# Remote Desktop Connection display preferences

You can save display preferences for each Windows-based computer that you connect to. Most of these preferences affect how graphics are displayed. The options that you select can have a significant effect on the performance of the Remote Desktop session A connection between a client computer (the Mac) and a remote Windows-based computer. This connection can take place over the same network or over the Internet. When a session is established, the remote desktop (of the Windows-based computer) appears as a window on your Mac desktop. A session ends when you disconnect or log out of the Windows-based computer.. The default options provide the best performance over a broadband connection.

Preference | Default setting | Description
--- | --- | ---
Remote desktop size | 1024x768 | Changes the screen resolution and the size of the window that the Remote Desktop session is displayed in. For example, to display the session in a window that is smaller than the default size, select a smaller number for this option. Tip To change the window size during a session, on the View menu, click Fit to Window, and then drag the sizing control until the window is the size that you want.
Colors | Thousands | Adjusts color depth for the session. Depending on the policies of the network, and the version of Windows that is running on the remote computer, the maximum color depth for the remote connection might be limited. If the color depth that you select is larger than the allowed setting, Remote Desktop Connection creates the connection at the maximum allowed color depth.
Open remote desktop window on | Main display | Opens Remote Desktop Connection on the specified monitor. If your Mac is set up to use two or more monitors, you can select the monitor that you want the session window to open on.
Show desktop background | Off | Shows the custom background or wallpaper from your Windows desktop in the session window.
Show font smoothing | On | Improves the legibility of on-screen fonts by smoothing jagged diagonals and curves in letters.
Show contents of window while dragging | Off | Shows the full contents of a window when you move the window across the screen, instead of showing only the frame of the window.
Show menu and window animation | Off | Shows cascading menus and scroll transition effects for menus and ScreenTips.
Show themes | On | Shows the custom background, sounds, icons, and other elements from your Windows-based computer in the session window.
Allow bitmap caching | On | Improves performance by reducing the information that is sent over the connection.
Do not show the Mac menu bar and the Dock in full-screen mode | Off | Prevents the menu bar and the Dock from appearing when the session window is in full-screen mode. For example, you might select this option to prevent the Dock from obscuring the Windows taskbar.

### See also

Create and change connection files

Improving session speed

Work in full-screen mode