Answer: Turn off monitor and still use Virtual Desktop (or blank screen)

[Photo]

I've seen a few posts about not being able to turn off the display and still use virtual desktop. The problem is that the monitor won't be detected at all once it is off and virtual desktop is unusable.

Turning Monitor off

Easy Solution that will work for all is to get a:
HDMI Dummy Plug Display Emulator for Headless PC
or
Displayport Dummy Plug Display Emulator for Headless PC

This will keep the computer thinking the display is always active.
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There are free solutions but may not work for everyone.
Some Graphics cards let you disable EDID detection in their control panel
Might be under Display Detection.

A few monitors (not many) have an option to change DP Hot-Plug Detection > switch it from Low Power to Always Active. Might be something similar for some HDMI monitors but unsure.
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Blank Screen

If you don't mind your monitor being on and just want a black screen on it to hide whatever things you might be doing in VD (lol)

Windows+P -> Press till you select -> Second Screen Only
Windows+P again to get your screen back.

If the display resolution is not correct initially: Right Click Display Settings on Desktop -> Click on Monitor 2, then you can change your settings.
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If you have any other easy solutions that might help people, feel free to share.

[S. Gordon]

First of all : apologies for the necro,

Second: Since this has been an issue with Virtual Desktop for more than 8 years now, if not longer, there is a free solution to this also instead of buying yet another circumvent hardware solution HDMI dummy plugs and the like. Buying these dummies is great if you don't use a screen at all, meaning you would like to have a desktop setup without using a physical screen with an HMD setup only.

What I don't understand is that the Virtual Desktop developer(s) still haven't done anything about this issue after almost 10 years. That is absolutely ridiculous.

Now for those who have a monitor and wish to switch it off while still having VD active in their HMD's here is my solution.

My monitor (asus) comes with HDMI/DVI/DisplayPort button.

If set to DVI, the monitor switches off since it has no signal, but Virtual Desktop keeps functioning normally.

No dongle required, no extra money spent.

[DaleGribble]

Originally posted by S. Gordon:

First of all : apologies for the necro,

Second: Since this has been an issue with Virtual Desktop for more than 8 years now, if not longer, there is a free solution to this also instead of buying yet another circumvent hardware solution HDMI dummy plugs and the like. Buying these dummies is great if you don't use a screen at all, meaning you would like to have a desktop setup without using a physical screen with an HMD setup only.

What I don't understand is that the Virtual Desktop developer(s) still haven't done anything about this issue after almost 10 years. That is absolutely ridiculous.

Now for those who have a monitor and wish to switch it off while still having VD active in their HMD's here is my solution.

My monitor (asus) comes with HDMI/DVI/DisplayPort button.

If set to DVI, the monitor switches off since it has no signal, but Virtual Desktop keeps functioning normally.

No dongle required, no extra money spent.

Not to necro a necro but I just got a new monitor and was having this same issue. Couldn’t use VD without the screen on. Worked with my old monitor but not new one, I had resorted to getting good at hitting the screen saver and “alt-tabbing” simultaneously back into the game.

Now I no longer have to do this. No DVI but I use USB C and worked the same
You dropped this btw 👑