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Is it possible to exit a Windows Remote Desktop Connection in full-screen mode with a keyboard shortcut?

I'm using Windows 8.

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3 Answers 3

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54
  1. First press Crtl + Alt + Home to activate the connection bar
    or press Ctrl + Alt + Break to switch from full-screen-mode to window mode.
  2. Then press Alt + Tab or any other method you may prefer to switch between open windows.

To learn more from the source I used, visit here: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-my/windows-8/keyboard-shortcuts

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  • If I go with Pause/Break, then I can get back to the Remote Desktop in the same way. If I go with Home, then there is no way to get back to the Remote Desktop with keyboard only.
    – Franklin Yu
    Nov 9, 2017 at 1:25
  • @FranklinYu I don't have any issues getting back to the Remote Desktop when using Home. I just use Ctr + Alt to get back to the Remote Desktop and it works.
    – drinovc
    Aug 30, 2019 at 16:20
  • @drinovc That's weird. I tried again just now. First I use Ctrl Alt Home to escape the RDP; then I switched to another program at client side (my browser) with Alt Tab; then I switched back with Alt Tab; then I hit Ctrl Alt as you instructed; then I tried switching window within the RDP session with Alt Tab but it switched to another program in client side, indicating that it didn't get inside the RDP session.
    – Franklin Yu
    Aug 30, 2019 at 17:46
  • It'd be nice if my laptop had either of those buttons... home and break
    – Gunner Stone
    Jun 25, 2021 at 0:30
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You can disconnect from a windows 10 session with tsdiscon.exe . I created a taskbar short cut for just this purpose. Not sure if that executable is available in windows 8. (it should be). I found this to be the most expedient way to logoff a remote desktop session when the remote desktop bar is intentionally hidden (it always seemed to be in the way).

PS: The tsdiscon.exe file should be located on the PC you're remoting into (not the one your on).

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3

If you need to quickly move between remote PC and non-remote laptop, then the following method would allow you to quickly switch between the two side.

Prerequisite: A working laptop track pad able to detect 4 point touch or more

  1. Create a new Desktop (Press Win + Tab, you will see the New Desktop button)
  2. Connect your Remote site in full screen using Desktop 1
  3. Put 4 fingered into your track pad, and swipe right
  4. You should be on your Desktop 2 now, and you can start your non-remote work there
  5. Switch back to remote site by Put 4 fingered into your track pad, and swipe left
  6. You should now be in Desktop 1 again
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  • 1
    This is a sneaky way to do it. Thanks for the answer. Is there a similar way using New Desktops to do this on an actual PC (not a laptop so no 4 finger track-pad command)
    – Gunner Stone
    Jun 25, 2021 at 0:39
  • Not that I think of. Even with the Virtual touchpad like so: wpxbox.com/… It would be much more difficult to do the swipe. Maybe if we use macro tools like AutoHot key might work. Not sure
    – Ng Sek Long
    Jun 25, 2021 at 1:30

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