Black Screen with Multiplicity KVM

A few fixes are known to resolve a black screen when connecting to a secondary machine with Multiplicity KVM mode. Try the following troubleshooting steps to resolve this issue:

Check for Windows Updates

• Ensure that your system is not affected by a recent Windows update that could have altered Multiplicity’s functionality. If a recent update was installed, consider rolling back to a previous version to see if that resolves the issue.

Update Video Drivers

• Outdated or corrupted video drivers can cause display issues. Update your video drivers from your manufacturer’s website:

  • Intel: Intel Support

  • Nvidia: Nvidia Support

  • ATI/AMD: AMD Support

Adjust Power Settings

• A simple yet effective fix can be changing the power settings to prevent the monitor from turning off. Setting the monitor to “Never” turn off through Power Options/Power & Sleep Settings has resolved the issue for some users.

Use Dummy Plugs

• For headless setups (no monitor attached), using an HDMI dummy plug can trick the system into recognizing a display, and thus resolving the black screen. Ensure that Windows recognizes the connection as active.

  • Available examples: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=hdmi+dummy+plug&crid=3QZHUT8OXK0UM&sprefix=hdmi+du%2Caps%2C123&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_1_7

Force Specific GPU Usage

• In some cases, forcing your PC to use a specific video card for Multiplicity can solve the display issue. This is particularly relevant for systems with dual graphics chips.