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Quick Start Guide

This guide will help you get a virtual display up and running quickly. You’ll go from installation to having a working virtual monitor in just a few minutes.

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Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have:
  • Windows 10 (1903+) or Windows 11
  • Administrator privileges
  • Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable (download here)
If you haven’t installed VDD yet, see the Installation Guide for detailed instructions.

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Getting Started

1

Install the driver

The fastest way to install is using winget:
winget install --id=VirtualDrivers.Virtual-Display-Driver -e
Or download the installer from the GitHub Releases page and run the Virtual Driver Control (VDC) app.
  1. Download the latest release ZIP from GitHub Releases
  2. Extract the ZIP file to a folder
  3. Run VDC.exe as Administrator
  4. Click the Install button
2

Verify installation

After installation, verify that the driver is working:Option 1: Check Device Manager
  • Open Device Manager (Win + X → Device Manager)
  • Expand Display adapters
  • Look for “MttVDD Display Adapter”
Option 2: Check Display Settings
  • Open Windows Settings → System → Display
  • You should see a new virtual monitor listed
If the driver is installed but disabled, you’ll see it in Device Manager but it won’t appear in Display Settings.
3

Configure your virtual monitor

Right-click on your desktop and select Display settings. You should see your new virtual display.Configure it:
  • Set the resolution (e.g., 1920×1080)
  • Choose the refresh rate
  • Position it relative to your other displays
  • Choose whether to extend or duplicate your desktop
For most use cases, Extend mode is recommended. This treats the virtual display as an independent monitor.
4

Test the virtual display

Drag a window to the virtual display to confirm it’s working. The display should behave like a physical monitor.Headless systems: If you don’t have a physical monitor, use Remote Desktop or VNC to connect and verify the virtual display is active.

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Common Use Cases

Now that your virtual display is working, here’s how to use it for common scenarios:

Streaming with OBS

Capture the virtual display in OBS Studio for streaming or recording

Headless Server

Use Remote Desktop to access a headless system with no physical monitor

VR Overlays

Display additional content in VR applications

Remote Desktop

Extend your workspace remotely with virtual monitors

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Customization

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Add Multiple Virtual Monitors

Edit C:\VirtualDisplayDriver\vdd_settings.xml: 
<monitors>
  <count>3</count>
</monitors>
Then restart the driver in Device Manager (Disable → Enable).

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Change Supported Resolutions

Add custom resolutions in vdd_settings.xml: 
<resolutions>
  <resolution>
    <width>2560</width>
    <height>1440</height>
    <refresh_rate>144</refresh_rate>
  </resolution>
  <resolution>
    <width>3840</width>
    <height>2160</height>
    <refresh_rate>60</refresh_rate>
  </resolution>
</resolutions>
After modifying vdd_settings.xml, restart the driver for changes to take effect.

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Enable HDR (Windows 11 23H2+)

Configure HDR in vdd_settings.xml: 
<hdr_advanced>
  <hdr10_static_metadata>
    <enabled>true</enabled>
    <max_display_mastering_luminance>1000.0</max_display_mastering_luminance>
    <min_display_mastering_luminance>0.05</min_display_mastering_luminance>
  </hdr10_static_metadata>
</hdr_advanced>
See the HDR Configuration Guide for details.

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Select Specific GPU (Multi-GPU Systems)

To use a specific GPU, edit vdd_settings.xml: 
<gpu>
  <friendlyname>NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090</friendlyname>
</gpu>
Or use bus-based selection for identical GPUs: 
<gpu>
  <friendlyname>NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080,0</friendlyname>
</gpu>
Learn more in the Multi-GPU Configuration Guide.

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Using PowerShell Scripts

The VDD project includes community PowerShell scripts for automation:

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Change Resolution on the Fly

.\changeres-VDD.ps1 -X 2560 -Y 1440

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Toggle Driver On/Off

.\toggle-VDD.ps1

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Toggle HDR Mode

.\HDRswitch-VDD.ps1

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Set as Primary Display

.\primary-VDD.ps1
All scripts are located in the Community Scripts folder. See the PowerShell Scripts Guide for complete documentation.

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Troubleshooting

Possible causes:
  • Driver is disabled in Device Manager
  • Driver installation failed
  • Configuration file is missing or corrupt
Solutions:
  • Open Device Manager and enable the “MttVDD Display Adapter”
  • Reinstall the driver using VDC or winget
  • Check that C:\VirtualDisplayDriver\vdd_settings.xml exists
You’re missing the Visual C++ Redistributable.Solution: Download and install from Microsoft’s page.
GPU driver updates can sometimes cause display priority issues.Solution: Boot into Safe Mode and uninstall VDD, then reinstall after the GPU driver update completes.See Safe Mode Recovery for details.
The resolution you want might not be in the configuration file.Solution: Add it to vdd_settings.xml under <resolutions>. See the Resolution Configuration Guide.
Possible causes:
  • Too high resolution/refresh rate
  • Wrong GPU selected (integrated instead of discrete)
  • Debug logging enabled
Solutions:
  • Lower the resolution or refresh rate
  • Configure GPU selection in Multi-GPU systems
  • Disable debug logging in vdd_settings.xml

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Next Steps

Configuration Guide

Deep dive into all configuration options and advanced settings

PowerShell Scripts

Explore automation scripts for resolution changes, HDR toggling, and more

Use Cases

Learn how to use VDD for streaming, VR, remote desktop, and more

Advanced Features

Explore HDR support, custom EDIDs, and advanced color management

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Get Help

If you encounter issues not covered in this guide:

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