Multi-user Windows remote desktop features
Connect to your own Windows PC to use your apps, work with files or play games. PrimalDesk streams your desktop to the native client or browser Workspace.
What you can do with PrimalDesk
- Use multiple virtual monitors
- Create up to four displays, including the primary display. Arrange them to match your workspace and open additional displays in separate windows.
- Change resolution and stream quality
- Adjust resolution, refresh rate and bitrate for each display. Adaptive resolution fits the remote display to your client window.
- Control desktop apps and games
- Use a local mouse pointer for desktop work and relative mouse input for game cameras. The native client can send Windows shortcuts to the remote PC or keep them on your local device.
- Use sound and your microphone
- Listen to remote audio and send microphone input to the session. Choose audio devices and adjust volume in the native client.
- Share text and images
- The native client synchronizes clipboard text and images in both directions. Clipboard file and folder transfer is not currently supported.
- Connect securely without configuring ports
- PrimalDesk tries a direct P2P connection and uses a relay when needed. Connections are encrypted. Your isolated Windows session is not displayed on the host’s physical monitor.
NVIDIA, AMD and Intel encoder support
Video encoding runs on the host GPU. This matrix shows the modes implemented in PrimalDesk for each encoding backend.
| Encoding mode | NVIDIA NVENC | AMD AMF | Intel Quick Sync |
|---|---|---|---|
| H.264 · 8-bit SDR | Supported* | Supported* | Supported* |
| HEVC · 8-bit SDR | Supported* | Supported* | Supported* |
| HEVC · 10-bit HDR | Supported* | Supported* | Supported* |
| HEVC · 4:4:4 SDR | Selected GPUs* | Not supported | Selected GPUs* |
| AV1 | Not supported | Not supported | Not supported |
* Requires a compatible GPU and driver. PrimalDesk checks the selected adapter before accepting a configuration. A supported backend does not mean every GPU from that manufacturer supports every mode. 4:4:4 also requires a compatible client decoder.
H.264 and HEVC codec support
H.264 is the most compatible option. HEVC adds optional 4:4:4 color and 10-bit HDR when the host and client support them. AV1 is not supported.
| Capability | H.264 | HEVC (H.265) |
|---|---|---|
| 8-bit SDR | Yes | Yes |
| 4:2:0 color | Yes | Yes |
| 4:4:4 color | No | SDR; supported hardware only |
| 10-bit HDR | No | 4:2:0; supported hardware only |
| Browser playback | Widely supported | Depends on browser, OS and decoder |
These are PrimalDesk’s supported modes, not the full capabilities of the codec standards. Available resolution and frame rate depend on your GPU, network and client.
Text clarity and HDR
- 4:4:4 for text and code
- HEVC 4:4:4 preserves full color detail, keeping small text and colored edges crisp. Hardware support is limited: selected NVIDIA and Intel GPUs, plus a compatible decoder. AMD AMF does not currently support this mode in PrimalDesk.
- 10-bit HDR for compatible displays
- HDR uses HEVC 10-bit with 4:2:0 color. It requires a compatible host, GPU, client and HDR display. HDR and 4:4:4 cannot be enabled together.
What you need to connect
A Windows PC with PrimalDesk Host, a supported hardware encoder and a Windows account for your remote session. Connect through the native desktop client or browser Workspace. Browser features depend on the browser’s available decoders and permissions.
PrimalDesk is in development. Join the waitlist for updates and a chance to receive early beta access.