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  10. 🖥️❌ Set up a device without a monitor (headless)

🖥️❌ Set up a device without a monitor (headless)

This section shows possible solutions for the situation when there is no monitor connected to the remote device and only a black screen appears when using the Screen application.

We are aware of multiple working solutions:

Hardware solution

If there is no monitor connected to the remote device, you can connect an HDMI device to it.

The device looks like this:

More information about the device is available here:

Amazon.com: FUERAN DP – DisplayPort Display Emulator EDID Emulator Plug (fit Headless 2560×1600@60Hz) : Electronics

Software solution for Windows

For Windows operating systems, it is possible to install an application that creates one or more virtual monitors.

The application is available here:

Activating a Secondary Display on Windows 10 when no Monitor is Connected – Amyuni Technologies

⚠️ Note: this solution works properly with Windows10 and Windows 11 as well.

Software solution for Linux

Multiple solutions are available for the Linux operating system.

Solution 1:
Setup Ubuntu Dummy Desktop & Remote Access – Thien-Minh Nguyen (brytsknguyen.github.io)

Solution 2:
https://gist.github.com/dragolabs/8e559113567faed32327ef24fdce775b?permalink_comment_id=4051635

Solution 3:

  • First, install an Xorg dummy driver:

sudo apt-get install xserver-xorg-video-dummy

  • Then write a config file for that driver that tells DWService this device is headless:

sudo nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf

  • In this new file, copy and paste the following text:

Section "Device"
Identifier "Configured Video Device"
Driver "dummy"
# Default is 4MiB, this sets it to 16MiB
VideoRam 16384
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Configured Monitor"
HorizSync 31.5-48.5
VertRefresh 50-70
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Monitor "Configured Monitor"
Device "Configured Video Device"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1024×800"
EndSubSection
EndSection

  • When you are done, make sure you save the file and quit (Ctrl+X, then Y, then Enter).
  • Reboot the device.

✅ You should be able to use the Screen app.

Software solution for macOS

For the macOS operating system, the following solution can be used:

GitHub – waydabber/BetterDisplay: Unlock your displays on your Mac! Smooth scaling, HiDPI unlock, XDR/HDR extra brightness upscale, DDC, brightness and dimming, virtual screens, PIP and lots more!