VMWare Workstation Pro 16.2 multiple monitor support broken for Windows 10 host+guest

[MikeTaylor]

When I select a multiple monitor layout the mouse behaves erratically.  The other monitor flickers black for a second and then returns to the contents from the host.  Is there any graphics setting or anything that may help? 

The host is Windows 10 Pro version 10.0.19043 Build 19043 with NVIDIA Studio Driver 472.121.

Any suggestions appreicated.

[rickard67]

Had the same issue when upgrading to VMWare Workstation Pro 16.2 and updating VMWare Tools to the latest version.

Host: Windows 11

Guests: Windows 11 and Windows 10 (same issue in both)

I've tried changing all options I can think of but to no avail.

Workaround: I did discover a workaround though. Start the guest as normal and log in. Once everything is loaded - logout again. Log in again. Now cycle multiple monitors works as expected. (At least it works on my machine...)

[rickard67]

After some experimentation I found a solution that seems to work on my host machine.

Go into services and change the startup method for "VMware SVGA Helper Service" to "Automatic (delayed)".

[CharlieHeaps]

Could you clarify what you mean by "go into services".  I don't see any options called that (I'm using VMware Workstation 16 Pro 16.2.0).  Thanks in advance!

[CharlieHeaps]

Sorry - never mind - you meant Windows\Admin Tools\Services.  I tried your trick and it works for me too, so thanks!

But how on earth did you come up with that?  

[rickard67]

There are some interesting lines in the log files. This is when trying to switch monitor layout:

VMware SVGA Helper Service (automatic)
2021-10-22T13:00:46.792Z In(05) vmx ToolsSetDisplayTopology: Sending rpcMsg = DisplayTopology_Set 2 , 0 0 3840 2160 , 3840 0 1440 2560
2021-10-22T13:00:46.890Z In(05) vcpu-1 Guest: DXUM_devapi: 2021-10-22T15:00:48.0219| Thread ID: 9028 |Application requested VM3DDevApi_Version3 (0x2)
2021-10-22T13:00:46.895Z In(05) vcpu-2 Guest: vm3d: Hot plug monitor number 1
2021-10-22T13:00:46.990Z In(05) mks SWBWindow: Number of MKSWindows changed: 2 rendering MKSWindow(s) of total 3.
2021-10-22T13:00:47.368Z In(05) vcpu-3 Guest: DXUM_devapi: 2021-10-22T15:00:48.0704| Thread ID: 9028 |ChangeTopology: Success (469 ms).
2021-10-22T13:00:47.557Z In(05) svga SWBWindow: Number of MKSWindows changed: 1 rendering MKSWindow(s) of total 2.
2021-10-22T13:00:47.565Z In(05) mks SWBWindow: Number of MKSWindows changed: 1 rendering MKSWindow(s) of total 3.
2021-10-22T13:00:47.565Z In(05) mks MKS Win32: Failed window creation for MKSWindowId=3: Invalid UI Window
2021-10-22T13:00:47.565Z In(05) mks MKS-HWinMux: Failed PreDefineWindow
2021-10-22T13:00:47.565Z Wa(03) mks MKS-HWinMux: HWin failed to define mksWindow (id=3).
2021-10-22T13:00:47.565Z In(05) mks SWBWindow: Number of MKSWindows changed: 1 rendering MKSWindow(s) of total 2.
2021-10-22T13:00:47.620Z In(05) vcpu-1 SOUNDLIB: Creating WAVE backend stream.

VMware SVGA Helper Service (automatic delayed)
2021-10-22T12:58:04.559Z In(05) vmx ToolsSetDisplayTopology: Sending rpcMsg = DisplayTopology_Set 2 , 0 0 3840 2160 , 3840 0 1440 2560
2021-10-22T12:58:04.628Z In(05) vcpu-1 Guest: DXUM_devapi: 2021-10-22T14:58:05.0768| Thread ID: 7560 |Application requested VM3DDevApi_Version3 (0x2)
2021-10-22T12:58:04.632Z In(05) vcpu-1 Guest: vm3d: Hot plug monitor number 1
2021-10-22T12:58:04.730Z In(05) mks SWBWindow: Number of MKSWindows changed: 2 rendering MKSWindow(s) of total 3.
2021-10-22T12:58:05.094Z In(05) vcpu-1 Guest: DXUM_devapi: 2021-10-22T14:58:06.0237| Thread ID: 7560 |ChangeTopology: Success (469 ms).
2021-10-22T12:58:05.228Z In(05) vcpu-5 SOUNDLIB: Creating WAVE backend stream.

[rickard67]

I'm glad it worked.

"But how on earth did you come up with that?"
I had a hunch... I though the logout - login was a clue.

[rickard67]

Actually, disabling the service may work better and fix a few other issues as well (did a google search).

Does anyone know what the service actually does? The VM seems to work just fine without it. I even did a benchmark test.

(Go into services and change the startup method for "VMware SVGA Helper Service" to "Disabled".)

[amsteel]

Had same issue with AMD driver and Ubutun 21.10 guest. The fix works for windows guest. Any suggestion on Linux guest?

[rickard67]

I'm afraid not. I have Zorin OS 16 running in VMWare 16.2 using open-vm-tools, but it's working fine with multiple monitors.

A google search gives a ton of hits. But I have no idea if any of them are helpful... I guess you're gonna have to do what I did. Research and experiment a little...

[nell00011]

I have the same issue here, but I'm using windows 10 pro

any workaround you can suggest? I don't have VMware SVGA on my services. 

[rickard67]

If you have VMWare tools installed on your VM - you should see the "VMware SVGA Helper Service" in there.

Note that the service is started inside your guest, not your host machine.

[jb75]

I am seeing the same behavior as the rest of you.

Windows 11 host. AMD CPU and GPU. VMWare Workstation 16.2.2.

Zorin OS 16 guest - no issue.

Fedora 35 guest - multiple monitors doesn't work (I haven't found a fix yet).

Windows 11 guest - stop / disable or automatic delay for the "VMware SVGA Helper Service" inside the guest fixes the issue.

[Cornuvia]

I have the same issue.

Enabling multiple monitors in a Windows 11 client works only if I disable the VMWare SVGA helper service.

Host is Windows 10 prof. (19044.1586)
Client is windows 11 21H2 (22000.556)
Vmware Workstation 16 pro 16.2.3 build 19376536

[BenTusa]

Are there any other knowns issues?  I just rebuilt my host PC (was Win10 with Player 15, now Win11 with Player 16).  The SVGA helper service delay or disable trick doesn't work on any of my guests.

[BenTusa]

Switching off system default color theme fixed it for me

https://communities.vmware.com/t5/VMware-Workstation-Player/Multiple-monitors-not-working-with-vmwar...