when it is windowed.

1. Go back to General and click Save so the setting sticks.

In an .rdp file the same setting is keyboardhook:i:0, 1 or 2 (local, remote, full screen only).

RDP replacement shortcuts

These work in Remote Desktop Connection on Windows and replace the normal Windows keys inside the session:

• Ctrl + Alt + End: opens the server's security screen, the same as Ctrl + Alt + Delete. Use it to lock, sign out, change your password or open Task Manager.
• Alt + Page Up: switches between programs from left to right, like Alt + Tab.
• Alt + Page Down: switches between programs from right to left, like Alt + Shift + Tab.
• Alt + Insert: cycles through programs in the order you started them.
• Alt + Home: opens the Start menu on the server.
• Ctrl + Alt + Break: switches the session between full screen and a window.
• Ctrl + Alt + Home: in full screen, gives focus to the connection bar.
• Alt + Delete: opens the window menu of the active remote window (Move, Size, Close and so on).
• Ctrl + Alt + Minus (on the number pad): takes a picture of the active remote window and puts it on the server's clipboard, like Alt + Print Screen.
• Ctrl + Alt + Plus (on the number pad): takes a picture of the whole remote screen and puts it on the server's clipboard, like Print Screen.

The two picture shortcuts need the number-pad minus and plus keys. On a laptop without a number pad, use the Snipping Tool inside the session instead.

Shortcuts that work normally

Most everyday shortcuts pass straight through to the server with no change:

• Ctrl + C, Ctrl + V, Ctrl + X, Ctrl + Z and Ctrl + A in apps.
• Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager on the server, when key combinations go to the remote computer.
• Win + E, Win + R and Win + D when key combinations go to the remote computer.

Copy and paste between your PC and the server also work through the clipboard. Copy and paste between your PC and Remote Desktop covers what to do when it stops.

Mac keyboards

The Windows App on macOS maps Mac keys to Windows keys for you. The basics:

• Cmd usually acts as the Windows key or Ctrl, depending on the app's keyboard setting.
• Option acts as Alt.
• Many Mac keyboards lack End, Home, Page Up and Page Down. Use Fn + Right Arrow for End, Fn + Left Arrow for Home and Fn + Up/Down Arrow for Page Up and Page Down.

So the Mac equivalent of Ctrl + Alt + End is usually Ctrl + Option + Fn + Right Arrow. If the app's version changes this mapping, check its keyboard settings. Fix Mac keyboard shortcuts in Remote Desktop explains the Mac options in full.

A quick fallback: the on-screen keyboard

When a key combination will not reach the server, open the on-screen keyboard inside the session:

1. Click Start on the server, type osk and press Enter.
2. Click the keys on screen. Modifier keys such as Ctrl and Alt stay held until you click the next key.

This is slower, but it is handy for one-off combinations on unusual keyboards.

Check it works

Inside the session, try three shortcuts in turn:

1. Alt + Page Up: the active window should change.
2. Ctrl + Alt + End: the security screen should appear. Click Cancel.
3. Ctrl + Alt + Break: the session should switch to a window. Press it again to return.

If all three respond, your keyboard settings are fine.

Troubleshooting

• Alt + Tab switches apps on my own PC: the session is windowed and the default setting keeps combinations local. Use Alt + Page Up, go full screen, or change Apply Windows key combinations.
• Ctrl + Alt + End does nothing on a laptop: End needs Fn on your keyboard. Try Ctrl + Alt + Fn + End, or use the on-screen keyboard.
• Typed symbols come out wrong: the server's keyboard layout differs from yours. Add your layout in the server's language settings.
• Black screen after connecting: press Ctrl + Alt + End and choose Cancel. If that fails, see Fix a black screen in Remote Desktop.

Next steps

• Reach the security screen and its options: Send Ctrl+Alt+Delete inside Remote Desktop.