If a Horizon administrator has enabled this capability, you can use Horizon Client to customize the display resolution and display scaling for a remote desktop. The display resolution determines the clarity of the text and images. At higher resolutions, such as 1600 x 1200 pixels, items appear sharper. Display scaling, which is represented as a percentage, increases or decreases the size of text, icons, and navigation elements.

Enabling Customizable Display Resolution and Display Scaling for a Remote Desktop

A Horizon administrator must set the view.enableSyncDesktopLayout configuration key to allow users to customize the display resolution and scaling of remote desktops:

  1. On the client system, open the ~/.vmware/view-preferences, /etc/vmware/view-default-config, or /etc/vmware/view-mandatory-config configuration file in a text editor.
  2. Set the view.enableSyncDesktopLayout configuration key to "FALSE". This setting allows client users to customize the display resolution and scaling of remote desktops.
    Note: The default value of the view.enableSyncDesktopLayout configuration key is "TRUE". If you do not set the configuration key at all or set it to "TRUE", the customization settings for display resolution and scaling are hidden and inaccessible to users.
  3. Save your changes and close the configuration file.

Feature Limitations and Considerations

This feature has the following limitations and considerations.

  • Custom display resolution and display scaling settings are stored only on the local client system. If you log in to the remote desktop from a different system, the settings are not applied.
  • Customizing the display resolution and scaling for a remote desktop is not supported in multiple-monitor mode.
  • If you select a custom resolution that is higher than the client resolution, Horizon Client resizes the remote desktop window to fit the client window. If you select a custom resolution that is lower than the client resolution, black bars appear in the remote desktop window.
  • If you customize the display resolution during a remote desktop session, your changes take effect immediately. If you customize display scaling during a remote desktop session, you must log out and log back in to make your changes take effect.

Customize the Display Resolution and Display Scaling for a Remote Desktop

  1. Start Horizon Client and connect to a server.
  2. In the desktop and application selector window, right-click the remote desktop and select Settings.
  3. From the Connect Via menu, select VMware Blast or PCoIP.
  4. From the Display drop-down menu, select Full Screen - This Monitor, Large Screen, Small Screen, or Custom.
    Note: If you select the Full Screen - All Monitors option, the Resolution and Scaling drop-down menus are hidden, and you cannot customize the display resolution or scaling of remote desktops.
  5. To customize the display resolution, select a resolution from the Resolution drop-down menu.

    If you select Automatic (the default setting), Horizon Client fits the remote desktop to the client window size. If the remote desktop does not support the display resolution that you select, it uses the default setting.

  6. To customize display scaling, select a scaling size from the Scaling drop-down menu.

    If you select Automatic (the default setting), Horizon Client sets the display scaling percentage based on the display resolution that you select.