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On Windows 7 and below, I can easily fire up multiple RDP sessions to remote servers. Under Windows 8, when I run RDP a second time, it just brings the first instance to the foreground. How can I launch multiple RDP sessions? I wish to do this with the traditional desktop RDP app, not the new Remote Desktop App from the App store.

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4 Answers 4

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You can click on the taskbar icon with the middle mouse button to open another instance of the Remote Desktop client. Or, right-click the icon and start another instance from the jumplist.

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Alternatively, you may want to have a look at mRemoteNG, which can open multiple RDP connections in a tabbed interface.

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Please note that it requires the .NET framework v2 which is not installed in Windows by default (but can be installed through the "Turn Windows features on or off" interface).

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    Searching for remote from the modern UI, right clicking on the search result, and then selecting "Open New Window" from the bottom menu works as well.
    – ernie
    Nov 8, 2012 at 16:53
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    I think Shift+Click still behaves like middle click as well in Win 8, if you prefer.
    – Shinrai
    Nov 8, 2012 at 16:59
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    You could run mstsc.exe /v <computer name> from the console instead - that opens a new instance up each time you run it.
    – Mark Allen
    Nov 8, 2012 at 19:12
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This "issue" does not affect only RDP, but other applications as well - it's just the way Windows 8 start menu works.

If you're primarily a keyboard user and prefer to start apps the "old way" by opening the start menu, typing in the first few letters, and then hitting enter, there's a way to launch new instances in Windows 8 too:

  • Pressing "Enter" will start the application, or will focus the window if it's already running
  • Pressing "Shift+Enter" will start a new instance even if the application is already running
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Another possibility is Microsoft's own Remote Desktop Connection Manager http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=21101

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Some other options ... In Windows 8, right click the RPD the icon and select "open in new window" Or select "Open file locaton" and pull out a copy of the shortcut "Remote Desktop Connection" to the desktop.

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