Can't use three-finger middle-click in remote desktop
I have a HP laptop. I configured 3-finger tap to simulate a middle click, and it works fine locally on the laptop. However, when I connect to my desktop using Remote Desktop and I try to use the 3-finger tap in the remote session, it instead opens a side panel titled "Project" saying "We can't change the display topology during a remote connection".
The remote computer is a desktop (no touchpad). Both computers are running Windows 10.
How can I get the middle-click functionality in the remote session?
tl;dr: Try using the AutoHotkey script at the end.
I'm on a Lenovo ThinkPad T570, your mileage may vary.
I opened AutoHotkey to see what happens when I touch the touchpad with three fingers. This is what happens on the client side:
VK SC Type Up/Dn Elapsed Key
----------------------------------------
5B 05B a d 6.61 LWin
A2 01D a d 0.00 LControl
A0 02A a d 0.00 LShift
85 06D a d 0.00 F22
85 06D a u 0.00 F22
A0 02A a u 0.00 LShift
A2 01D a u 0.00 LControl
5B 05B a u 0.00 LWin
A three-finger touch is translated to a Left Win + Left Control + Left Shift + F22 key combination. (The OS recognizes F22 key even if it's not present on any physical keyboard I know of.)
This is what happens on the server side:
VK SC Type Up/Dn Elapsed Key
----------------------------------------
5B 15B d 21.77 LWin
A2 01D d 0.00 LControl
A0 02A d 0.00 LShift
A0 02A u 0.00 LShift ¹
A2 01D u 0.00 LControl ²
85 06D h d 0.00 F22
85 06D h u 0.00 F22
A0 02A u 0.00 LShift
A2 01D u 0.00 LControl
5B 15B u 0.00 LWin
...
5B 15B d 0.64 LWin
A2 01D d 0.00 LControl
A0 02A d 0.00 LShift
A0 02A u 0.00 LShift ¹
85 06D h d 0.00 F22
85 06D h u 0.00 F22
A0 02A u 0.00 LShift
A2 01D u 0.00 LControl
5B 15B u 0.00 LWin
As you can see, the ficticious Shift is always released¹ before presssing F22, and the Ctrl key is sometimes released² before pressing the F22.
Running the following AutoHotkey script on the Remote Desktop server translates the relevant key combinations to a Middle Mouse Button click:
#NoEnv ; Recommended for performance and compatibility with future AutoHotkey releases.
; #Warn ; Enable warnings to assist with detecting common errors.
SendMode Input ; Recommended for new scripts due to its superior speed and reliability.
SetWorkingDir %A_ScriptDir% ; Ensures a consistent starting directory.
<#F22::MButton ; Left Win + F22
<#<^F22::MButton ; Left Win + Left Ctrl + F22
You may want to try adding key combinations including Left Shift (<+) if this doesn't work reliably for you.