Using xrandr to create a virtual display (Linux)
Author: crisszkutnikCreated Jan 25, 2021Updated Feb 24, 2025
Creating a virtual display with xrandr that can be broadcasted as an extra monitor is fairly easy on Linux. I think that this method should be implemented as a guide as it is a viable method for Linux users without the need of extra drivers or a dummy plug. To achieve this I did the following:
First, run the following command:
xrandr
DisplayPort-0 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
DisplayPort-1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
DisplayPort-2 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
HDMI-A-0 connected primary 1920x1080+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 521mm x 293mm
1920x1080 60.00*+ 71.91 50.00 59.94
1680x1050 59.88
1600x900 60.00
1280x1024 60.02
1440x900 59.90
1280x800 59.91
1280x720 60.00 50.00 59.94
1024x768 70.07 60.00
800x600 72.19 60.32 56.25
720x576 50.00
720x480 60.00 59.94
640x480 72.81 66.67 60.00 59.94
720x400 70.08
DVI-D-0 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
1920x1080 60.00
DP-1-4 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
HDMI-1-2 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
DP-1-5 connected 1920x1080+1920+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 531mm x 299mm
1920x1080 60.00*+
1680x1050 59.88
1280x1024 75.02 60.02
1440x900 74.98 59.90
1280x960 60.00
1280x800 59.91
1152x864 75.00
1024x768 75.03 70.07 60.00
832x624 74.55
800x600 72.19 75.00 60.32 56.25
640x480 75.00 72.81 66.67 59.94
720x400 70.08
DP-1-6 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
HDMI-1-3 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
1920x1080 (0x5b) 148.500MHz +HSync +VSync
h: width 1920 start 2008 end 2052 total 2200 skew 0 clock 67.50KHz
v: height 1080 start 1084 end 1089 total 1125 clock 60.00Hz
1680x1050 (0x5f) 119.000MHz +HSync -VSync
h: width 1680 start 1728 end 1760 total 1840 skew 0 clock 64.67KHz
v: height 1050 start 1053 end 1059 total 1080 clock 59.88Hz
1280x1024 (0x61) 108.000MHz +HSync +VSync
h: width 1280 start 1328 end 1440 total 1688 skew 0 clock 63.98KHz
v: height 1024 start 1025 end 1028 total 1066 clock 60.02Hz
1440x900 (0x62) 88.750MHz +HSync -VSync
h: width 1440 start 1488 end 1520 total 1600 skew 0 clock 55.47KHz
v: height 900 start 903 end 909 total 926 clock 59.90Hz
1280x800 (0x63) 71.000MHz +HSync -VSync
h: width 1280 start 1328 end 1360 total 1440 skew 0 clock 49.31KHz
v: height 800 start 803 end 809 total 823 clock 59.91Hz
1024x768 (0x67) 75.000MHz -HSync -VSync
h: width 1024 start 1048 end 1184 total 1328 skew 0 clock 56.48KHz
v: height 768 start 771 end 777 total 806 clock 70.07Hz
1024x768 (0x68) 65.000MHz -HSync -VSync
h: width 1024 start 1048 end 1184 total 1344 skew 0 clock 48.36KHz
v: height 768 start 771 end 777 total 806 clock 60.00Hz
800x600 (0x69) 50.000MHz +HSync +VSync
h: width 800 start 856 end 976 total 1040 skew 0 clock 48.08KHz
v: height 600 start 637 end 643 total 666 clock 72.19Hz
800x600 (0x6a) 40.000MHz +HSync +VSync
h: width 800 start 840 end 968 total 1056 skew 0 clock 37.88KHz
v: height 600 start 601 end 605 total 628 clock 60.32Hz
800x600 (0x6b) 36.000MHz +HSync +VSync
h: width 800 start 824 end 896 total 1024 skew 0 clock 35.16KHz
v: height 600 start 601 end 603 total 625 clock 56.25Hz
640x480 (0x6f) 31.500MHz -HSync -VSync
h: width 640 start 664 end 704 total 832 skew 0 clock 37.86KHz
v: height 480 start 489 end 492 total 520 clock 72.81Hz
640x480 (0x70) 30.240MHz -HSync -VSync
h: width 640 start 704 end 768 total 864 skew 0 clock 35.00KHz
v: height 480 start 483 end 486 total 525 clock 66.67Hz
640x480 (0x72) 25.175MHz -HSync -VSync
h: width 640 start 656 end 752 total 800 skew 0 clock 31.47KHz
v: height 480 start 490 end 492 total 525 clock 59.94Hz
720x400 (0x73) 28.320MHz -HSync +VSync
h: width 720 start 738 end 846 total 900 skew 0 clock 31.47KHz
v: height 400 start 412 end 414 total 449 clock 70.08HzHere I selected one of the disconnected outputs. For this example I am going to use DVI-D-0
If there is no output mode, one can be added with
xrandr --addmode DVI-D-0 1920x1080
# you may use the output you selected and the resolution you wantNext step is to identify the display you are going to use to position your new display. For example, I want to place my virtual display to the left of my primary display, which is HDMI-A-0, so I run the following command:
xrandr --output DVI-D-0 --mode 1920x1080 --left-of HDMI-A-0
# replace DVI-D-0 with the virtual output you selected
# and 1920x1080 with the resolution you chose on the previous command
# other options are --right-of, --above and --belowFinally, when running deskreen:
The virtual display is available (Screen 2).
If you want to disconnect the display, just run:
xrandr --output DVI-D-0 --off
I am willing to do a complete guide and open a pull request if you think it is a good enough method.
Source: pavlobu/deskreen