3/13/22, 1:39 PM Hyper-V Virtual Machine Connection | Microsoft Docs

Hyper-V Virtual Machine Connection

Article • 02/11/2021 • 3 minutes to read • 7 contributors  

In this article
Tips for using VMConnect
Keyboard shortcuts
See Also

Applies to: Windows Server 2019, Windows Server 2016, Windows 10, Windows 8.1,
Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2012, Windows 8

Virtual Machine Connection (VMConnect) is a tool you can use to connect to a virtual
machine to install or interact with the guest operating system in a virtual machine. Some
of the tasks you can perform by using VMConnect include the following:

Start and shut down a virtual machine

Connect to a DVD image (.iso file) or a USB flash drive

Create a checkpoint

Modify the settings of a virtual machine

Tips for using VMConnect

You may find the following information helpful for using VMConnect:

To do this… Do this…

Send mouse clicks Click anywhere in the virtual machine window. The mouse pointer may
or keyboard input appear as a small dot when you connect to a running virtual machine.
to the virtual
machine

Return mouse Press CTRL+ALT+LEFT arrow and then move the mouse pointer outside of
clicks or keyboard the virtual machine window. This mouse release key combination can be
input to the changed in the Hyper-V settings in Hyper-V Manager.
physical computer

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To do this… Do this…

Send Select Action > Ctrl+Alt+Delete or use the key combination

CTRL+ALT+DELETE CTRL+ALT+END.
key combination to
a virtual machine

Switch from a Select View > Full Screen Mode. To switch back to window mode, press
window mode to a CTRL+ALT+BREAK.
full-screen mode

Create a Select Action > Checkpoint or use the key combination CTRL+N.
checkpoint to
capture the current
state of the
machine for
troubleshooting

Change the Select File > Settings.

settings of the
virtual machine

Connect to a DVD Select Media.

image (.iso file) or a
virtual floppy disk Virtual floppy disks are not supported for generation 2 virtual machines. For
(.vfd file) more information, see Should I create a generation 1 or 2 virtual machine in
Hyper-V?.

Use a host's local Turn on enhanced session mode on the Hyper-V host, use VMConnect to
resources on connect to the virtual machine, and before you connect, choose the local
Hyper-V virtual resource that you want to use. For the specific steps, see Use local resources
machine like a USB on Hyper-V virtual machine with VMConnect.
flash drive

Change saved Run the following command in Windows PowerShell or the command
VMConnect prompt:
settings for a VMConnect.exe <ServerName> <VMName> /edit
virtual machine

Prevent a Turn on enhanced session mode on Hyper-V host.

VMConnect user
from taking over Not having enhanced session mode turned on may pose a security and
another user's privacy risk. If a user is connected and logged on to a virtual machine
VMConnect through VMConnect and another authorized user connects to the same
session virtual machine, the session will be taken over by the second user and the
first user will lose the session. The second user will be able to view the first
user's desktop, documents, and applications.

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To do this… Do this…

Manage On Hyper-V hosts that run Windows 10 or Windows Server 2016, you can't
integration services manage integration services with VMConnect. See these topics:
or components - Turn on/turn off integration services from the Hyper-V host
that allow the VM - Turn on/turn off integration services from a Windows virtual machine
to communicate - Turn on/turn off integration services from a Linux virtual machine
with the Hyper-V - Keep integration services updated for the virtual machine
host For hosts that run Windows Server 2012 or Windows Server 2012 R2, see
Integration Services.

Resize the You can change the size of the VMConnect window for generation 2 virtual
VMConnect machines that run a Windows operating system. To do this, you may need
window to turn on enhanced session mode on the Hyper-V host. For more
information, see Turn on enhanced session mode on Hyper-V host. For
virtual machines that run Ubuntu, see Changing Ubuntu Screen Resolution
in a Hyper-V VM.

Keyboard shortcuts
By default, the keyboard input and mouse clicks are sent to the virtual machine. So you
may need to press CTRL + ALT + LEFT arrow before you use the following shortcut keys.

Key combination Description

CTRL+ALT+LEFT arrow Mouse release

CTRL+ALT+END Equivalent of CTRL+ALT+DELETE in the virtual machine

CTRL+ALT+BREAK Switch from full-screen mode back to windowed mode

CTRL+O Opens the settings for the virtual machine

CTRL+S Starts the virtual machine

CTRL+N Create a checkpoint

CTRL+E Revert to a checkpoint

CTRL+C Do a screen capture

See Also
Use local resources on Hyper-V virtual machine with VMConnect
Hyper-V on Windows Server 2016
Hyper-V on Windows 10

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