NoMachine offers three display modes that control how your remote desktop appears in the session window. The default mode depends on your connection type.

• - Physical desktop session: The default setting scales the desktop to fit the client window

• - Virtual desktop session: The default setting displays the desktop at original size (with scrollbars if needed)

When connecting for the first time, Welcome panels will show you the default view mode for your connection type. You can change this option by selecting one of the options directly in the Welcome panel.

You can also change your view mode at any time during your session. This is done using the NoMachine Connection Menu reachable with the key shortcut Ctrl+Alt+0, or by clicking the page peel icon in the upper right corner.

Display Modes

i) Viewport Mode
Enabling viewport shows the session at 1:1 ratio (actual size). This is the default for virtual desktops. You can move your cursor to the window edges to pan around. Scrollbars will show if the remote desktop is large than your session window. Use them to navigate the desktop.

ii) Scale to Window Mode
Enabling this option automatically scales the remote screen to fit your session window. This is enabled by default for physical desktop connections. Starting from v9.1, when the scaling mode ('Scale to window') is enabled, the NoMachine client always keeps the aspect ratio of the remote desktop while resizing the session window. Keeping the aspect ratio means that the remote desktop displayed inside the session window is scaled by maintaining proportions between width and height. Content is not stretched or distorted.

In the case of remote desktop on Linux, this behaviour requires that the window manager supports the aspect ratio hints and may not work with all the Linux window managers.

TIP: For a free resize, keep the Control button pressed while resizing the window.

iii) Resize Remote Screen Mode
Resize remote display changes the geometry of the remote desktop to the current size of the NoMachine window. i.e., when you resize the session window, the remote desktop resolution changes accordingly.

Note that in the case of physical desktop connections, the maximum resolution is limited by the remote computer's graphics card. Check the system settings on the server to see available resolutions. Instead, for virtual desktop connections, the resolution is not limited by remote hardware, so you can use any resolution supported by your local monitor.

For additional detailed instructions, see the Connection Menu Guide for your platform:

• - Windows -> https://kb.nomachine.com/DT09T00267
• - Linux -> https://kb.nomachine.com/DT09T00266
• - Mac -> https://kb.nomachine.com/DT06S00218

Frequently asked questions:

Q: I'm using free NoMachine on Linux with a 4K monitor (3840×2160), but my session is limited to 1920×1080. How do I get higher resolution?

If you're connected to a physical desktop, you're limited by the remote graphics card's maximum resolution. If the card supports higher resolutions but they don't appear in system settings, your options are limited. Consider using NoMachine Workstation to run a virtual desktop session instead.

Q: Can I resize the remote desktop when connected to a physical desktop with multiple monitors?

Yes. In the NoMachine menu, go to Display > Change settings. You can select a specific monitor and adjust its resolution using the slider, or enter a custom resolution (Width×Height).

Q: I'm using the browser client. Will I get scrollbars if I make my browser window smaller than the remote application?

Yes, scrollbars appear when you disable "Fit to window" mode. To avoid scrollbars, keep "Fit to Window" enabled.